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Links Community & Family Services

EIN 35-2353659 · Akron, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceWeak46 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO VITALIZE THE COMMUNITY AND IMPROVE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES QUALITY OF LIFE BY CREATING A SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH PROVIDING SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE SELF EMPOWERMENT AND UNITY.

Income
$763,596
Spending
$710,286
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 79%
Employees
22
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$73,383, executive di

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 50% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 49% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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

Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $334,209 spent. HELP ME GROW IS A VOLUNTARY FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR PREGNANT WOMEN OR NEW PARENTS TO PROMOTE HEALTHY GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR BABIES AND YOUNG CHILDREN. LINKS IS PART OF THIS STATE-WIDE PROGRAM THAT EMPOWERS PARENTS WITH SKILLS, TOOLS, AND CONFIDENCE TO NURTURE THE HEALTHY GROWTH OF THEIR BABIES.
  2. $117,085 spent. COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES - BEAUTIFICATION, COMMUNITY GARDEN, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, JEWETT PARK AND SENIOR CONNECTION. EACH YEAR LINKS SEEKS TO FIND WAYS TO BEAUTIFY OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND ONE OF THE WAYS IS TO PLACE LARGE FLOWER POTS THROUGHOUT THE ENEIGHBORHOOD. THE RESIDENTS HELP WITH PLANTING THE FLOWERS AND MAINTAINING THE CARE OF THE POTS. LINKS HOSTS TWO COMMUNITY GARDENS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE FAMILIES RECEIVE PLOTS, PLANTS, AND TOOLS TO HELP MAINTAIN THEIR PLOTS. FAMILIES PICK THEIR CROPS AND USE THEM AT THE END OF THE PLANTING SEASON FOR CONSUMPTION. NINE MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR LINKS HOSTS COMMUNITY OUTREACH DISTRIBUTIONS. THESE DISTRIBUTIONS PROVIDE FREE CLOTHING AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO MAY NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO PURCHASE ITEMS FOR THEMSELVES. LINKS OFFERS COMMUNITY EVENTS AT JEWETT PARK. MANY OF THE EVENTS TARGET YOUTH AND SENIOR CITIZENS. SENIOR CONNECTION PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR SENIORS TO RECEIVE SUPPORT AND TO SOCIALIZE. THERE ARE REGULAR OFFERINGS SUCH AS MEALS AND HOLIDAY PARTIES FOR SENIORS. COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES - BEAUTIFICATION, COMMUNITY GARDEN, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, JEWETT PARK AND SENIOR CONNECTION. EACH YEAR LINKS SEEKS TO FIND WAYS TO BEAUTIFY OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND ONE OF THE WAYS IS TO PLACE LARGE FLOWER POTS THROUGHOUT THE ENEIGHBORHOOD. THE RESIDENTS HELP WITH PLANTING THE FLOWERS AND MAINTAINING THE CARE OF THE POTS. LINKS HOSTS TWO COMMUNITY GARDENS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE FAMILIES RECEIVE PLOTS, PLANTS, AND TOOLS TO HELP MAINTAIN THEIR PLOTS. FAMILIES PICK THEIR CROPS AND USE THEM AT THE END OF THE PLANTING SEASON FOR CONSUMPTION. NINE MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR LINKS HOSTS COMMUNITY OUTREACH DISTRIBUTIONS. THESE DISTRIBUTIONS PROVIDE FREE CLOTHING AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO MAY NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO PURCHASE ITEMS FOR THEMSELVES. LINKS OFFERS COMMUNITY EVENTS AT JEWETT PARK. MANY OF THE EVENTS TARGET YOUTH AND SENIOR CITIZENS. SENIOR CONNECTION PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR SENIORS TO RECEIVE SUPPORT AND TO SOCIALIZE. THERE ARE REGULAR OFFERINGS SUCH AS MEALS AND HOLIDAY PARTIES FOR SENIORS.
  3. $18,545 spent. CHILDREN AND YOUTH - SUMMER CAMPS, ACADEMY YOUTH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM FOR YOUTH 12 TO 17 TO LEARN ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WORK TO CREATE NEIGHBORHOOD SPACE. ASSIST IN RENOVATION OF LOCAL PARKS. PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN INCLUDING BOYS AND GIRLS AFTER-SCHOOL TUTORING.

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 September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2013 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2013.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 2014.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.