Lakes and Pines Community Action Council Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO BUILD PROSPEROUS COMMUNITIES BY SERVING LOCAL FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN PURSUIT OF SELF-RELIANCE.
- Income
- $12.7 million
- Spending
- $12.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 1.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 88%
- Employees
- 150
- Volunteers
- 310
- Highest pay
- $145,177, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 63 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 27% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2521 of 21 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 September 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 (4)
- $4.2 million spent. EARLY CHILDHOOD AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENTPROVIDED SERVICES TO INCOME-ELIGIBLE PREGNANT WOMEN AND CHILDREN UP TO 5 YEARS OF AGE. THE SERVICES ARE COMPREHENSIVE, WITH THE CORNERSTONES OF PARENT AND CHILD EDUCATION, HEALTH, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY ASSET BUILDING. EARLY HEAD START AND HEAD START ARE PROGRAMS COMMITTED TO GIVING EVERY VULNERABLE CHILD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED. HOME-BASED & CENTER-BASED SERVICE OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE, WITH CENTER-BASED CLASSROOMS IN FULL-DAY CENTERS, MULTI-DAY PART-DAY SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP CLASSES, AND CHILDCARE PARTNERSHIP CLASSES THROUGHOUT OUR 7-COUNTY SERVICE AREA. THRIVETRANSFORMING, HONORING, & RESPECTING INDEPENDENCE THROUGH VALUING EMPOWERMENT. COACHING IS PROVIDED FOR CUSTOMERS INTERESTED IN OR NEEDING EXTRA SUPPORT FOR UPWARD SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY.
- $3.4 million spent. COMMUNITY SERVICES HAS A VARIETY OF PROGRAMSEMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCEPROVIDED CASE MANAGEMENT AND/OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILIES WHO EXPERIENCED A TEMPORARY HOUSING CRISIS THAT COULD HAVE RENDERED THEM HOMELESS. FUNDS HELPED BY ASSISTING WITH MORTGAGES, RENT, DEPOSITS, TRANSPORTATION COSTS, AND EMERGENCY SHELTER COSTS, BUT ALSO INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT TO PREVENT FUTURE HOUSING EMERGENCIES (BUDGET COUNSELING, RESOURCE REFERRALS, OR A PERMANENT HOUSING PLAN). EMERGENCY SHELTER VOUCHERS WERE PROVIDED TO THOSE WHO WERE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ALONG WITH ASSESSMENTS TO BE PLACED ON COORDINATED ENTRY FOR ACCESS TO HOUSING PROGRAMS IN THE REGION. HOMELESS YOUTH PROGRAMSPROVIDED CASE MANAGEMENT AND/OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO AT-RISK AND HOMELESS YOUTH (24 YEARS OLD AND YOUNGER). FUNDS HELPED BY ASSISTING WITH RENT, DEPOSITS, TRANSPORTATION COSTS, AND INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT TO ACHIEVE SELF-SUFFICIENCY (BUDGET COUNSELING, GOAL SETTING, RESOURCE REFERRALS).VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCEPROVIDED FREE INCOME TAX PREPARATION FOR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO ENSURE INCOME TAX FORMS WERE FILED WITH ALL THE TAX CREDITS THEY WERE ELIGIBLE FOR. INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WERE ABLE TO USE THE TAX REFUNDS TO REPAIR THEIR VEHICLES, HOMES, AND CREDIT, WHICH ALSO HELPED TO STIMULATE THE LOCAL ECONOMY. THIS PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDED AN ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR STAFF TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON FINANCIAL LITERACY TOPICS.FOOD SHELF SUPPORTSTAFF MEMBERS REGULARLY DONATED TO AREA FOOD SHELVES (BI-WEEKLY COLLECTIONS ARE HELD). GARDEN SEEDS WERE ALSO DISTRIBUTED TO AREA FOOD SHELVES IN THE SPRING TO ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO START GROWING THEIR OWN FOOD.SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) OUTREACHPROVIDED OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND APPLICATION ASSISTANCE TO AREA INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THAT ARE ELIGIBLE. THIS IS FORMERLY KNOWN AS FOOD SUPPORT OR FOOD STAMPS.SOCIAL SECURITY ADVOCACY SERVICESPROVIDED OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND APPLICATION ASSISTANCE TO AREA INDIVIDUALS WITH LONG-TERM HEALTH ISSUES THAT PROHIBIT THEM FROM WORKING WHO ARE ALSO UNHOUSED OR UNSTABLY HOUSED AND ARE ENROLLED IN STATE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.HEALTHCARE ACCESS/MNSUREPROVIDED OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND APPLICATION ASSISTANCE TO AREA INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO OBTAIN AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE COVERAGE, EITHER THROUGH PUBLIC PROGRAMS OR PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANIES THROUGH THE HEALTH CARE EXCHANGE CALLED MNSURE.BRIDGES RENTAL ASSISTANCEPROVIDED RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO HOUSEHOLDS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS WHILE THEY WAIT FOR INCOME-BASED HOUSING OR SECTION 8 HOUSING PROGRAMS. LONG-TERM HOMELESS SUPPORTIVE HOUSINGPROVIDED ONGOING RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO HOUSEHOLDS WHO ARE LONG-TERM HOMELESS AND ALSO HAVE A DISABILITY. THIS SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM IS A SCATTERED SITE.
- $2.9 million spent. WEATHERIZATIONTHE GOAL IS TO REDUCE AIR FILTRATION AND LOWER ENERGY COSTS WITH INSULATION, WEATHER STRIPPING, CAULKING, AND INSTALLATION OF ENERGY-EFFICIENT MECHANICAL SYSTEMS (HVAC). BY WEATHERIZING HOMES AND SAVING ENERGY, FAMILIES EXPERIENCE A HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE.ENERGY ASSISTANCEAIDED THROUGH PAYMENT OF FUEL/UTILITY BILLS AND REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF HEATING SYSTEMS TO CORRECT EMERGENCY PROBLEMS. THIS PROGRAM MADE FUEL BILLS MORE AFFORDABLE FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES.
- $353,271 spent. HOUSING REHABILITATIONFUNDS WERE ADMINISTERED BY THE MINNESOTA HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY FOR THE REHABILITATION LOAN PROGRAM. THESE GRANT FUNDS WERE USED TO REPAIR HOMES TO MEET SECTION 8 HOUSING QUALITY STANDARDS. GRANT FUNDS WERE LOANED, AT ZERO INTEREST, TO OWNER-OCCUPIED PROPERTY FOR A LOAN TERM OF 15 YEARS. AT THAT TIME, IF THE PROPERTY IS STILL OWNED BY THE ORIGINAL BORROWER, THE LOAN WILL BE FORGIVEN. FUNDS WERE ADMINISTERED FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR STURGEON LAKE, TWIN LAKES TOWNSHIP, AND SANDSTONE AT A 10-YEAR, INTEREST-FREE, FORGIVABLE LOAN.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 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 September 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 February 1966.
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.
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