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Commonbond Communities

EIN 41-1260469 · St Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COMMONBOND'S MISSION IS TO BUILD STABLE HOMES, STRONG FUTURES AND VIBRANT COMMUNITIES. AS THE LARGEST NONPROFIT PROVIDER OF AFFORDABLE HOMES IN THE UPPER MIDWEST, COMMONBOND HAS BEEN BUILDING AND SUSTAINING HOMES WITH SERVICES TO FAMILIES, SENIORS, AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES SINCE 1971. COMMONBOND COMBINES AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH ADVANTAGE SERVICES WITH THE GOAL OF HELPING ACHIEVE STABILITY, ADVANCEMENT, AND INDEPENDENCE.

Income
$48.9 million
Spending
$34.1 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
20.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 39%
Employees
147
Volunteers
456
Highest pay
$320,777, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 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, 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 (3)
  1. $6.7 million spent. COMMONBOND PRIORITIZES DESIGNING AND DELIVERING SERVICES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH RESIDENTS. THE APPROACH IS GROUNDED IN LISTENING, INFORMED BY LIVED EXPERIENCE, AND SHAPED AROUND RESIDENTS' PRIORITIES WITH A FOCUS ON HOUSING STABILITY AND EVICTION PREVENTION. STAFF OFFER A CONTINUUM OF SUPPORT FROM SERVICE COORDINATION TO COMPREHENSIVE HOUSING CASE MANAGEMENT FOR LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS LIVING IN COMMONBOND COMMUNITIES. ADVANTAGE SERVICES ARE FOCUSED ON STABILITY AND INDEPENDENCE; EDUCATION AND ADVANCEMENT; HEALTH AND WELLNESS; AND COMMUNITY-BUILDING AND ENGAGEMENT. IN 2025, ADVANTAGE SERVICES DIRECTLY SERVED 6,560 COMMONBOND RESIDENTS.SEE SCHEDULE O FOR MORE INFO ON ADVANTAGE SERVICES' ACCOMPLISHMENTS.STABILITY AND INDEPENDENCE: COMMONBOND STAFF PROVIDE SUPPORT TO HELP RESIDENTS MAINTAIN STABLE HOUSING, CREATING A PLATFORM FOR RESIDENTS TO FEEL SECURE, REDUCE STRESS, AND FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS MOST. STAFF WORK WITH RESIDENTS TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO OTHER SERVICES INCLUDING FOOD ACCESS, HEALTH CARE AND/OR MENTAL HEALTHCARE ACCESS, CHILDCARE, INCOME SUPPORTS, ETC. IN 2025, 79% OF HOUSING EXITS WERE POSITIVE OR NEUTRAL AND 82% OF RESIDENTS MAINTAINED STABLE HOUSING WITH COMMONBOND FOR 12+ MONTHS. EDUCATION AND ADVANCEMENT: STAFF WORK WITH ADULTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE TO PROVIDE LEARNING, TRAINING, AND GOAL PLANNING THAT HELP THEM BUILD CONFIDENCE AND TAKE STEPS TOWARD THE FUTURE THEY WANT. THIS INCLUDES HELPING RESIDENTS MAINTAIN STABLE HOUSING THROUGH EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, FINANCIAL COACHING AND COUNSELING, AND MAXIMIZING INCOME SUPPORTS. IN 2025, 1,343 ADULT RESIDENTS RECEIVED EMPLOYMENT AND/OR FINANCIAL SERVICES. YOUTH AND TEEN PROGRAMS PROVIDE ACADEMIC SUPPORT, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING, MENTORSHIP, LEADERSHIP, AND POST-SECONDARY SUPPORT FOR YOUTH RESIDENTS IN GRADES K-12. IN 2025, THESE PROGRAMS SERVED 230 YOUTH AND TEENS. 85% OF ELEMENTARY-AGED STUDENTS IMPROVED THEIR READING LEVELS THROUGH OUR STUDY BUDDIES PROGRAM, AND 93% OF TEENS ENGAGED IN FUTURE PLANNING.HEALTH AND WELLNESS: OLDER ADULTS AND RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES BENEFIT FROM EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT THEIR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, BUILDING STRENGTH, CONFIDENCE, AND INDEPENDENCE. IN 2025, 724 OLDER ADULTS PARTICIPATED IN HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS, AND 91% OF EXERCISE CLASS PARTICIPANTS MAINTAINED OR IMPROVED THEIR STRENGTH AND COORDINATION. COMMUNITY-BUILDING AND ENGAGEMENT: STAFF HELP FOSTER MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS AND SHARED EXPERIENCES THAT CREATE BELONGING AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES FOR EVERYONE. RESIDENT-DRIVEN COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS WALKING GROUPS, COMMUNITY GARDENING, CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS, AND INTER-GENERATIONAL EVENTS SUPPORT RESIDENTS IN BUILDING THESE CONNECTIONS THAT HELP THEM MAINTAIN STABLE HOUSING. IN 2025, 3,626 RESIDENTS PARTICIPATED IN COMMUNITY-BUILDING ACTIVITIES.
  2. $23.1 million spent. HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND ASSET MANAGEMENT: SINCE 1971, COMMONBOND COMMUNITIES HAS BEEN PROVIDING HOMES AND HOPE FOR THOSE MOST IN NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY. AS A PREMIER NONPROFIT DEVELOPER AND OWNER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, COMMONBOND IS BEST POSITIONED TO ADDRESS THE CRITICAL NEED FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR REGION. IN ORDER TO SUPPORT OVER 13,000 PEOPLE A YEAR, COMMONBOND HAS BEEN ACTIVELY MANAGING ITS REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE, DEVELOPING FINANCING TOOLS INTERNALLY AND WITH STAKEHOLDERS, AND SUPPORTING ITS EXISTING PORTFOLIO FOR CURRENT AND UPCOMING NEEDS.SEE SCHEDULE O FOR MORE INFO ON HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, AND ASSET MANAGEMENT'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS.DURING 2025, COMMONBOND PROVIDED 7,000 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGHOUT 60 CITIES IN FOUR STATES, HOUSING OVER 13,000 RESIDENTS, INCLUDING FAMILIES, YOUTH, SENIORS, VETERANS, AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND OTHER BARRIERS TO STABILITY.
  3. $130,562 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: INTEGRAL TO OUR WORK ARE THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE FORMED TO BENEFIT OUR RESIDENT COMMUNITY AND OUR HOUSING COMMUNITIES IN GENERAL. COMMUNITY MEMBERS WORK HAND-IN-HAND WITH STAFF AND RESIDENTS AT OUR HOUSING COMMUNITIES. HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS, CRITICAL SERVICE PROVIDERS, LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS, MUNICIPALITIES, COMMUNITY GROUPS, FAITH COMMUNITIES, AND OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS SERVE ON BOARDS AND COMMITTEES TO HELP FOSTER UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT THE HOUSING COMMUNITIES AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE. THIS MODEL PROMOTES RESIDENT LEADERSHIP AND HELPS BREAK DOWN BARRIERS THAT SOMETIMES ARISE BETWEEN AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING SITE AND ITS SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1976.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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