Listen Lebanon in Service to Each Neighbor
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
LISTEN's mission is to provide services and support to meet the critical needs of Upper Valley individuals and families.
- Income
- $5.9 million
- Spending
- $6.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- -0.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 91%
- Employees
- 112
- Volunteers
- 1,064
- Highest pay
- $126,753, executive director (end 8/2024)
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
Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 27% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
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 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 (1)
- $4.9 million spent. For over 50 years, LISTEN Community Services has been a community-based nonprofit dedicated to meeting the immediate basic needs of Upper Valley residents with compassion and respect. Through food assistance, heating and housing support, and related services, we work to ensure that neighbors have access to essential resources and pathways toward greater stability. More than 8,000 of our neighbors were supported in fiscal year 2025.LISTEN also operates three Thrift Stores in Canaan and Lebanon, NH, and White River Junction, VT. We are the region's largest resource for affordable, high-quality second-hand items. In addition, our stores play a crucial role in minimizing landfill waste by enabling community members to practice the principles of reducing, reusing, and recycling through our donation centers.Community support makes LISTEN's work possible. Program funding comes from philanthropy; individuals, foundations, faith communities, civic organizations, and local towns, while the remainder is generated through revenue from LISTEN's three thrift stores. LISTEN does not receive state or federal funding, making this strong community commitment critical to sustaining and expanding our services.PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS:The Service Coordination Program is the foundation of LISTEN's work, connecting community members with one-on-one support to navigate challenges and build stability. Service Coordinators help clients access benefits, secure housing, obtain financial assistance, and connect to essential services. Through this personalized approach, individuals and families can make meaningful progress toward greater independence and well-being. 3,110 households received service coordination support this year.For households living paycheck to paycheck, even a short-term financial setback can lead to empty fuel tanks, mounting utility bills, or the risk of shutoff during the coldest months of the year. Our Heating Helpers Program responds by providing small emergency grants-typically around $400-to help households maintain safe heat and avoid disconnection. More than 1,500 people were helped this year.LISTEN's housing support includes two efforts: Housing Helpers grants and a Transitional Housing unit. Housing Helpers provides small, targeted grants for rent, mortgage, or security deposits, along with connections to legal services, helping prevent eviction and keep neighbors stably housed. Complementing this, LISTEN operates a Transitional Housing apartment for Lebanon residents facing homelessness, offering temporary shelter while they secure permanent housing. More than 750 people were helped this year.We address food insecurity through two core services: the Community Dining Hall and the Food Pantry, providing neighbors with reliable access to nutritious meals as well as groceries and basic household staples. All community members are welcome. The Food Pantry, located at 60 Hanover Street in Lebanon, is open five days a week and provides visitors with a week's supply of groceries, including fresh produce, pantry staples, and personal care items. Almost 5,000 people were served this year.The Community Dining Hall, located at 42 Maple Street in White River Junction, serves free lunch and dinner to more than 150 people five days a week with the help of over 20 volunteer cook teams. Beyond providing a reliable source of nutritious meals, the Dining Hall fosters a strong sense of social connectedness, bringing together guests, staff, and volunteers in a welcoming space where people can build relationships and feel part of a caring community. More than 38,000 meals were served this year.Our Summer Camp Scholarship Program helps children participate in enriching summer experiences that might otherwise be financially out of reach. Scholarships remove cost barriers for families so children can spend time outdoors, develop social skills, and try new activities that build confidence and independence. 168 children received support this year.Phone Helpers provides working cell phones to individuals and families, removing a critical barrier to communication. Reliable phone access enables clients to stay connected to essential services like healthcare, employment, and case management, supporting greater stability and independence. It also strengthens social connections, reduces isolation, and improves overall well-being. 665 people were supported last year.Holiday Baskets are a meaningful way our community shows care during the holiday season, helping brighten this time of year for local families and seniors. Seniors receive a basket that includes a $50 grocery gift card and three pieces of warm clothing, while families with children under 18 receive three warm clothing items for each child along with a $50 grocery gift card for the household. 449 people received gifts last year.We also respond to urgent, individualized needs that can quickly destabilize a household if left unaddressed-providing targeted support for essentials like gas, laundry, auto repairs, and prescriptions so clients can maintain stability and continue moving forward.Volunteers are vital to our daily operations offering care, compassion, and connection when needed. Individuals, families, and groups support our work across the Food Pantry, Community Dining Hall, and Thrift Stores by stocking shelves, assisting visitors, preparing and serving meals, cleaning up, and sorting donated goods. Last year, 1,061 volunteers gave their time.
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 August 1973.
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.