Northwest Indiana Community Action Corp
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CoAction envisions the people of Northwest Indiana flourishing regardless of income, ability or age. Thus, people experiencing financial hardship find opportunities, resources and respect at CoAction.
- Income
- $37.4 million
- Spending
- $36.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- 2.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 83%
- Employees
- 163
- Volunteers
- 140
- Highest pay
- $209,933, president/chief executive
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
Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 38% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 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
10 of 10Gave 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 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 (4)
- $13.6 million spent. Community Services: Provides assistance to income-eligible persons in ameliorating the causes and consequences of poverty. Primary areas of support include Section 8 Housing, Women, Infants and Children (WIC), asset building, providing information and assistance, and other services to the residents of the six-county area located in Northwest Indiana. During the calendar year, more than 54,700 individuals and families were served by community services programs.
- $8.1 million spent. Energy Services: Assists low income households in cities, suburbs and rural communities with utility bills. Through Energy Assistance and Weatherization programs, we were able to provide comfortable home environments for nearly 17,000 households during the calendar year.
- $6.2 million spent. Aging Services: Provides help to older and disabled persons to secure and maintain maximum independence and dignity in a home environment, remove barriers to independence for older persons, provide information and assistance and provide continuing care for vulnerable elderly and disabled persons. The program specializes in case management, as well as in-home and community services that are necessary to avoid or delay nursing facility placement. During the calendar year, more than 10,000 persons were assisted through these programs.
- $6.6 million spent. Other miscellaneous programs.
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
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 December 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 November 1966.
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.