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First Call for Help of Itasca County

EIN 36-3541015 · Grand Rapids, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceGood77 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

First call for Help of Itasca County is a private, nonprofit community organization whose mission is to provide free, confidential and nonjudgement crisis intervention, active listening, and information and referral services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to the residents and agencies of North Central Minnesota.

Income
$6.8 million
Spending
$6.4 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
-1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 61%
Employees
156
Highest pay
$188,797, executive dir.

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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 66% 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 43% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% 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

Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    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 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)
  1. $3.2 million spent. CALL CENTER: DURING THE 2024 YEAR OUR AGENCY RECEIVED 3202 CALLS INTO OUR CALL CENTER FROM RESIDENTS OF THE 7 COUNTY 2-1-1 HUB AREA OF WHICH WE SERVE. THIS RESULTED IN PROVIDING 3087 RESOURCES TO THOSE RESIDENTS IN NEED AND FIELDING 9,756 CRISIS CALLS. WE SUPPORTED 284 RESIDENTS WALKING INTO OUR AGENCY FOR REFERRALS AND RESOURCES. WE ANSWERED 24,160 CALLS FOR 9-8-8 AND 314 CALLS FOR MNDOA. WE CONDUCTED 382 COORDINATED ENTRY SERVICES FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS, 39 MNSURE/ASSIST APPLICATIONS, AND MAINTAINED A RESOURCE DATA BASE OF 4126 AGENCIES CONTAINING INFORMATION REGARDING ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE, QUALIFICATIONS TO RECEIVE SERVICES AND CONTACT INFORMATION TO ACCESS THESE SERVICES. OUR CALL CENTER SERVICES 7 COUNTIES FOR I&R, 37 COUNTIES FOR CRISIS RESPONSE DISPACH, 4 COUNTIES FOR AFTER HOURS SOCIAL SERVICES, 1 PROVIDER FOR EAP (Employee Assistance Line), 2 COUNTIES FOR HOMELESS COORDINATION, 47 COUNTIES IN PRIMARY RESPONSE AND 87 COUNTIES SECONDARY RESPONSE FOR NSPL (9-8-8) AND 87 COUNTIES FOR FARMERS IN DISTRESS. IN 2024 WE SERVED 87 COUNTIES FOR NSPL / 988 TEXT AND CHAT WITH A FULLY STAFFED AND FUNCTION PROGRAM WHO RESPONSED TO 8281 CONSUMERS CHATTING IN AND 14098 CONSUMERS TEXTING IN FOR SUPPORT. OUR AGENCY DISPATCHED OUT THE GOMARTI TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM FOR 2249 RIDES DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR.
  2. $1.6 million spent. NEW LEAF HEALING CENTER: DURING 2024 OUR AGENCY CONTINUED THE PROVISION OF RESIDENTIAL CRISIS SERVICES (OPENED IN 2017) FROM WITHIN THE NEW LEAF HEALING CCENTER, IN EFFORTS TO AVIOD BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PLACEMENTS. WE CONTINUED THE PROVISION OF INTENSIVE RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT SERVICES. OUR RESIDENTIAL CRISIS SERVICES, SERVED 152 CONSUMERS (GUESTS). 84% OF THE CRISIS RESIDENTS WERE FROM ITASCA COUNTY. OUR IRTS PROGRAM SERVED 13 CONSUMERS (GUESTS) WITH 89% BEING FROM ITASCA COUNTY. 26% OF ALL CONSUMERS REPORTED HOMELESSNESS. 97.9% OF THE CONSUMERS AVOIDED HOSPITALIZATION DUE TO THE CRISIS/IRTS SERVICES PROVIDED AT NEW LEAF. 94% OF RESIDENTS WERE CONNECTED WITH MED MANAGEMENT, THERAPY, CHEMICAL HEALTH SERVICES AND OR PHYSICAL HEALTH SERVICES PRIOR TO DISCHARGE. THE OTHER 6% EITHER DECLINED REFERRALS OR LEFT AMA. 98.8% OF THE RESIDENTS (HOMELESS UPON ENTRY) WERE DISCHARGED TO SAFE SHELTERS OR HOUSING LOCATIONS UPON ACHIEVING STABILITY OF THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.
  3. $786,076 spent. CRISIS INTERVENTION: IN 2024 THE FIRST CALL FOR HELP CRISIS TEAM OPERATED 24/7/365 WITH 24 MHP STAFF WHO RESPONDED TO 4504 MENTAL HEALTH CALLS TO RESIDENTS OF ITASCA COUNTY. YEAR END ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE CONDUCTING 414 FACE TO FACE MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS, 12 CD ASSESSMENTS, 43 CRISIS INTERVENTIONS, 478 PHONE ASSESSMENTS, 119 RESOURCING/CARE COORDINATION SERVICES, 2627 STABILIZATION CONTACTS FOR INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS, AND 613 CARE COORDINATION SERVICES WITH OTHER PROVIDERS. WE PROVIDED CRISIS SERVICES AND FACILITATED CARE TO 65 INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE NOT THE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF ITASCA COUNTY BUT WERE LOCATED WITHIN OUR COUNTY WHEN THEY REQUIRED SERVICES. WE FACILITATED DETOX PLACEMENTS FOR 9 INDIVIDUALS TO AID THEIR PATH TO MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY (CO-OCCURING DISORDERS), 2 ADOLESCENT SHELTER PLACEMENT, BEHAVIORAL UNIT PLACEMENTS FOR 59 INDIVIDUALS AND CRISIS PLACEMENTS FOR 127 IN EFFORTS TO AVOID HOSPITALIZATIONS. THIS YEAR WE OPERATED THE ONLY ADOLESCENT CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM IN MN AT FULL CAPACITY.
  4. $141,969 spent. PROTECTED TRANSPORTATION: DURING 2024 OUR D.O.T. CERTIFIED PROTECTED TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM PROVIDED 378 TRANSPORTS. 165 OF THE TRANSPORTS WERE CLASSIFIED AS PROTECTED, 87 WERE CLASSIFIED AS MEDICAL TRANSPORTS, 63 OF THE TRANSPORTS WERE COUNTY REQUESTED FOR INDIVIDUALS ON COMMITMENT OR IN COUNTY DETERMINED FACILITIES, 1 WERE TO RESIDENTIAL CRISIS FACILITIES, 0 TO IRTS FACILITIES, AND 62 WERE TO CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY DETOX/TX FACILITIES. THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO FACILITATE LOWEST LEVEL OF TRANSPORT OPTIONS FOR COUNTY RESIDENTS THAT PREVENTS THE MISUSE OF BLS/ALS AMBULANCE SERVICES FROM FACILITATING THIS LOC TYPE OF TRANSPORT. IT IS MORE COST EFFECTIVE AND RESPECTFUL MEANS OF TRANSPORTING INDIVIDUALS IN MI/CD CRISIS.

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? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    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 June 1988.

    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.