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Advantage Credit Counseling Service Inc

EIN 25-1201741 · Pittsburgh, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, THE AGENCY PROVIDES MEANINGFUL, PROFESSIONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL CONSUMER EDUCATION AND BUDGET/CREDIT COUNSELING AND DEVELOPS EFFECTIVE DEBT REDUCTION PROGRAMS FOR ALL SEGMENTS OF THE COMMUNITY. THE AGENCY EDUCATES CONSUMERS ABOUT WISE MONEY MANAGEMENT AND THE RESPONSIBLE USE OF CREDIT.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$2.4 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
7.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 42%
Employees
32
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$162,418, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 25

    11 of 12 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, 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 (4)
  1. $980,419 spent. ADVANTAGE CREDIT COUNSELING SERVICE, INC. PROVIDES CREDIT-COUNSELING AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE AGENCY HAS ASSISTED THOUSANDS OF CLIENTS IN DEVELOPING A BUDGET, DETERMINING OPTIONS FOR REPAYING DEBTS AND WHEN APPROPRIATE, ADMINISTERING A DEBT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. THE AGENCY ALSO PROVIDES FINANCIAL LITERACY EDUCATION TO ITS CLIENTS AND THE PUBLIC. ADDITIONALLY, THE AGENCY IS APPROVED BY HUD AND THE PENNSYLVANIA HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE HOUSING COUNSELING SERVICES. THIS INCLUDES COUNSELING PENNSYLVANIA HOMEOWNERS IN THREAT OF FORCLOSURE ON VARIOUS LOSS MITIGATION OPTIONS, INTERVENING WITH THEIR MORTGAGE LENDERS, AND ASSISTING WITH APPLICATIONS FOR THE STATE'S HOMEOWNERS EMERGENCY MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THE AGENCY COUNSELS FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS ON THE ENTIRE HOME BUYING PROCESS AND PROVIDES REVERSE MORTGAGE COUNSELING TO SENIOR HOMEOWNERS.
  2. $621,403 spent. THE AGENCY IS APPROVED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA HOUSING AND FINANCE AGENCY AND HUD TO CONDUCT COMPREHENSIVE HOUSING COUNSELING SERVICES. THE AGENCY PROVIDES COUNSELING AND EDUCATION FOR HOMEOWNERS IN THREAT OF FORECLOSURE, AS WELL AS INTERVENTION WITH LENDERS REGARDING LOSS MITIGATION OPTIONS SUCH AS LOAN MODIFICATIONS. THE AGENCY ALSO ASSISTS PENNSYLVANIA HOMEOWNERS WITH APPLYING FOR STATE EMERGENCY LOANS. THE AGENCY COUNSELS POTENTIAL HOMEBUYERS WHO HAVE BARRIERS THEY MUST OVERCOME TO QUALIFY FOR MORTGAGE LOANS. THE AGENCY ALSO COUNSELS INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE QUALIFIED FOR A MORTGAGE BUT ARE REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN COUNSELING AND EDUCATION.
  3. $130,724 spent. THE AGENCY IS APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR THE UNITED STATES TRUSTEES TO PROVIDE PRE-FILING BANKRUPTCY COUNSELING AND PRE-DISCHARGE BANKRUPTCY EDUCATION. CONSUMERS CONTEMPLATING BANKRUPTCY MUST FIRST HAVE COUNSELING THROUGH AN APPROVED NON-PROFIT PROVIDER AS PRESCRIBED BY THE BANKRUPTCY ABUSE PREVENTION AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT OF 2005.
  4. $10,451 spent. THE AGENCY PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR UTILITY COMPANIES ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS; THESE PROGRAMS ARE GEARED TO LOW AND MODERATE INCOME CONSUMERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 May 2002.

    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.