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Community Shelter Board

EIN 31-1181284 · Columbus, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak34 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE COMMUNITY SHELTER BOARD IS ENDING HOMELESSNESS BY CREATING COLLABORATIONS, INNOVATING SOLUTIONS, AND INVESTING IN QUALITY PROGRAMS.

Income
$56.2 million
Spending
$59.1 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
-1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 92%
Employees
50
Volunteers
400
Highest pay
$385,000, president/ceo

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

Weak: 34 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 54% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • 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

    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 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 (4)
  1. $19.9 million spent. EMERGENCY SHELTER: EMERGENCY SHELTER BEDS ARE PROVIDED FOR MEN, WOMEN, AND FAMILIES AT SEVERAL SITES THROUGHOUT COLUMBUS AND FRANKLIN COUNTY. EMERGENCY SHELTERS PROVIDE A SAFE AND DIGNIFIED ENVIRONMENT. SHELTER OPERATORS WORK TO HELP PEOPLE END THEIR HOMELESS CRISIS QUICKLY, CONNECTING PEOPLE TO RAPID RE-HOUSING SERVICES, EMPLOYMENT AND JOB TRAINING, SUPPORT SERVICES, MEDICAL CARE, AND HOUSING RESOURCES. 6,849 PEOPLE INCLUDING 1,651 CHILDREN, 568 PEOPLE AGE 62+, 330 VETERANS, AND 151 EXPECTANT MOTHERS, WERE PROVIDED WITH SAFE EMERGENCY SHELTER WHILE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. OUT OF THESE, 1,756 PEOPLE (26%) EXITED AND ACHIEVED PERMANENT HOUSING.
  2. $10.4 million spent. RAPID RE-HOUSING: WHILE IN SHELTER, INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES RECEIVE ASSISTANCE TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN PERMANENT HOUSING. SINGLE ADULTS AND FAMILIES ARE LINKED TO INTENSIVE SERVICES, SUCH AS EMPLOYMENT AND JOB TRAINING, MEDICAL CARE, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND HOUSING TO PROMPTLY STABILIZE THEM IN HOUSING. PEOPLE ALSO RECEIVE SUPPORT AFTER THEY ARE HOUSED TO ASSURE LONG-TERM STABILITY. 2,790 PEOPLE INCLUDING 89 EXPECTANT MOTHERS, 538 PARENTING YOUTH FAMILIES, AND 371 VETERANS IN SHELTER, RECEIVED HELP TO FIND STABLE HOUSING. OVERALL, 70% EXITED AND SECURED PERMANENT HOUSING.
  3. $3.8 million spent. PREVENTION: FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS FACING HOMELESSNESS ARE CONNECTED TO WORK AND JOB TRAINING, TENANT EDUCATION, AND RELOCATION SERVICES TO QUICKLY RESOLVE THEIR HOUSING CRISIS AND KEEP THEM STABLY HOUSED. HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVE TEMPORARY UTILITY AND RENT ASSISTANCE TO RETAIN THEIR HOUSING. 3,335 PEOPLE INCLUDING 91 EXPECTANT MOTHERS, 610 PARENTING YOUTH FAMILIES, 189 VETERANS AND 2,445 FAMILY MEMBERS, RECEIVED PREVENTION SERVICES TO REMAIN STABLY HOUSED AND NOT GO TO A HOMELESS SHELTER. OVERALL, 83% MAINTAINED THEIR HOUSING. THEY REMAINED STABLY HOUSED AND DID NOT ENTER INTO A HOMELESS SHELTER.
  4. $22.0 million spent. PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING: PEOPLE EXPERIENCING LONG-TERM OR REPEATED HOMELESSNESS WHO HAVE DISABILITIES ARE PROVIDED AN APARTMENT WITH HEALTH CARE, EMPLOYMENT, AND OTHER SUPPORTS TO ASSURE THEY REMAIN IN STABLE HOUSING. 3,887 PEOPLE INCLUDING 525 VETERANS, 44 TRANSITIONAL AGE (18-24) YOUTH, AND 960 PEOPLE AGES 62+, WERE KEPT SAFELY HOUSED AND HEALTHY IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING,

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 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 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 December 1986.

    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.