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National Council for Behavioral Health

EIN 23-7092671 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood77 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DBA NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR MENTAL WELLBEING IS A MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION THAT DRIVES POLICY AND SOCIAL CHANGE ON BEHALF OF OVER 3,100 MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT ORGANIZATIONS AND THE MORE THAN (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) (CONTINUED) 10 MILLION CHILDREN, ADULTS AND FAMILIES THEY SERVE. WE ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES TO ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY SERVICES. WE BUILD THE CAPACITY OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT ORGANIZATIONS. AND WE PROMOTE GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF MENTAL WELLBEING AS A CORE COMPONENT OF COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE. THROUGH OUR MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID PROGRAM, WE HAVE TRAINED MORE THAN 4 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE U.S. TO IDENTIFY, UNDERSTAND AND RESPOND TO SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE CHALLENGES.

Income
$76.7 million
Spending
$80.6 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 54%
Employees
339
Volunteers
34
Highest pay
$1.1 million, president/ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    30 of 30 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 September 30, 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 (6)
  1. $25.1 million spent. PUBLIC EDUCATION - PUBLIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES INCLUDING FOCUS ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY OF MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID USA - A PROGRAM TO HELP PEOPLE LEARN THE SIGNS OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AND HOW TO OFFER SUPPORT TO THOSE IN NEED. MORE THAN 3.5 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN THE PROGRAM.
  2. $19.4 million spent. PRACTICE IMPROVEMENT - PRACTICE IMPROVEMENT ACTIVITIES PROVIDE CUSTOMIZED TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO IMPROVE CLINICAL AND COMMUNITY PRACTICE, ENHANCE WORKFORCE CAPACITY, AND CREATE OPERATIONAL AND FINANCING EFFICIENCIES FOR SPECIALTY BEHAVIORAL AND PRIMARY HEALTHCARE AGENCIES TO DELIVERING HIGH-QUALITY, CULTURALLY AND CLINICALLY-COMPETENT MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE CARE.
  3. $13.0 million spent. EDUCATIONAL AND CONSULTING SERVICES - EDUCATIONAL AND CONSULTING SERVICES OFFER STATE-OF-THE-SCIENCE INFORMATION, RESEARCH, TRAINING, AND EXPERT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER SPECIALTY HEALTHCARE PROVIDER AGENCIES ACHIEVE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES, SHARPEN PRACTICE SKILLS, AND ENRICH THE LIVES OF ADULTS, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. OUR NATIONAL CONFERENCE (NATCON) IS FOCUSED ON MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AND WAS HELD IN PERSON APRIL 14-17, 2024 AT THE CONVENTION CENTER IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.
  4. $4.1 million spent. PUBLIC POLICY - PUBLIC POLICY ACTIVITIES INCLUDE FIGHTING TO ADVANCE POLICIES THAT EXPAND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT SERVICES, WORKING TO ENSURE MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT ORGANIZATIONS CAN MEET THE NEEDS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES NOW AND IN THE FUTURE. WE ADVOCATE FOR FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING, NEW AND INNOVATIVE CARE DELIVERY AND PAYMENT MODELS, AND A STRONG MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT WORKFORCE. BY IMPROVING ACCESS TO LIFESAVING SERVICES, WE CAN MAKE MENTAL WELLBEING - INCLUDING RECOVERY FROM SUBSTANCE USE CHALLENGES - A REALITY FOR EVERYONE.
  5. $2.4 million spent. MEMBERSHIP SERVICES - MEMBERSHIP PROVIDES ACCESS TO A COMPREHENSIVE ARRAY OF TOOLS, RESOURCES, NETWORKS AND CONTENT TO BOOST LEADERSHIP, BUILD WORKFORCE, IMPROVE SERVICE DELIVERY AND INCREASE COMMUNITY IMPACT.
  6. $2.3 million spent. MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS, AND EVENTS (MCE): MCE USES COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS AND TOOLS TO RAISE AWARENESS AND MAKE MENTAL WELLBEING INCLUDING RECOVERY FROM SUBSTANCE USE CHALLENGES A REALITY FOR EVERYONE. THE DEPARTMENT, WHICH SUPPORTS EVERY FACET OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL'S INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS EFFORTS, CREATES PUBLIC RELATIONS, BRANDING, ADVERTISING, SOCIAL MEDIA, MARKETING AND EVENT STRATEGIES THAT ELEVATE BRAND AWARENESS AND HELP STAKEHOLDERS BETTER UNDERSTAND THE NATIONAL COUNCIL'S GOALS, PRIORITIES, SERVICES AND PRODUCTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1982.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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