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Northern Tier Community Action Corp

EIN 25-1201846 · Emporium, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceGood89 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To provide services to the economically disadvantaged of Pennsylvanias Cameron, Elk, McKean and Potter counties.

Income
$6.3 million
Spending
$6.1 million
Spent on programs
99%
Reserves
2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 93%
Employees
102
Volunteers
309

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: 61 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 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 (18)
  1. $3.0 million spent. Head Start Program - The NTCAC Head Start Program has 13 centers located throughout the four county service areas, with 2 being Pre-K and home based. The home based projects serve Elk and Cameron Counties only. The centers provide pre-school education, health and nutritional services to children of low-income families and also serve as an outreach to these childrens families. A variety of social services are provided to the childrens families through NTCAC and other area social service agencies (School Districts, Transportation providers, Mental Health, Health Department, etc.). A minimum of ten percent of the total enrollment is set aside to serve children with professionally diagnosed disabilities.
  2. $1.1 million spent. Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) - The NTCAC Weatherization Program is provided to families with household income within 150% of Federal Poverty Guidelines. Priority is given to households with children under the age of 6 and those homes with handicapped, and/or elderly occupants. Highly skilled staff provide an energy audit to assess the entire household determining which materials cost will effectively provide a warm, energy efficient home while insuring occupant health and safety. Clients are also provided with information on ways in which they can control high utility costs. Services are provided to owner occupied dwellings as well as rental units throughout the four county service area. In FY 2024/25 the Weatherization Program provided services to 90 individuals and 77 Families/Homes.
  3. $418,901 spent. Energy Assistance - These programs are of last resort in providing services to individuals meeting eligibility requirements who have exhausted all other means of assistance for purchasing deliverable fuels and/or are having problems meeting utility payments. In FY 2024/25- Energy Assistance services were provided to 244 Individuals/ 220 Families
  4. $315,000 spent. Pre-K Counts - NTCAC Pre-K Counts program in Cameron & Elk Counties provides curriculum designed to help children grow academically and socially in preparation for kindergarten entry. This program, working directly with school districts, served 33 children ages 3 to kindergarten eligible. In FY 2024-2025 Pre-K Counts services were provided to 33 Children/ 32 Families.
  5. $262,398 spent. Community Services Block Grant - The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) through the Department of Community and Economic Development, the core operating funding for Community Action agencies makes possible the leverage and operation of other grant funded programs and services.
  6. $197,727 spent. Child and Adult Care Food Program - NTCAC sponsors the PA Department of Education, Child and Adult Care Food Program, which aids in the provision of nutritious meals to children in Head Start. In FY 2024/25 the Child and Adult Care Food Program provided a total of 60,832 meals; serving 250 individuals.
  7. $173,026 spent. OUD - Program provides housing and substance use disorder services for Cameron, Elk, and McKean Counties
  8. $155,449 spent. PHARE - Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) fund. The Potter County Homeless Prevention Program (PCHPP) was created to provide case management with financial assistance for qualified low-income families affected by the reduction of available rentals and increased rental costs impacted by the Marcellus drilling in Potter County. In FY 2024/25 the PCHPP provided assistance to 133 Individuals / 64 Families.
  9. $152,177 spent. Food & Nutrition Programs - Provides supplemental food boxes to low-income families. Food items are obtained through local donations and from funds and commodities provided by The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), State Food Purchase Program (SFPP), and the funds and commodities provided by The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), State Food Purchase Program (SFPP), and the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program (EFSNBP). NTCAC serves as the lead agency assisting local food banks with receiving, distribution and reporting. There are currently three food banks in Elk County and one in Cameron. In FY 2024/25 - Food & Nutrition services had 316 unduplicated families served, 1,895 duplicated families served, 159 unduplicated children, 905 duplicated children, 301 unduplicated adults, 1,702 duplicated adults, 172 unduplicated elderly, 1,099 duplicated elderly. 2,279 total food boxes were distributed.
  10. $119,991 spent. HSSAP Program - Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program (See Head Start)
  11. $78,942 spent. Emergency Solutions Grant for Veterans Families (ESGV) - As a sub-contractor with Lawrence County Community Action partnership for the Emergency Solutions Grant, NTCAC provides assistance to eligible veterans who are homeless or at risk for homelessness. Eligible veterans in Cameron, Elk, McKean amd Potter counties will receive case management assistance with acquiring permanent housing as quickly as possible or attain stability in their current housing situation. Housing relocation and short to medium term rental and/or utility assistance may also be provided. FY 2024/25- this Program served 18 individuals and 7 families.
  12. $55,764 spent. ERAP - Funding provided during FY25 to support emegency rental and utility assistance to those in need in both Elk and Cameron County. The program ended during FY25.
  13. $51,145 spent. CBO
  14. $10,999 spent. Whole-Home Repairs Program - Address habitability and saftey concerns, improve energy and water efficiency and make units accessible for individuals with disabilities for low income families and individuals.
  15. $8,228 spent. Homeless Assistance Programs - Homeless Assistance Program (HAP)/ Human Services Development Fund (HSDF), Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP), provides rental assistance economically disadvantaged families. The NTCAC Homeless Assistance Program funded through the Department of Human Services and Cameron County, provides rental assistance to families who are in imminent danger of eviction or are currently homeless. Additional case management is provided through Cameron County HSDF. In FY 2024/25 Homeless Assistance services were provided to 12 individuals and 7 families
  16. $784 spent. HOME
  17. Food Bank - See Food and Nutrition Programs
  18. Safe & Healthy Homes Program funded through Lawrence County Community Action (SHHP). This program is designed to provide free in-home health and safety assessments to qualified participants in the region.

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

  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 June 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 January 1972.

    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.