Ohioguidestone
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To provide pathways for growth, achievement, and lifelong success.
- Income
- $102.0 million
- Spending
- $100.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 0.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 95%
- Employees
- 1,673
- Volunteers
- 23
- Highest pay
- $526,640, president & chief executive officer
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: 49 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (mental health, over $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 44% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 36 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (mental health, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2525 of 25 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $58.7 million spent. Home and Community Support Services: OhioGuidestone programs are offered in the home, community, or school. They connect clients to resources to overcome barriers to success. Services include mental health services, job training, and alcohol and other drug recovery services. Services preserve families, build client's skills, and help individuals establish self-sufficiency.
- $16.7 million spent. Out-of-Home Care & Clinical Services: OhioGuidestone offers children with severe histories of trauma and abuse safe, nurturing, and therapeutic environments through both Residential Treatment Centers and a Foster Care program. Foster children are placed into the loving homes of Foster Parents. OhioGuidestone provides intensive, 24/7 care for the children who live in the Residential Treatment Centers.
- $7.6 million spent. Early Childhood & Family Support Services: OhioGuidestone serves children with severe emotional, social, and behavioral problems, and/or developmental delays, with intensive home-based services, mental health treatment, and parent education. OhioGuidestone diagnoses, addresses, and counsels children and families. Recognizing the link between a quality education and success later in life, OhioGuidestone also offers high quality child care in multiple locations across Cleveland.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1947.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.