Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio

EIN 31-0807186 · Blue Ash, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To enhance the lives of adults by assisting them to remain independent at home through a range of quality services.

Income
$140.4 million
Spending
$140.1 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 84%
Employees
471
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$508,883, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (human services, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 43% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (human services, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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 September 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 (5)
  1. $87.2 million spent. Community-based In-home Services: Council on Aging's (COA) home and community-based services make it possible for frail older adults and individuals with disabilities to remain independent in their homes and avoid unnecessary hospitalization and nursing home placement. Services also support family caregivers who are struggling to balance competing responsibilities including childrearing and careers. Council on Aging's core service area includes Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton and Warren counties. In-home care is preferred by more than 90 percent of older adults, according to surveys by AARP and other organizations. In addition, the cost for in-home care is a fraction of the cost of care in a nursing home. Because taxpayers fund most nursing home care (via Medicaid), in-home care alternatives are a valuable and compassionate way to save public funds. In-home care services include home-delivered meals; transportation to medical and other appointments; assistance with housekeeping and personal care (bathing and grooming); medical equipment and assistive devices; home modification; and more.
  2. $29.1 million spent. Each enrolled individual has a care manager professional who assesses, develops care plans, implements, monitors and coordinates a range of services and supports to help individuals remain safe, healthy and independent. The care manager's role is to ensure individuals receive the right services, in the rights amounts, at the right times. In FFY 2025, Council on Aging served 27,358 individuals in our multi-county region with home and community-based services. Individuals were served through a variety of programs, including Ohio Medicaid waiver programs and county tax levy programs, as well as programs designed to help individuals safely transition from hospitals and institutions, back to independent living environments. Collectively, these individuals received more than 1.6 million hours of in-home, supportive services.
  3. $5.9 million spent. Community-based and Senior Center Services: These include a range of services designed to help older adults remain healthy, active and connected to their communities. Additional services provide legal assistance to low-income older adults and protect the rights of those receiving long-term care services in nursing homes and other settings. Services are provided by senior centers and other community organizations that have contracts with Council on Aging. One of the most important services in this category is transportation. In FFY 2025, COA provided 185,404 trips for individuals within our five-county region. Most trips are for medical appointments, but transportation for shopping, other errands and recreation is also provided. Funding for transportation falls far short of community need. Meals are another important service in this category. More than 13,400 individuals received approximately 1.8 million meals in congregate settings or delivered to their homes. An additional 3,434 low-income older adults were served through the USDA Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, receiving $50 in coupons to redeem for fresh fruits and vegetables at area participating farmers' markets. Additional community-based services in FFY 2025 included caregiver support and wellness programs for 4,299 individuals (including people caring for individuals with Alzheimer's); legal assistance for 2,413 older adults; ombudsman representation for 10,759 individuals in nursing homes and receiving in-home care; and supportive services for 739 individuals.
  4. $4.2 million spent. Information, Referral and Assessment: As the Area Agency on Aging for five counties in southwestern Ohio, we are a central source of information and the place where many people make their first call when seeking help or resources. Our Aging and Disability Resource Center, or our call center, serves as a "front door" to services and unbiased information for older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, professionals, civic and community leaders. We responded to more than 85,300 requests for information and referral in FFY 2025. Our call center is staffed with information and referral specialists and can be reached Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 800-252-0155 or online any time at www.help4seniors.org. The website features comprehensive searchable housing and resource databases, program information, news and events, and a 24/7 online referral form.
  5. (Expenses $ 4,199,106 including grants of $)(Revenue $ 661,707) Information, Referral and Assessment: As the Area Agency on Aging for five counties in southwestern Ohio, we are a central source of information and the place where many people make their first call when seeking help or resources. Our Aging and Disability Resource Center, or our call center, serves as a "front door" to services and unbiased information for older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, professionals, civic and community leaders. We responded to more than 85,300 requests for information and referral in FFY 2025. Our call center is staffed with information and referral specialists and can be reached Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 800-252-0155 or online any time at www.help4seniors.org. The website features comprehensive searchable housing and resource databases, program information, news and events, and a 24/7 online referral form.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 November 6, 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 September 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 April 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 November 4, 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.