Connections Work
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CONNECTIONS WORK CHANGES LIVES AND IMPROVES COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING SERVICES AND SUPPORTS TO INDIVIDUALS SEEKING PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS.
- Income
- $3.2 million
- Spending
- $3.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 3.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 45%
- Employees
- 55
- Volunteers
- 303
- Highest pay
- $129,617, co-executive director
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
Good: 81 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 28% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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.
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (4)
- $1.3 million spent. REENTRY SERVICES: CONNECTIONS WORK PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES TO RETURNING CITIZENS TO SUPPORT THEIR SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION FROM JAIL OR PRISON TO THE BERKS COUNTY COMMUNITY, AND FOR THOSE WITH PAST SYSTEM JUSTICE INVOLVEMENT. REENTRY SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BOTH PRE-AND POST-RELEASE AND INCLUDE: CASE MANAGEMENT, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, MENTORING, FINANCIAL LITERACY, FAMILY REUNIFICATION, AND ASSISTANCE SECURING BASIC NEEDS. ADDITIONALLY, CONNECTIONS WORK WORKS TO EDUCATE EMPLOYERS ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF HIRING RETURNING CITIZENS AND PROVIDES ONGOING EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT. IN 2024, CONNECTIONS WORK PROVIDED REENTRY SERVICES TO 1,899 RETURNING CITIZENS THROUGH OVER 10,400 CONTACTS WITH PROGRAM CASE MANAGERS. CONNECTIONS WORK ALSO SERVES AS THE OFFICIAL HUB FOR THE PARDON PROJECT OF BERKS COUNTY, A PROGRAM THAT SEEKS TO NOT ONLY RAISE AWARENESS OF THE PARDON PROCESS, BUT ALSO TO MATCH TRAINED VOLUNTEER PARDON COACHES WITH APPLICANTS SEEKING A PARDON TO ASSIST THEM IN COMPLETING THEIR PARDON APPLICATIONS, GIVING THEM A HIGHER LIKELIHOOD OF OBTAINING A PARDON.
- $605,748 spent. REBUILDING REENTRANTS AND READING (R3): CONNECTIONS WORK PARTNERS WITH THE READING MUHLENBERG CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER (RMCTC) AND THE GOGGLEWORKS CENTER FOR THE ARTS TO PROVIDE THE THREE COMPONENTS OF THE TRAINING; CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION AT RMCTC, HANDS ON LEARNING IN THE WOODSHOP AND WELDING STUDIO AT THE GOGGLEWORKS AND AN EMPLOYMENT FOCUSED COGNITIVE CURRICULUM DELIVERED BY CONNECTIONS WORK STAFF. IN 2024, 34 PARTICIPANTS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE PROGRAM. GRADUATES OF THE PROGRAM HAVE PROVEN HIGH LEVELS OF SUCCESS - 63% ARE CURRENTLY EMPLOYED AND 96% HAVE NOT RECIDIVATED.
- $795,350 spent. PRETRIAL/DIVERSION: PRETRIAL OFFICERS CONDUCT POST-ARREST INTERVIEWS AND ASSESSMENTS OF CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS AND FURNISH THE VERIFIED ASSESSMENTS TO THE JUDICIARY, EITHER PRIOR TO BAIL BEING SET OR AT THE PRELIMINARY HEARING. CONNECTIONS WORK ALSO ASSISTS WITH JAIL POPULATION MANAGEMENT BY MONITORING THE PRETRIAL POPULATION AND PROVIDING ASSESSMENTS TO THE COURT FOR DEFENDANTS WHO ARE DEEMED LOW RISK AND ARE ONLY INCARCERATED DUE TO THEIR INABILITY TO PAY MONETARY BAIL. IN 2024, CONNECTIONS WORK PROVIDED 1,316 DEFENDANT ASSESSMENTS TO THE COURTS. CONNECTIONS WORK ALSO PROVIDES SUPERVISED RELEASE FOR CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE REMAIN IN JAIL UNTIL THE FINAL DISPOSITION OF THEIR CASE. CONNECTIONS WORK ALSO OVERSEES THE FORENSIC DIVERSION PROGRAM. THE GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO ACT AS A LIAISON BETWEEN VARIOUS CRIMINAL JUSTICE ENTITIES TO DECREASE THE INCARCERATION RATE OF NON-VIOLENT MENTALLY ILL DEFENDANTS, WHILE ENSURING COMMUNITY SAFETY.
- $63,172 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH: THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH TEAM (COT) IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THREE AREAS: 1. VOLUNTEERS: THE TEAM MANAGES THE RECRUITMENT AND OVERSIGHT OF ALL AGENCY VOLUNTEERS THAT SUPPORT OUR VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND REENTRY INITIATIVES, INCLUDING OUR FAMILY CONNECTIONS EVENTS, HOLIDAY GIFT PROJECT, MOTHER'S/FATHER'S VOICE PROGRAM, RETURNING CITIZENS CAREER FAIRS, AND MOCK INTERVIEWING. 2. MARKETING: THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OVERSIGHT AND PRODUCTION OF OUR AGENCY'S MARKETING MATERIAL INCLUDING SOCIAL MEDIA, NEWSLETTERS, AND APPEALS. 3. EVENTS: THE TEAM OVERSEES CONNECTIONS WORK EVENTS AND INITIATIVES INCLUDING THE ANNUAL AWARDS BREAKFAST, TWO CAREER FAIRS, FRIENDS OF CONNECTIONS WORK SOCIAL, RAFFLES, AND OUTSIDE AGENCY SPONSORED EVENTS. IN 2024, OUR VOLUNTEERS HELPED US SERVE JUST UNDER 300 CHILDREN IN OUR HOLIDAY GIFT PROJECT, 775 CHILDREN WITH MOTHER'S/FATHER'S VOICE, AND ASSISTED OVER 450 JOB SEEKERS AT OUR RETURNING CITIZENS CAREER FAIRS.
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
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 December 2024.
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 October 1975.
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.