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Prevention Action Alliance

EIN 34-1584277 · Columbus, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak30 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LEADING THE WAY IN PROMOTING HEALTHY LIVES THROUGH THE PREVENTION OF SUBSTANCE MISUSE AND FOSTERING MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS.

Income
$3.4 million
Spending
$4.0 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 91%
Employees
12
Volunteers
16
Highest pay
$121,607, executive di

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: 30 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 66% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% 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. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 (5)
  1. $1.5 million spent. PROBLEM GAMBLING AWARENESS: WITH THE ADVENT OF CASINO AND OTHER FORMS OF GAMBLING IN THE STATE OF OHIO, A GREAT EFFORT MUST CONTINUE TO KEEP PROBLEM GAMBLING AT BAY. PAA WILL BUILD UPON THE AWARD WINNING, PREVENTION/AWARENESS PUBLIC HEALTH CAMPAIGN IN WHICH IT HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED. THIS CAMPAIGN PROVIDES POSITIVE MESSAGES TO BRING AWARENESS AND INTERACTIVELY ENGAGES THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THE SIGNS OF PROBLEM GAMBLING AND THE STEPS NEEDED TO REDUCE THE RISKS.
  2. MEB: OHIO HAS A NEED TO EXPAND THE UTILIZATION OF MEB EBP CURRICULUMS ACROSS THE STATE. THIS PROJECT WILL ALLOW THE STATE TO PROVIDE ONGOING SUPPORT TO THOSE TEACHERS TRAINED AND IMPLEMENTING THE PAX GBG AND PROVIDE TRAINING RESOURCES FOR ANCILLARY STAFF AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT WORKERS. PREVENTION ACTION ALLIANCE WILL STRENGTHEN OHIO'S INFRASTRUCTURE BY COORDINATING TRAINING ACTIVITIES FOR: 1. PAX TOOLS COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SERVICE WORKERS, 2. PAX HEROES AND 3. DBT SKILLS STEPS A TRAINING.
  3. ANY TEACHER WHO HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN CERTIFIED IN THE PAX GOOD BEHAVIOR GAME WILL BE TARGETED FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE PAX HEROES TRAINING, WHILE OTHER STUDENT SERVING PERSONNEL WILL BE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN PAX TOOLS COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SERVICE WORKERS TRAINING SERIES. THE 80 PILOT SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING IN THE OHIO STUDENT WELLNESS INITIATIVE WILL BE TARGETED FOR THE DBT SKILLSSTEPS A TRAINING.
  4. $1.9 million spent. KNOW: KNOW IS A COMMUNITY WIDE-PARTNERSHIP THAT TARGETS PARENTS OF MIDDLE SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN WITH PREVENTION MESSAGES. PARENTS RECEIVE PRACTICAL TIPS AND INFORMATION TO HELP THEM TALK TO THEIR CHILDREN ABOUT ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND OTHER DRUG PREVENTION. PREVENTION EDUCATION AND CONSULTATION PREVENTION HELPS PEOPLE DEVELOP THE KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND SKILLS NEEDED TO MAKE GOOD CHOICES AND PROMOTE POSITIVE BEHAVIORS. OHIO COMMUNITIES CONTINUE TO BE IMPACTED BY ADDICTION CRISES AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS AND PREVENT THESE ISSUES, WE MUST RECOGNIZE PREVENTION AS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE CONTINUUM OF CARE AND INVEST IN CRITICAL PREVENTION SERVICES. PREVENTION ACTION ALLIANCE AND OTHER PREVENTION PROFESSIONALS ARE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS EQUIPPED TO PROVIDE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION TO SUPPORT POLICIES THAT ESTABLISH SAFE, HEALTHY, AND THRIVING COMMUNITIES.
  5. KNOW: KNOW IS A COMMUNITY WIDE-PARTNERSHIP THAT TARGETS PARENTS OF MIDDLE SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN WITH PREVENTION MESSAGES. PARENTS RECEIVE PRACTICAL TIPS AND INFORMATION TO HELP THEM TALK TO THEIR CHILDREN ABOUT ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND OTHER DRUG PREVENTION. PREVENTION EDUCATION AND CONSULTATION PREVENTION HELPS PEOPLE DEVELOP THE KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND SKILLS NEEDED TO MAKE GOOD CHOICES AND PROMOTE POSITIVE BEHAVIORS. OHIO COMMUNITIES CONTINUE TO BE IMPACTED BY ADDICTION CRISES AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS AND PREVENT THESE ISSUES, WE MUST RECOGNIZE PREVENTION AS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE CONTINUUM OF CARE AND INVEST IN CRITICAL PREVENTION SERVICES. PREVENTION ACTION ALLIANCE AND OTHER PREVENTION PROFESSIONALS ARE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS EQUIPPED TO PROVIDE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION TO SUPPORT POLICIES THAT ESTABLISH SAFE, HEALTHY, AND THRIVING COMMUNITIES.

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 1988.

    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.