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Community Health and Empowerment Through Education and Research Inc

EIN 27-3662468 · Silver Spring, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceFair61 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CHEER convenes, connects, and collaborates with neighbors and partners to uplift strengths and cultivate agency for healthier, safer, and thriving communities.

Income
$871,050
Spending
$810,307
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 89%
Employees
12
Volunteers
90
Highest pay
$162,092, executive director

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 38% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% 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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (6)
  1. $258,591 spent. Healthy Long Branch employs community members as community health workers to promote health and access to health care. In FY 2025 CHWs provided case management to 780 residents at the County's Silver Spring hub. This included enrollment help in SNAP, arranging prenatal care for pregnant mothers, providing access to health care and making other referrals as needed. CHEER enrolled 321 households (646 people) in SNAP, 387 households (1,277 people) in Qualified Health Plans or Medicaid, 301 households (454 community members} in free private health insurance, and helped 445 households in other ways. CHWs' partner with local schools to ensure healthy nutrition and fitness for eligible children by providing weekly produce and bi-weekly fitness and nutrition education to youth and their families who screen positive for food insecurity and where the child or parent has a diet-related disease. This food is medicine program served 200 people in FY 2025. During FY25, CHEER transitioned from a food box pickup to a free choice food distribution model where residents shop for nutritious foods at mobile markets located at two local schools and the Farmers Market. This program served about 1,200 people. CHEER also provides monthly vouchers to 50 participants to be able to shop at one of two local cultural grocery stores.
  2. $121,722 spent. Long Branch Thrives: CHEER took on the role of lead partner in the newly formed Long Branch Thrives Coalition. This is a coalition of 31 partners who will use a holistic place based community driven approach to lifting Long Branch children out of poverty. In FY 2025 CHEER facilitated 4 community meetings involving 60 community members to develop a long term plan to improve youth development outcomes.
  3. $97,786 spent. Long Branch Collective Action for Youth: CHEER serves as the lead convener for LBCAY, a multi-year collaborative impact project bringing together community organizations, residents and youth to initiate an agreed-upon common agenda, goals and shared measures. LBCAY's achievements in FY 25 included ongoing community asset mapping; stakeholder convenings with youth; after school programming for middle and high school youth in financial Literacy, college and career readiness, and environmental stewardship; youth leadership opportunities, and regular engagement with families and community. In FY 2025 LBCAY served 160 youth.
  4. $72,903 spent. CHEER's Empowerment and Leadership Development (ELD) approach empowers community groups in underserved and underrepresented neighborhoods by supporting their efforts to organize local events, engage in civic life, and influence public decision-making. In FY25, ELD supported community advocacy on key issues such as public safety, pedestrian safety, and housing. Collaborative community engagement events included. Power in the Park (over 300 participated) which brings programs and resources that support energy savings and efficiency in the Long Branch community. Flower Avenue Together (over 150 participated) which highlights diversity, culture, and community resources in Takoma Park. CHEER also helped raise resident voices through a community led walk (60 participated) to inform officials working on the upcoming Purple Line light rail about pedestrian safety concerns The Long Branch Gardeners share knowledge, experience and the excitement of growing culturally-appropriate food within walking distance of their homes. Gardeners meet twice weekly to plan, plant, maintain and harvest together, while exchanging cooking tips from their respective cultures. This program involved 20 community members.
  5. $35,118 spent. Summer Children and Youth Camps: Camp Piney Branch is CHEER's free summer camp for elementary students that is supported by local teens serving as camp counselors. It served 40 children in the summer of 2024. CHEER also partners with Nature Forward to send Long Branch youth to Camp Woodend's environmental summer camp. This camp served an additional 23 Long Branch children.
  6. $10,710 spent. CHEER acts as the fiscal agent for 3 unincorporated community organizations that organize community events and activities consistent with the goals of the community. These include Power in the Park (a group that organizes an event for the New Hampshire Estates neighborhood), the Maple Tree Group (a group of community leaders serving the Maple Avenue neighborhood in Takoma Park), and Local Maternity Threads which provides used prenatal clothing to expectant mothers in need.

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 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 June 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 May 2011.

    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.

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.