Prevention First Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
We equip communities with resources and support to build pathways that prevent substance misuse and promote safety and lasting well-being for all through training, education, and partnerships.
- Income
- $8.7 million
- Spending
- $9.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- -1.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 94%
- Employees
- 52
- Volunteers
- 8
- Highest pay
- $235,525, chief executive officer
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: 21 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 91% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 34% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 9 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 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 (11)
- $1.2 million spent. The Substance Use Treatment Training and Technical Assistance (SUT) program provides training and technical assistance to state-funded substance use disorder licensed treatment facilities. Included under this program is the Substance Use Disorder Crisis Training Project which aims to develop a series of training for mental health crisis workers to elevate awareness and education about substance use disorders, prevention, treatment and recovery.
- $2.0 million spent. The Substance Use Prevention Training and Technical Assistance (SUP) program provides training and technical assistance to state-funded substance use prevention grantees.
- $909,441 spent. The Opioid (OPIOID) project aims to develop and implement a statewide communications campaign to prevent opioid misuse and reduce stigma.
- $790,784 spent. The Resource Centers (RC) include six separate centers. The Alcohol Policy Resource Center (APRC) provides training, technical assistant, and support to municipalities, law enforcement, and community coalitions to affect the local alcohol environment by developing and implementing effective policies. The Youth Prevention Resource Center (YPRC) provides training and informational resources that address youth substance use, mental health, and traffic safety and promotes youth leadership in those areas. The Cannabis Policy Resource Center (CPRC) provides training, webinars, resources, and assistance to those in Illinois who are working to make communities healthier by reducing youth cannabis use and access. The Traffic Safety Resource Center (TSRC) works to provide education and public information to empower individuals to make driving decisions that will assist in reducing injuries and deaths on Illinois roadways. The Leadership Center (LC) offers webinars, training, education, resources, and tools to assist coalitions, Recovery Oriented Systems of Care (ROSC) councils, and community members interested in reducing opioid and stimulant use disorder and preventing overdoes deaths in Illinois. The Mental Health Resource Center (MHRC) builds the knowledge, skills, and abilities or those that engage with youth and adults to promote mental health and intervene effectively with people experiencing a mental health challenge.
- $234,026 spent. Prevention First, Inc. coordinates Substance Abuse Training to Department of Corrections (DOC) personnel to become certified addictions counselors to provide treatment services to inmates and those on probation and integrating back into the community.
- $82,975 spent. The Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) program aims to broker and deliver training to community-based organizations funded by the State to deliver teen pregnancy prevention programs.
- $751,303 spent. Under the COVID-19 Mitigation (COVID) program, Prevention First, Inc. purchases and distributes COVID-19 mitigation supplies to eligible licensed treatment and mental health facilities in Illinois.
- $655,041 spent. The RPSA Youth Development Training, Technical Assistance, and Support (RYD-TTAS) program provides Chicago-based grantees training, technical assistance, and support to deliver evidence-based positive youth development and violence prevention programs and strategies.
- $384,009 spent. The Suicide Prevention (SUIC) project provides training to child welfare and juvenile justice staff in assessing youth risk for suicide and implementing evidence-based approaches to reduce risk and make effective referrals for futher support.
- $103,155 spent. The Community Garden Project (GARDEN) works with community-based organizations to implement gardening and agriculture initiatives that advance prevention-based outcomes, community building, and neighborhood beautification.
- $297,464 spent. The Opioid Training and Technical Assistance Center (OTTAC) proides training and technical assistance to organizations tha increase access to culturally responsive and culturally humble prevention, treatment, and recovery services for individuals with opioid use disorders.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1989.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.