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Community Mediation Services of Central Ohio Inc

EIN 31-1252085 · Columbus, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood74 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Devoted to reducing the harmful physical, emotional and economic effects of unmanaged or mismanaged conflict on culturally diverse individuals, families, organizations and communities.

Income
$917,778
Spending
$895,306
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
4.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 83%
Employees
16
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$92,026, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 36% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% 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 December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $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

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (1)
  1. $879,897 spent. For the period January 1,2024 to December 31, 2024, CMS Housing Stability/Homelessness Prevention Program provided services to a total of 2,359 Tenants with a total of 6,073 Household Members.1923 Tenants w/4949 Household Members were provided the Programs Tenant/Landlord Eviction Prevention Mediation Services and an additional 436 tenants with 1,124 Household Members were provided the programs FREE 2.5 Tenant Eviction Prevention Education Workshop.The agencys Tenant/Landlord Conflict Mediation Services provided disputing tenants and landlords involved in eviction related disputes with access to specially trained, impartial mediators by phone as well as on site daily at Franklin County Municipal Court where more than 21,000 eviction proceedings were filed (more than in any other area of Ohio).98% of the tenants provided the programs tenant/landlord mediation services were able to reach an agreement with the landlord that allowed for the tenant to maintain stable housing. Approximately 72% of those settlements were Pay and Stay agreements that allowed the tenant to get caught up on overdue back rent so that they could remain in their current housing and avoid the need for emergency shelter. The other 28% of agreements reached were Voluntary Move Out Arrangements that resulted in the tenant receiving additional time to move so they could successfully relocate to alternative stable housing and the eviction judgement against the tenant being dismissed in the court record.This program also provided 436 additional low-income individuals with 1124 household members at risk of eviction with a 2.5 Hour Eviction Prevention Education Workshop. This training was designed to help targeted tenants understand the 10 most dangerous myths about eviction and how to avoid its most harmful consequences, homelessness. More than 98% of tenant participants scored 80% or higher on a post workshop quiz designed to measure the tenants knowledge about the eviction process and how to avoid its harmful effects. During this past year CMS also assisted scores of tenants in applying for emergency rental assistance from a number of other community partners who were distributing these resources to eligible individuals.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 1989.

    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.