Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Reach Up Incorporated

EIN 41-1352018 · Saint Cloud, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

REACH-UP HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES THAT STRENGTHEN YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING LOW INCOME.

Income
$6.2 million
Spending
$6.5 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 98%
Employees
109
Volunteers
86
Highest pay
$96,807, executive director (started 8/24)

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

Financial health

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 86% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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 March 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 (4)
  1. $4.2 million spent. HEAD START PART-DAY AND PART-YEAR, CENTER BASED:A FULL-YEAR/PART-YEAR EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM PROVIDES CHILDREN AND PARENTS WITH A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH TO GROW. REACH-UP, INC. CURRENTLY HAS 8 CENTER BASED SITES THAT OPERATE FOUR DAYS A WEEK, SEVEN HOURS PER DAY, AND ELEVEN MONTHS A YEAR. PARENTS PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE CENTERS. EACH CLASS OF CHILDREN IS STAFFED BY TEACHERS AND EARLY CHILDHOOD ASSISTANTS. FOSTER GRANDPARENTS ASSIST THE TEACHERS IN SOME OF THE CENTERS. SCHOOL DISTRICT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS WORK IN COLLABORATION IN CLASSROOMS WHERE NEEDED. THE CLASSROOM IS ORGANIZED BY STATIONS - ART, TABLE GAMES, LARGE MOTOR EQUIPMENT, DRAMATIC PLAY, HOUSEKEEPING, READING, AND SCIENCE AREAS. EACH DAY INCLUDES NUTRITIOUS MEALS, SMALL GROUP STRUCTURED TIMES, LARGE GROUP ACTIVITIES SUCH AS MUSIC OR CIRCLE GAMES, FREE CHOICE TIME, AND OUTSIDE OR GYM TIMEEARLY HEAD START AND HEAD START FULL-DAY CHILD CARE CENTER:THREE FULL-DAY EARLY CHILDHOOD AND CHILDCARE PROGRAMS PROVIDE EARLY HEAD START/HEAD START SERVICES. ONE EARLY HEAD START CENTER AND TWO HEAD START CENTERS OPERATE FIVE DAYS A WEEK, 10 HOURS PER DAY, AND TWELVE MONTHS OF THE YEAR. PARENTS PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE FULL-DAY CENTERS. EARLY HEAD START AND HEAD START SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT NO CHARGE TO THE FAMILIES. ADDITIONAL CHILDCARE HOURS ARE PAID BY THE FAMILIES OR THIRD PARTY REIMBURSEMENT. THE PROGRAM TARGETS PARENTS WORKING OR ATTENDING SCHOOL AND NEEDING ALL DAY CHILD CARE. THE FULL-DAY CENTERS ARE STAFFED BY TWO TEACHERS AND TWO EARLY CHILDHOOD ASSISTANTS. THE CLASSROOM IS ORGANIZED BY STATIONS - ART, TABLE GAMES, LARGE MOTOR EQUIPMENT, DRAMATIC PLAY, HOUSEKEEPING, READING, AND SCIENCE AREAS.EACH DAY INCLUDES NUTRITIOUS MEALS, SMALL GROUP STRUCTURED TIMES, LARGE GROUP ACTIVITIES SUCH AS MUSIC OR CIRCLE GAMES, FREE CHOICE TIME, AND OUTSIDE OR GYM TIME.EARLY HEAD START AND HEAD START - HOME BASED:FAMILIES RECEIVE HOME VISITS (1 1/2 HOURS) ONE DAY PER WEEK FROM A HOME VISITOR. PARENTS AND HOME VISITORS WORK TOGETHER TO IMPLEMENT AN INDIVIDUAL CURRICULUM FOR EACH CHILD ACCORDING TO HIS/HER NEEDS. DEVELOPMENTAL AND GENERAL AWARENESS ACTIVITIES ARE PLANNED FOR EACH VISIT. LEARNING MATERIALS ARE LEFT IN THE HOME FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN TO USE UNTIL THE NEXT VISIT.TWICE A MONTH CHILDREN AND PARENTS COME TOGEHTER FOR A SOCIALIZATION EXPERIENCE. SOCIALIZATIONS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE HOME BASED PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY GIVE THE CHILDREN OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP SOCIAL SKILLS. PARENTS SPEND PART OF THE TIME WITH THEIR CHILDREN AT LEARNING STATIONS. THE REST OF THE TIME IS SPENT IN PARENT DISCUSSION GROUPS
  2. $1.2 million spent. EARLY HEAD START:THE EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM WORKS WITH PREGNANT WOMEN AND FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGES BIRTH TO THREE, INCLUDING CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. THE EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM OFFERS FAMILY CENTERED ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE CHILD GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, PARENT PARTICIPATION AND SOCIAL SUPPORT FOR:1. PARENTS WHO WANT TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT BUT NEED SUPPORT, EDUCATION AND TRAINING2. PREGNANT WOMEN3. TEEN AND SINGLE PARENTS4. STRESSED PARENTS5. PARENTS WITH AN INFANT OR TODDLER WHO IS MEDICALLY FRAIL OR DISABLEDPROGRAM COMPONENTS INCLUDE FULL-DAY/FULL-YEAR CENTER BASED CHILDCARE SERVICES, WEEKLY HOME VISITS FOR EACH FAMILY AS WELL AS PARENT/CHILD EDUCATION THAT TAKES PLACE IN AN EARLY CHILDHOOD CLASSROOM. FAMILIES CAN CHECK OUT DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE BOOKS AND TOYS FROM THE EARLY HOME START LENDING LIBRARIES
  3. $173,153 spent. FOOD SERVICE EXPENSE:REACH-UP, INC. PARTICIPATES IN UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE CHILD ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. EACH DAY THE HEAD START CHILD EATS NUTRITIOUS MEALS. DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF HOURS THE CHILD IS IN THE PROGRAM, THEY RECEIVE BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND SNACK AT THE CENTER BASED PROGRAMS. A SNACK IS SERVED AT THE HOME BASED FAMILY DAYS TWICE A MONTH. THE COSTS OF THE MEALS ARE REIMBURSED THROUGH THE CHILD ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM.
  4. $223,909 spent. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TRAINING FOR PARENTS AND STAFF:TRAINING IS PROVIDED FOR PARENTS AND STAFF TO MEET LICENSING, HEALTH, AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. PARENTS AND STAFF ARE TRAINED IN THE AREAS OF PARENTING SKILLS AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT.TRANSISITON SERVICES:REACH-UP, INC. PROVIDES TRANSITION SERVICES TO HEAD START FAMILIES THROUGH THE CHILD'S KINDERGARTEN YEAR. TRANSITION STAFF WORK WITH FAMILIES, HEAD START STAFF, AND SCHOOL DISTRICT STAFF TO IMPLEMENT TRANSITION SERVICES. TRANSITION STAFF CONDUCT HOME VISITS WITH FAMILIES TO COMPLETE A FAMILY PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT, ASSIST WITH KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION, SEND RECORDS, DEVELOP GOALS, AND PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL SERVICE RESOURCES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 March 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 June 1979.

    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.

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.