Cares Community Assistance Resources & Emer Svcs Pickens Co 1
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE FOOD AND ESSENTIAL NON-FOOD ITEMS, TEMPORARY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND RESOURCE COUNSELING TO NEEDY PEOPLE IN PICKENS COUNTY.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 5.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 140
- Highest pay
- $46,667, fmr executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 213% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 (2)
- $875,003 spent. CARES INC HAS PROVIDED A BASIC GOOD QUANITY OF QUALITY FOOD TO OVER 200 PICKENS COUNTY FAMILIES PER WEEK TO ALL WHO HAVE COME TO US WITH A DEMONSTRATED NEED AND QUALIFIED BY FILING PROPER APPLICATIONS AND BEING COUNSELED ABOUT THEIR LIFE AND HOW THEY CAN HELP THEMSELVES AS WE HELP THEM BRIDGE THE GAP TEMPORARILY UNTIL THEY RECOVER. WE HAVE PRACTICED DUE DILIGENCE IN FOLLOW UP AND CARING FOR THE FAMILY WITH PARTICULAR CONCERN FOR UNDER GIRDING THE CHILDREN OF THESE FAMILIES. DURING OUR FISCAL YEAR WE HAVE ENFORCED POLICIES REGARDING ELIGIBILTY AND INTERVENTION WHEREBY AFTER COUNSELING AND ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS, CARES PROVIDING FOOD TO ALL ACCORDING TO OUR POLICY PASSED BY THE BOARD PREVIOUSLY. THE MAJORITY OF THE RECIPIENTS RECEIVE FOOD EVERY TWO WEEKS BUT 40% OF OUR CLIENTS STILL RECEIVE FOOD WEEKLY. $21,399 IN DONATED SERVICES NOT REFLECTED IN ABOVE TOTAL.
- $87,056 spent. CARES INC PROVIDES EMERGENCY AND TEMPORARY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WHO APPLY TO US AND WHOM WE FIND HAVE A NEED TO UNDER GIRD THE FAMILY AND PROTECT THE CHILDREN. WE ARE HELPING THEM TO MAKE IT THROUGH A TOUGH TIME FINANCIALLY TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS. WE WILL PAY PART OF UTILITY BILLS AND MEDICATIONS ONCE PER YEAR AND ONLY A CERTAIN AMOUNT NORMALLY.DURING OUR FISCAL YEAR WE COUNSELED EVERYONE WHO CALLED OR APPLIED AND HELPED THOSE WHO WERE MOST NEEDY WHENEVER POSSIBLE. WE GAVE OVER $59,000 TO SUPPLEMENT EMERGENCY NEEDS OF BASIC LIVING. CARES NOW REQUIRES THOSE RECEIVING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO WORK AT TWO SPECIFIED NON-PROFIT CHARITIES ONE HOUR FOR EACH $25 RECEIVED AS PER OUR POLICY DESCRIBED AS WORKING FOR MONEY. $55,563 IN DONATED SERVICES NOT REFLECTED IN ABOVE TOTALS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 30, 2026.
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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2005.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 7, 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.