Prairie Five Community Action Council Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Working together to strengthen the quality of life in our communties.
- Income
- $13.3 million
- Spending
- $11.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 81%
- Employees
- 165
- Volunteers
- 796
- Highest pay
- $156,770, executive director
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: 89 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.0 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 17% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% 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
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 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 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)
- $3.2 million spent. Headstart - The mission of Headstart is "To foster strong healthy children and their families, and also to promote staff excellence through dynamic programming." The Program uses a holistic approach to meet the needs of the people involved. Services offered are: early childhood development, health and wellness, family well being, and family engagement. Head Start serves approximately 306 children.
- $3.4 million spent. Transportation - Prairie Five Rides is a public transportation system available to people of all ages and for all purposes such as medical and social outings, etc. We operate daily bus service from 7AM - 5PM in the cities of Appleton, Benson, Canby, Dawson, Granite Falls, Madison, Montevideo and Ortonville. We provide regional service to the five county service area, to destinations throughout the state of Minnesota using volunteer drivers with lift-equipped buses and vans. We also use our volunteer drivers to transport riders into the eastern parts of both North and South Dakota. From a MVDA grant, we were able to purchase a wheelchair accessible vehicle to provide free rides to veterans residing in one of the counties we serve.
- $436,904 spent. Nutrition/Aging Services - Promotes healthy and independent living through improved nutrition and reduction of social isolation. Congregate, home delivered, frozen and shelf stable meals are available. A person 60 or older, and their spouse (regardless of age) are eligible. Participants are encouraged to make a voluntary suggested donation toward the cost of each meal. A donation amount is suggested but participants may donate as much as they feel they can afford. The program has congregate, home delivered and frozen meal sites. A Hot/Cold Food Truck delivers meals to remote, isolated areas of the service area daily. Prepared meals are available requiring no suggested donation or fee. A person 18 to 60 years old and their dependents are eligible.
- $3.5 million spent. Energy Assistance and Weatherization; Childcare; Housing; Nutrition; Emergency; Scholarships; and Admin.
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 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 December 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 May 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 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.