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St Lawrence County Health Initiative Inc

EIN 16-1582283 · Potsdam, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE HEALTH INITIATIVE WAS CREATED OUT OF A COLLABORATION BY CANTON-POTSDAM HOSPITAL AND CLAXTON-HEPBURN MEDICAL CENTER. LEADERS FROM THESE INSTITUTIONS BROUGHT TOGETHER OVER 200 INDIVIDUALS - REPRESENTING A BROAD SPECTRUM OF THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICE, BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT AND EDUCATINO - TO CONDUCT A THOROUGH ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH IN ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY. THE STEERING COMMITTEE IDENTIFIED THREE HEALTH PRIORITY AREAS THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED COUNTY-WIDE: ACCESS TO CARE; NUTRITION AND PHYSICIAL ACTIVITY, AND; SUBSTANCE USE, FOCUSING ON YOUTH TOBACCO USE. THE AGENCY WAS INCORPORATED IN 1999 AS A FREE-STANDING 501 (C)(3) NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION TO SECURE RESOURCES AND PROGRAMMING TO ADDRESS THE IDENTIFIED PRIORITIES

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 99%
Employees
16
Highest pay
$72,481, interim dire

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 39% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $157,465 spent. NAVIGATOR PROGRAM - PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO CONSUMERS, SMALL BUSINESSES, AND THEIR EMPLOYEES TO FIND HEALTH CARE COVERAGE THOUGH THE MARKETPLACE.
  2. $343,949 spent. TEEN HELP - OVERSEES THE USE OF MULTIPLE EVIDENCE-BASED COMPREHENSIVE SEX EDUCATION CURRICULA THAT PROVIDE ADOLESCENTS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE, MOTIVATION AND SKILLS NECESSARY TO REDUCE THEIR RISK OF UNINTENDED PREGNANCY AND CONTRACTING SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES.
  3. $215,699 spent. CREATING HEALTHY SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES (CHSC) IMPLEMENTING FOOD SERVICE GUIDELINES (FSGS) WITH WORKSITESS AND COMMUNITY SETTINGS IN MULTIPLE VENUES TO INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF HEALTHY FOODS. FSGS ARE SPECIFIC FOOD AND NUTRITION STANDARDS AND SUSTAINABILITY STANDARDS FOR FOOD SERVICE OPERATIONS THAT CAN BE USED TO CREATE A FOOD ENVIRONMENT THAT MAKES HEALTHIER CHOICES EASIER FOR CONSUMERS. IMPROVING POLICIES, PRACTICES, AND ENVIRONMENTS FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND NUTRITION IN EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION (ECE) SETTINGS. GRANTEES MAY ALSO WORK TO IMPROVE POLICIES, PRACTICES, AND ENVIRONMENTS FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN SOME CACFP CENTERS AS IDENTIFIED BY THE DOH. IMPLEMENTING COMMUNITY PLANNING AND ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION INTERVENTIONS IN MUNICIPALITIES TO INCREASE SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH PARTNERS TO CONNECT SIDEWALKS, PATHS, BICYCLE ROUTES, AND PUBLIC TRANSIT WITH HOMES, EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION SITES, SCHOOLS, WORKSITES, PARKS, OR RECREATION CENTERS BY IMPLEMENTING MASTER PLANS AND LAND USE INTERVENTIONS OR COMPLETE STREETS POLICIES OR PLANS. THIS IS ACHIEVED BY ESTABLISHING NEW OR IMPROVED PEDESTRIAN, BICYCLE, OR TRANSIT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS THAT ARE COMBINED WITH NEW OR IMPROVED LAND USE OR ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN. CREATING HEALTHY SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES (CHSC) IMPLEMENTING FOOD SERVICE GUIDELINES (FSGS) WITH WORKSITESS AND COMMUNITY SETTINGS IN MULTIPLE VENUES TO INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF HEALTHY FOODS. FSGS ARE SPECIFIC FOOD AND NUTRITION STANDARDS AND SUSTAINABILITY STANDARDS FOR FOOD SERVICE OPERATIONS THAT CAN BE USED TO CREATE A FOOD ENVIRONMENT THAT MAKES HEALTHIER CHOICES EASIER FOR CONSUMERS. IMPROVING POLICIES, PRACTICES, AND ENVIRONMENTS FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND NUTRITION IN EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION (ECE) SETTINGS. GRANTEES MAY ALSO WORK TO IMPROVE POLICIES, PRACTICES, AND ENVIRONMENTS FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN SOME CACFP CENTERS AS IDENTIFIED BY THE DOH. IMPLEMENTING COMMUNITY PLANNING AND ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION INTERVENTIONS IN MUNICIPALITIES TO INCREASE SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH PARTNERS TO CONNECT SIDEWALKS, PATHS, BICYCLE ROUTES, AND PUBLIC TRANSIT WITH HOMES, EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION SITES, SCHOOLS, WORKSITES, PARKS, OR RECREATION CENTERS BY IMPLEMENTING MASTER PLANS AND LAND USE INTERVENTIONS OR COMPLETE STREETS POLICIES OR PLANS. THIS IS ACHIEVED BY ESTABLISHING NEW OR IMPROVED PEDESTRIAN, BICYCLE, OR TRANSIT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS THAT ARE COMBINED WITH NEW OR IMPROVED LAND USE OR ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN.
  4. $467,468 spent. NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, CANCER PREVENTION IN ACTION AND ALL OTHER PROGRAM.
  5. NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, CANCER PREVENTION IN ACTION AND ALL OTHER PROGRAM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2000.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.