Helping Hands of Cass County Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To serve the economically challenged who live in Cass County and help them bridge the gap.
- Income
- $220,942
- Spending
- $187,782
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 10.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 56%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 25
- Highest pay
- $26,933, coordinator
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
Strong: 93 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 24% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% 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
Fair: 59 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 16 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $97,253 spent. The Helping Hands Thrift Store generates revenue to support the organization's mission of assisting Cass County residents with basic needs. Proceeds from thrift store sales fund community programs that provide essential items such as food, clothing, household goods, and emergency financial assistance to individuals and families in need.
- $41,215 spent. Helping Hands Food Pantry. About 3,600 families and/or individuals received food pantry services during the year. A pantry manager was hired for the first time this year to adopt a more relational approach and provide information on services available. The pantry space expanded so users could select a greater variety of food products. Pantry use was up nearly 60% compared to 2023. Helping Hands is involved with other food programs as follows: Feeding America Truck (reaching 1,938 families), The Emergency Food Assistance Program (reaching 331 families), and Senior Commodities (reaching 652 families). Helping Hands is also involved with the Bread of Life Charity Program.
- $22,919 spent. Norma Frank Trust Outreach Program. Approximately 2,225 children received services or support this year. Hygiene products were given to 555 students. Clothing and other essential items for 1,229 students. Baby hygiene supplies and diapers were provided to 217 infants. Five Star Life programs 112 foster and kinship children. Sam Adams Elementary tutoring program reached 36 children. The program also provided Head Start birth certificate support. Overall, the Norma Frank Trust assisted with meeting basic needs for children in 23 schools in Cass County.
- $8,615 spent. Excess donations of clothing and household items were shared with area nonprofits to reach countless people. Helping Hands directly assisted 50 individuals with transportation vouchers, 57 families with utility emergencies, 268 people received clothing, 19 people received household items, and 6 people received medical assistance.
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
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 November 6, 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 December 2024.
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 June 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 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.