Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Empower Somerset Inc

EIN 23-7364157 · Somerville, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair57 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EMPOWER SOMERSET ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN MAKING POSITIVE LIFESTYLE CHOICES AND PROMOTES HEALTHY, DRUG FREE COMMUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATION, COLLABORATION, AND CONNECTIONS TO RESOURCES.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 97%
Employees
51
Volunteers
94
Highest pay
$117,940, executive di

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

Fair: 57 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 61% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% 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: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 11 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 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 (1)
  1. $2.9 million spent. EMPOWER SOMERSET IS PROUD TO BE A LOCAL NONPROFIT AGENCY THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE GREAT QUALITY OF LIFE IN SOMERSET COUNTY AND CENTRAL JERSEY BY CREATING HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES. THE ORGANIZATION WAS FORMED IN 1974 AND HAS BEEN PROVIDING LIFE SKILLS PREVENTION EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 40 YEARS. IN 2010, EMPOWER SOMERSET BECAME THE LEAD GRANTEE FOR THE SEVEN-COUNTY CENTRAL REGION OF NEW JERSEY'S STATEWIDE SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAM. THE WHOLE SCHOOL, WHOLE COMMUNITY, WHOLE CHILD (WSCC) MODEL IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND NEW JERSEY'S SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAM, EMPHASIZING THAT ALL CHILDREN DESERVE TO BE HEALTHY, SAFE, ENGAGED, SUPPORTED AND CHALLENGED. EMPOWER SOMERSET IS THE MANAGING AGENCY OF SOMERSET COUNTY'S PIONEER FAMILY SUCCESS CENTER, ESTABLISHED IN 2012 AS A COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACE THAT CONNECTS FAMILIES TO HELPFUL RESOURCES AND BRINGS FAMILIES TOGETHER THROUGH FREE EVENTS & LOCAL ACTIVITIES. PIONEER FAMILY SUCCESS CENTER HOSTS A MONTHLY FREE FAMILY FUN NIGHT AT ROTATING LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT SOMERSET COUNTY, PROVIDING FAMILIES WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY QUALITY TIME TOGETHER. EMPOWER SOMERSET FACILITATES A WIDE VARIETY OF LIFE SKILLS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS EACH YEAR, SUCH AS THE SCHOOL HEALTH INITIATIVE, STRENGTHENING FAMILIES PROGRAMS AND PROGRAMS FOR VETERANS AND ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY ON HEALTH MANAGEMENT, STRESS REDUCTION AND FINANCIAL WELL-BEING. EMPOWER SOMERSET IS A MANAGING PARTNER AGENCY OF THE SAFE COMMUNITIES COALITION, DEDICATED TO ELIMINATING DRUG USE, UNDERAGE DRINKING AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE IN SOMERSET COUNTY COMMUNITIES. EMPOWER SOMERSET IS PROUD TO BE A LOCAL NONPROFIT AGENCY THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE GREAT QUALITY OF LIFE IN SOMERSET COUNTY AND CENTRAL JERSEY BY CREATING HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES. THE ORGANIZATION WAS FORMED IN 1974 AND HAS BEEN PROVIDING LIFE SKILLS PREVENTION EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 40 YEARS. IN 2010, EMPOWER SOMERSET BECAME THE LEAD GRANTEE FOR THE SEVEN-COUNTY CENTRAL REGION OF NEW JERSEY'S STATEWIDE SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAM. THE WHOLE SCHOOL, WHOLE COMMUNITY, WHOLE CHILD (WSCC) MODEL IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND NEW JERSEY'S SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAM, EMPHASIZING THAT ALL CHILDREN DESERVE TO BE HEALTHY, SAFE, ENGAGED, SUPPORTED AND CHALLENGED. EMPOWER SOMERSET IS THE MANAGING AGENCY OF SOMERSET COUNTY'S PIONEER FAMILY SUCCESS CENTER, ESTABLISHED IN 2012 AS A COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACE THAT CONNECTS FAMILIES TO HELPFUL RESOURCES AND BRINGS FAMILIES TOGETHER THROUGH FREE EVENTS & LOCAL ACTIVITIES. PIONEER FAMILY SUCCESS CENTER HOSTS A MONTHLY FREE FAMILY FUN NIGHT AT ROTATING LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT SOMERSET COUNTY, PROVIDING FAMILIES WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY QUALITY TIME TOGETHER. EMPOWER SOMERSET FACILITATES A WIDE VARIETY OF LIFE SKILLS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS EACH YEAR, SUCH AS THE SCHOOL HEALTH INITIATIVE, STRENGTHENING FAMILIES PROGRAMS AND PROGRAMS FOR VETERANS AND ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY ON HEALTH MANAGEMENT, STRESS REDUCTION AND FINANCIAL WELL-BEING. EMPOWER SOMERSET IS A MANAGING PARTNER AGENCY OF THE SAFE COMMUNITIES COALITION, DEDICATED TO ELIMINATING DRUG USE, UNDERAGE DRINKING AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE IN SOMERSET COUNTY COMMUNITIES.

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 2025.

    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 July 1974.

    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.