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Project Now Inc

EIN 36-2654175 · Rock Island, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF PROJECT NOW, INC. IS TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES BY HELPING PEOPLE HELP THEMSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER. WE STRIVE TO ELIMINATE THE CAUSES OF POVERTY THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND ALLEVIATE THE NEGATIVE CONDITIONS WHERE POOR PEOPLE LIVE.

Income
$17.5 million
Spending
$17.4 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
-0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 87%
Employees
157
Volunteers
250
Highest pay
$154,165, 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

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 79% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    0 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 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 (7)
  1. $7.2 million spent. WEATHERIZATION/ENERGY ASSISTANCE:PROJECT NOW PROVIDES WEATHERIZATION AND ENERGY ASSISTANCE TO HELP REDUCE HEATING AND COOLING COSTS FOR LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS OF ROCK ISLAND, MERCER AND HENRY COUNTIES. ENERGY ASSISTANCE AND WEATHERIZATION PROGRAMS PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO 15,743 CUSTOMERS IN 7,240 HOMES DURING THE YEAR. FUNDING FOR THESE PROGRAMS IS THROUGH FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS AND LOCAL ENERGY COMPANIES.
  2. $2.8 million spent. CHILD EDUCATION:PROJECT NOW HEAD START PROMOTES THE SCHOOL READINESS OF PRESCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WHILE PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO THE FAMILIES. HEAD START OFFERS A VARIETY OF SERVICES THAT SUPPORT THE CHILDREN, INCLUDING THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS OR DISABILITIES, IN A POSITIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. THE FUNDED ENROLLMENT IS 200 CHILDREN IN BOTH CENTER AND HOME-BASED PROGRAMS. FUNDING IS PROVIDED THROUGH THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
  3. $1.9 million spent. SENIOR PROGRAMS:DESIGNED TO HELP SENIORS LIVE INDEPENDENTLY IN THEIR OWN HOMES. SERVICES INCLUDE: HOME-DELIVERED MEALS, CONGREGATE MEALS, TRANSPORTATION, INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE, AND OUTREACH SERVICES. 136,995 HOME DELIVERED MEALS WERE SERVED TO 1,254 SENIORS. 14,526 MEALS WERE SERVED TO 288 SENIORS WHO WERE ELIGIBLE FOR CONGREGATE SERVICES. 7,212 UNITS OF DOOR-TO-DOOR TRANSPORTATION WERE PROVIDED TO 380 SENIORS IN ROCK ISLAND AND MERCER COUNTIES. 4,957 SENIORS RECEIVED INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE AND 260 FARMER MARKET COUPON BOOKS WORTH $13,000 WERE DISTRIBUTED TO SENIORS. 60 MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES WERE SAVED AN ESTIMATE OF $473,220 FOR THE YEAR.
  4. $1.7 million spent. HOUSING AND HOUSING REHABILITATION:PROJECT NOW PROVIDES HOUSING SERVICES INCLUDING HOME REHABILITATION (SINGLE FAMILY REHAB AND HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAMS) TO LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS OF ROCK ISLAND, MERCER AND HENRY COUNTIES. FUNDING IS PROVIDED THROUGH THE ILLINOIS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (IHDA); 0 HOMES WERE COMPLETED DURING 2024-2025. PROJECT NOW ALSO HAS 97 AFFORDABLE RENTAL PROPERTIES 11 OF THEM ARE COMMERCIAL.
  5. $1.7 million spent. COMMUNITY SERVICE:PROVIDES APPLICATION ASSISTANCE, SUPPORT, ADVOCACY AND INFORMATION & REFERRAL TO RESIDENTS OF ROCK ISLAND, HENRY AND MERCER COUNTIES. CUSTOMERS ARE HELPED TO MANAGE THEIR BASIC NEEDS WHILE THEY MOVE TOWARDS INCREASED SELF-SUFFICIENCY. RENT & DEPOSIT ASSISTANCE TO 186 HOUSEHOLDS. COORDINATED ENTRY HELPED 521 FAMILIES WITH HOUSING AND CASE MANAGEMENT. FUNDING IS PROVIDED THROUGH FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GRANTS.
  6. $746,443 spent. PUBLIC TRANSIT: PROJECT NOW IS THE SERVICE PROVIDER FOR RIM RURAL PUBLIC TRANSIT SERVING RURAL ROCK ISLAND AND ALL OF MERCER COUNTIES. OVER 500 PASSENGERS RECEIVED 13,758 RIDES THIS YEAR.
  7. $123,738 spent. FOOD PROGRAMS:DESIGNED TO FEED LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS.

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 October 1968.

    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.