Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Wayne County Action Program Inc

EIN 16-6069004 · Lyons, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SPECIFIC MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO COORDINATE RESOURCES TO INSPIRE AND EMPOWER PEOPLE TO ACHEIVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.

Income
$16.8 million
Spending
$16.7 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
-0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 86%
Employees
811
Volunteers
722
Highest pay
$124,688, chief executive officer

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

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 60% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% 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 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 (8)
  1. $4.3 million spent. HEAD START - THIS FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAM PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO PREGNANT WOMEN, INFANTS, TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOL CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, HEALTH, NUTRITION, FAMILY SERVICES, PARENT INVOLVEMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH. SPECIAL EFFORTS ARE MADE TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. THE PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY RECOGNIZES PARENTS AS THE PRIMARY EDUCATORS OF THEIR CHILDREN. WE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGE PARENT INVOLVEMENT IN ALL PROGRAM FUNCTIONS AND WORK AS PARTNERS WITH THE FAMILY CENTERS IN ONTARIO, SODUS, HURON, CLYDE, LYONS, NEWARK AND PALMYRA. THE PROGRAM SERVES 178 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES ANNUALLY. ELIGIBILITY FOR BOTH PROGRAMS IS BASED ON ANNUAL INCOME, FAMILY SIZE AND SPECIAL NEEDS.
  2. $3.0 million spent. WEATHERIZATION - THIS FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAM HELPS LOW-INCOME HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS CONSERVE ENERGY, LOWER HEATING BILLS, AND KEEP HOMES WARM IN FRIGID TEMPERATURES. ALL SERVICES ARE FREE OF CHARGE TO WAYNE, ONTARIO, SENECA & CAYUGA RESIDENTS WHOM ARE EITHER CATEGORICALLY ELIGIBLE OR WHOSE INCOMES ARE AT OR BELOW THE PROGRAM GUIDELINES. WEATHERIZATION SERVES 743 LOW-INCOME AND ELDERLY INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLDS ANNUALLY.
  3. $5.6 million spent. SCHOOL AGE PROGRAM - SCHOOL AGE PROGRAM HAS SHOWN RECENT GROWTH PRIMARILY DUE TO THE STEADY WORK PROGRAM. STEADY WORK ADDRESSES GENERATIONAL RURAL POVERTY ONE YOUNG PERSON AT A TIME. PARTICIPANTS ARE PROVIDED MEANINGFUL, INITIAL WORK EXPERIENCES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO DEVELOP SOFT SKILLS AND ACHIEVE GOALS PARTICIPANTS SET FOR THEMSELVES IN UNIQUE WORKFORCE ENTRY PLANS. PARTICIPANTS ARE AGED 14-24 AND EMPLOYED ON AVERAGE 20 HOURS PER WEEK. INTAKE INCLUDES SCREENING FOR BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT INCLUDING LITERACY, EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, POSSESSION OF A DRIVER'S LICENSE, OTHER JOB SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE. DURING INTAKE, PARTICIPANTS ALSO SET GOALS FOR THEMSELVES. CAREER DEVELOPMENT CAN INCLUDE ASSISTANCE WITH APPLICATIONS DIRECTLY TO AVAILABLE JOBS BUT MAY ALSO MEAN ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING TO A TRADE SCHOOL OR COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND ASSISTANCE WITH FINANCIAL AID PAPERWORK. PARTICIPANTS ARE LINKED TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR SPECIFIC TOPICS SUCH AS FISCAL MANAGEMENT. OFTEN BASIC CONCEPTS LIKE THE OPENING OF BANK ACCOUNTS AND PAYING BILLS, OR UNDERSTANDING INTEREST AND LOANS REQUIRE SPECIFIC TUTELAGE. THE PROGRAM USES A NETWORK OF LOCAL EMPLOYERS TO HELP PARTICIPANTS SEEK OUT FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT. (622 SERVED)
  4. $227,132 spent. COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT - THIS IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE ARM FOR THE ORGANIZATION'S MULTI-FUNDED PROGRAMS. ITS PURPOSE IS TO STIMULATE A BETTER FOCUSING OF FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL RESOURCES WHILE DEVELOPING STRATEGIES WHICH CAN MAXIMIZE THE EFFECT OF THOSE RESOURCES TO PROVIDE RELIEF TO THE DISADVANTAGED AND ASSIST THEM TOWARD SELF-SUFFICIENCY. (4,591 SERVED)
  5. $160,034 spent. AMERICORPS - AMERICORPS IS THE NATIONAL SERVICE OPPORTUNITY FOR AMERICANS OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY. PARTNERING WITH LOCAL NON-PROFIT AGENCIES AND SCHOOLS, AMERICORPS MEMBERS MENTOR YOUTH AND DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED ADULTS. THIS PROGRAM SERVES 72 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY.
  6. $76,878 spent. RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM (RSVP) - THIS PROGRAM INVITES MEN AND WOMEN AGE 55 OR BETTER TO USE THEIR LIFETIME EXPERIENCE, SKILLS AND HOBBIES TO SERVE THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITIES IN NEED. RSVP VOLUNTEERS ARE ABLE TO REPORT HOURS FOR VOLUNTEERING IN NON-PROFIT AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS WITH WHICH RSVP HAS A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. RSVP SERVES WAYNE, ONTARIO AND SENECA COUNTIES. THIS PROGRAM SERVES 1,502 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY.
  7. $367,155 spent. THE FOSTER GRANDPARENTS PROGRAM - THIS IS A VOLUNTEER PROGRAM DESIGNED TO BENEFIT CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AS WELL AS SENIOR CITIZENS WITH LIMITED INCOME. FOSTER GRANDPARENT VOLUNTEERS ARE ASSIGNED TO A VARIETY OF CHILD CARE SETTINGS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTIES OF WAYNE, ONTARIO, SENECA, AND YATES. THIS PROGRAM SERVES 150 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY.
  8. $1.6 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMS - INCLUDE THE HEALTHY FAMILIES NEW YORK, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, COMMUNITY RESPITE AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROGRAMS.

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 January 1967.

    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.