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Wellshare International

EIN 41-1397062 · Minneapolis, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF WELLSHARE INTERNATIONAL IS TO ADVANCE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY HEALTH AROUND THE WORLD. WELLSHARE INTERNATIONAL FOCUSES ITS RESOURCES WHERE IT CAN HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT ON THE HEALTH OF UNDERSERVED AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. THIS INCLUDES REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS IN MINNESOTA, WHERE ITS HEADQUARTER OFFICE IS LOCATED, AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN UNDER-RESOURCED COUNTRIES. WELLSHARE INTERNATIONAL WORKS IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITIES AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO ENSURE THAT THEIR JOINT EFFORTS ARE DEFINED BY LOCAL NEEDS AND ARE SUSTAINABLE. BECAUSE OF ITS EXTENSIVE OVERSEAS COMMUNITY HEALTH EXPERIENCE, INCLUDING OVER 40 YEARS OF WORK IN EAST AFRICA, AS WELL AS SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND CENTRAL AMERICA,WELLSHARE IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO WORK BOTH DOMESTICALLY IN MINNESOTA AND THE U.S. WITH THE IMMIGRANT, REFUGEE, AND OTHER UNDER-SERVED COMMUNITIES,AS WELL AS INTERNATIONALLY. OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS IN MINNESOTA, WELLSHARE HAS WORKED ON PUBLIC H

Income
$5.1 million
Spending
$3.3 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
9.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
42
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$104,714, exec. dir. (

