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Direction Home Akron Canton Foundation

EIN 34-1891453 · Green, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE DIRECTION HOME FOUNDATION SEEKS TO TRANSFORM THE EXPERIENCE OF AGING IN PORTAGE, STARK, SUMMIT & WAYNE COUNTIES. THROUGH INVESTMENT IN PROGRAMS AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES DIRECTION HOME IMPACTS AGING WITH THE VISION TO "OPTIMIZE AGING THROUGH RESOURCE CREATION & INNOVATION".

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
93.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 55%
Employees
0
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$394,589, 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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 93.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 37% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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 (3)
  1. $193,775 spent. CARE COORDINATION SPONSORSHIP - OUR FOUNDATION WAS BORN FROM THE INITIAL CAMPAIGN "CARE FOR A LIFETIME." FOR OVER 25 YEARS THIS EMPLOYEE CAMPAIGN HAS RAISED MONEY DIRECTLY FROM DIRECTION HOME STAFF TO FUND THE SERVICE NEEDS OF OLDER ADULTS WHO DO NOT MEET STRICT QUALIFICATIONS FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS BUT ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD CARE AT HOME FOR THEMSELVES. THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF OUR STAFF, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN SUMMIT, STARK, WAYNE, AND PORTAGE COUNTIES WITH WITH ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT ALLOWED THEM TO REMAIN IN THE COMMUNITY. IN FY25 WE SERVED 41 INDIVIDUALS, SPENDING A TOTAL OF $193,775; $23,796 IN PORTAGE COUNTY, $109,312 IN SUMMIT COUNTY, $24,521 IN WAYNE COUNTY, AND $36,146 IN STARK COUNTY.
  2. $273,446 spent. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES - WE EDUCATE AND ADVOCATE FOR CHOICE, CONTROL, AND QUALITY CARE IN AGING. EACH YEAR, WE REACH OVER 35,000 INDIVIDUALS WITH INFORMATION ON HEALTH, CAREGIVING, LONG-TERM CARE AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES. WE PROMOTE AGE-FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES VIA SURVEYS, PLANNING, AND POLICY WORK, WITH 25 ACCREDITED BUSINESSES AND 3 COMPLETED NEEDS ASSESSMENTS ACROSS OUR FOUR COUNTIES. OUR SPEAKER'S BUREAU PARTICIPATES IN HUNDREDS OF EVENTS, PROMOTING ACCESS TO FREE RESOURCES. WE SPONSOR NEARLY 25 COMMUNITY EVENTS ANNUALLY AND HOST THREE SIGNATURE EVENTS: AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE ATTENDED BY OVER 150 PROFESSIONALS, A SENIOR PROM AS PART OF THE AGING IS AN ARTFORM PROGRAM THAT BRINGS TOGETHER OLDER ADULTS THROUGH VARIOUS FORMS OF ART AND A HALL OF FAME AWARDS CEREMONY HONORING OLDER ADULTS AND CAREGIVERS. ADDITIONALLY, WE FUND A $5,000 ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP TO SUPPORT FUTURE LEADERS IN AGING SERVICES.
  3. $1.1 million spent. RENTAL OF OFFICE BUILDING TO AFFILIATED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION - DIRECTION HOME'S HEADQUARTERS AND TRAINING CENTER ARE AN ASSET OF THE DIRECTION HOME FOUNDATION. IN 2025 THE TRAINING CENTER HOSTED 30 TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CLASSES FOR 596 ATTENDEES. WE WERE ABLE TO HOST 1 EVIDENCE-BASED HEALTH AND WELLNESS CLASS FOR 17 OLDER ADULT ATTENDEES AND PLAN TO HOST MORE. THE CONFERENCE CENTER IS AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND PROVIDERS SERVING OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

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 October 13, 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 June 1999.

    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 October 21, 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.