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Main Street Counseling Service

EIN 22-2331436 · West Orange, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE AND AFFORDABLE COUNSELING SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITY BY REMOVING COMMON BARRIERS TO CARE, ACCEPTING MEDICAID AND INCOME-BASED SLIDING-SCALE FEES, AND HAVING ACCESSIBLE BUILDING NEAR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$3.2 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
-6.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 47%
Employees
39
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$176,904, executive direc

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: 38 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 111% 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 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 8 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (3)
  1. $1.4 million spent. OUTPATIENT SERVICES:THE COLLECTIVE OUTPATIENT SERVICES HELD AT OUR SOOTHING WEST ORANGE SITE CONTINUE TO BE OUR LARGEST PROGRAM. THROUGH THIS SERVICE, WE TREAT ALL AGES AND DEMOGRAPHICS, AND WE ADDRESS A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT CLIENT ISSUES, INCLUDING DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY. THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR CLIENTS HAVE SUFFERED SEVERE TRAUMA AND STRUGGLE TO SECURE HEALTH CARE DUE TO INCOME, INSURANCE, AND LANGUAGE BARRIERS. THIS SERVICE IS OFFERED IN AN INDIVIDUAL, COUPLES, OR FAMILY COUNSELING FORMAT. WE TREAT AN AVERAGE OF 300 CLIENTS EACH WEEK THROUGH THIS SERVICE AND OUR CLIENTS COME FROM 16 OF THE 21 NJ COUNTIES.
  2. $1.3 million spent. SCHOOL-BASED COUNSELING:OUR LONGSTANDING SCHOOL-BASED COUNSELING PROGRAM CONTINUES TO BE OUR FLAGSHIP OUTREACH PROGRAM. BY PARTNERING WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS, WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE OVER 200 ADDITIONAL AT-RISK STUDENTS WITH CRUCIAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND MENTORING EACH WEEK. OUR COUNSELORS PRIMARILY FOCUS ON SOCIAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT. THIS ON-SITE PROGRAM FEATURES BOTH INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP WORK, IN ADDITION TO INFORMATIVE WORKSHOPS HELD FOR PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND PRINCIPALS. BY PROVIDING KIDS WITH AN IMPORTANT OUTLET AND SUPPORT SYSTEM, THEY ARE ABLE TO BETTER FOCUS ON THEIR ACADEMICS AND LIMIT DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIORS.
  3. $142,879 spent. SENIORS:MAIN ST. COUNSELING CONTINUES TO EMPHASIZE THE CARE OF OLDER ADULTS, BOTH AT OUR WEST ORANGE FACILITY AND THROUGH VARIOUS OUTREACH PARTNERSHIPS. WITH SENIORS, OUR WORK FOCUSES ON EDUCATION AND GROUP SUPPORT. OUR SERVICES HELP SENIORS CONTEND WITH INACTIVITY DURING THE DAY AND THE IMPACTS OF SOCIAL ISOLATION AS FAMILY MEMBERS MOVE AWAY. WITH A HANDICAP-ACCESSIBLE BUILDING EQUIPPED WITH ITS OWN ELEVATOR, OUR FACILITY IS EASY AND SAFE TO NAVIGATE FOR ALL SENIORS.

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 October 1985.

    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.