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Solid Ground

EIN 36-3578158 · White Bear, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The mission of Solid Ground is to prevent and end homelessness for families with children in the communities we serve through housing, resources and opportunity.

Income
$8.0 million
Spending
$5.4 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 57%
Employees
37
Volunteers
613
Highest pay
$115,299, executive director (2/5 - present)

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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 70% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    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. $1.5 million spent. Prevention Assistance for unstably housed families expanded significantly in 2024. Solid Ground's prevention team provides assistance with unpaid rent and utilities to help families avoid eviction, as well as security deposits and first month's rent for families to access more affordable housing. Prevention Assistance served 353 families with children in 2024.
  2. $1.5 million spent. East Metro Place I and East Metro Place II provide 34 units of transitional and permanent supportive housing in White Bear Lake for families experiencing homelessness. Permanent units are designated for families with disabilities and/or histories of long-term homelessness. Parents receive a variety of services, including budgeting, tenant training, employment assistance, mental/chemical health support and parenting skills. Children receive assistance with school and early learning enrollment, after-school tutoring, summer camp and recreational activities. East Metro Place housed 204 adults and children in 2024.
  3. $575,280 spent. HomeAgain and HomeSafe provide scattered-site, time-limited housing for families experiencing homelessness in Washington and Ramsey Counties. Solid Ground partners with landlords in the community to provide housing and helps with security deposits and rental assistance paid directly to landlords to make the housing more affordable. Families receive in-home services and monthly rent assistance for 6-36 months while they stabilize and work to increase their income. The HomeAgain and HomeSafe programs served 111 adults and children in 2024 with housing and housing search services.
  4. $713,043 spent. Homework Starts with Home (HSWH) provides prevention assistance and rehousing services to help prevent and end homelessness for families with pre-K-12 grade students in suburban Ramsey and Washington County school districts. Families receive financial assistance to make housing more affordable and services to help them achieve stability and work toward independent housing. Children receive academic and other support to help them achieve school success. HSWH provided 195 adults and children with scattered-site rehousing, prevention assistance and housing stabilization services in 2024.HomeFront provides 10 units of permanent supportive housing for military veterans and their families who have experienced long-term homelessness. Residents receive income-based rental assistance and in-home supportive services designed to help them achieve housing stability, improve their health and increase their income. HomeFront housed 38 adults and children in 2024.Welcome Home Washington launched in late 2023 to provide scattered-site, permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless families headed by an adult with a disability. Familes will receive income-based rental assistance and in-home supportive services designed to help them improve their health and achieve housing stability. WHW served 34 adults and children in 14 families in 2024.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 1988.

    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.