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. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 36% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 126% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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, 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 (2)
  1. $2.5 million spent. DOMESTIC PROGRAMMING EVIDENCE-BASED EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY HOME VISITING: WELLSHARE WILL REACH 36 SOMALI, OROMO AND HISPANIC FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN PRENATAL TO 5 YEARS WITH TWO YEARS USING THE FAMILY SPIRIT MODEL: -HELPING PARENTS UNDERSTAND CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVING PARENTING SKILLS. -IDENTIFYING DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS EARLY. -PROVIDING COMMUNITY BUILDING AND KNOWLEDGE OF RESOURCES. -IMPROVING CHILDREN'S SCHOOL READINESS. THE GOAL OF THE FHV PROGRAM IS TO EXPAND AND SCALE-UP SERVICES TO SOMALI, OROMO AND HISPANIC FAMILIES TRANSITIONING FROM AN EVIDENCE-BASED FAMILY HOME VISITING PROGRAM SO THAT MORE SOMALI AND OROMO CHILDREN IN THE TWIN CITIES GROW UP IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, ARE HEALTHY, AND ARE PREPARED TO LEARN WHEN THEY ENROLL IN SCHOOL. EAST AFRICAN SMOKE-FREE PROGRAM: ESTABLISHED IN 2013, WELLSHARE'S TOBACCO-FREE COMMUNITIES EAST AFRICAN SMOKE-FREE PROGRAM, FUNDED BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES (DHS), AIMS TO REDUCE THE HARM CAUSED BY TOBACCO AND SECONDHAND SMOKE AMONG SOMALI AND EAST AFRICAN CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND YOUNG ADULTS. HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2024 PROJECT YEAR INCLUDES OUR SMOKE-FREE BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL TOBACCO-FREE EVENT POLICIES: COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION TO 3,255 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH PRESENTATIONS, PARTNERSHIP-BUILDING WITH A WIDE RANGE OF STAKEHOLDERS, AND COMPLETION OF AN EVALUATION OF CESSATION PRACTICES IN CLINICS SERVING SOMALI/EAST AFRICAN RESIDENTS IN PUBLIC HOUSING. AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOR EAST AFRICAN AND HISPANIC YOUTH - 'THE YOUNG ACHIEVERS': THIS WELLSHARE PROGRAM IS FOR AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR EAST AFRICAN AND HISPANIC YOUTH, OFFERS A CONSTRUCTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUTH TO LEARN, BE CREATIVE, INTERACT WITH POSITIVE ADULTS, LEARN SKILLS TO PREPARE THEM FOR EMPLOYMENT & HIGHER EDUCATION BY WORKING FOR THEIR COMMUNITY ON PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES. THIS PROGRAM IS CONDUCTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, AND COMMUNITY CENTERS. IN 2024, APPROXIMATELY 178 YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN THE 9-MONTH LEADERSHIP, ACADEMIC, AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT PROGRAM. SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES: WELLSHARE'S SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO SERVE BOTH YOUTH AND ADULTS BY ADDRESSING OFTEN STIGMATIZED TOPICS IN CULTURALLY RELEVANT AND ACCESSIBLE WAYS. RECOGNIZING THE SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS MANY COMMUNITIES FACE IN ACCESSING ACCURATE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES, THE PROGRAM COVERS ESSENTIAL TOPICS SUCH AS CONTRACEPTION, SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, PREGNANCY HEALTH, MENTAL WELLNESS, AND THE BENEFITS OF CHILD SPACING. OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS, WHO REFLECT THE POPULATIONS THEY SERVE, DELIVER EDUCATION THROUGH COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS, SMALL GROUP SESSIONS, AND ONE-ON-ONE ENGAGEMENT. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, WELLSHARE ALSO OFFERS STAFF TRAINING, HELPS ASSESS PARTICIPANT NEEDS, AND COLLABORATES ON CO-CREATED INITIATIVES, ENSURING SUPPORT IS BOTH RESPONSIVE AND ROOTED IN THE COMMUNITY'S UNIQUE CONTEXT. HEALTHPLAN PLAN PARTNERSHIPS: WELLSHARE PARTNERS WITH THE MAJOR HEALTH PLANS IN MINNESOTA. HELPING PEOPLE NAVIGATE COMPLEX SOCIAL AND HEALTH SYSTEMS FOR EFFECTIVE USE OF PREVENTIVE HEALTH SERVICES AND THE FULL RANGE OF THEIR SERVICE BENEFITS. WE PARTNER WITH CLINIC SYSTEMS, HEALTH PLANS, SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO REDUCE ACCESS BARRIERS AND DRIVE TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGES FOR GAP CLOSURE IN SOCIAL DRIVERS OF HEALTH AND USE OF CLINICAL SERVICES. MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION/COVID-19 RESPONSE PROGRAMMING: WELLSHARE HAS ESTABLISHED PARTNERSHIPS TO DELIVER CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION SESSIONS AND RESPOND TO OTHER COMMUNITY NEEDS. AT WELLSHARE, WE CONTINUE TO TRAIN CHWS IN DELIVERING LEARNING TO BREATHE, TRAINING FOCUSED ON MINDFULNESS, ATTENTION AND EMOTIONAL REGULATION. WELLSHARE COMPLETED 33 MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION COHORTS. A TOTAL OF 5,380 INDIVIDUALS WERE REACHED THROUGH OUTREACH AND SMALL GROUP ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS AIMED TO PROVIDE AWARENESS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, INCLUDING ADDRESSING THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH IT. 445 COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE REFERRED TO SERVICES OUTSIDE OF WELLSHARE. A TOTAL OF 371 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED WEEKLY MENTAL HEALTH CLASSES THAT SPANNED 6 TO 8 WEEKS PER COHORT. A TOTAL OF 26,973 INDIVIDUALS WERE REACHED THROUGH LOCALLY OWNED COMMUNITY MEDIA, DELIVERING CULTURALLY TAILORED MESSAGING. THE MEDIA INCLUDED LOCAL COMMUNITY TV CHANNELS, RADIO STATIONS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. WELLSHARE'S COVID-19 RESPONSE PROVIDES A CRITICAL LIFELINE FOR IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES IN MINNESOTA, PROVIDING SERVICES AND INFORMATION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WELLSHARE CHW'S DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 2,400 AT-HOME TESTING KITS AND PPE SUCH AS HAND SANITIZER AND FACE MASKS AS WELL AS OVER 2,000 FLYERS DISTRIBUTED. IN 2024 WITH OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS (E.G., CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, MOSQUES) AND FELLOW PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES TO VACCINATE OVER 400 PEOPLE. WELLSHARE, MANKATO AREA: OUR CHW SERVICE HUB IN MANKATO PARTNERS WITH LOCAL CLINICS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE DIRECT CLINIC TO HUB REFERRALS FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH NEEDS. WE ALSO COLLABORATE WITH CLINICIANS AND COMMUNITY ON HEALTH EQUITY RESEARCH AND OFFERING COVID-19 TESTING AND VACCINE POP UP CLINICS. MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES OF MANY DEMOGRAPHICS IN RURAL AREAS FACE UNIQUE BARRIERS TO COMMUNITIES OUTSIDE THE TWIN CITIES. ADDITIONALLY, GROUP CLASSES ARE CONVENING TO ADVANCE HEALTH EDUCATION FOR YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND ADULT PHYSICAL FITNESS PROMOTION. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: IN RECENT YEARS, WE HAVE ENGAGED WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO SUPPORT STAFF ON THE PATH TO BECOMING COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS (CHWS), OFFERING ACCESS TO SCHOLARSHIP-FUNDED COURSEWORK AND HANDS-ON TRAINING. THIS INITIATIVE HAS PLAYED A MEANINGFUL ROLE IN EXPANDING OUR TEAM'S CAPACITY TO SERVE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES ACROSS MINNESOTA, EQUIPPING THEM WITH BOTH THE CREDENTIALS AND REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE TO DELIVER IMPACTFUL, COMMUNIT
  2. $42,540 spent. INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMING TANZANIA, BARIADI DISTRICT: 'SURVIVE AND THRIVE GROUPS- AND 'TOGETHER FOR HEALTH' PROJECTS OUR "TOGETHER FOR HEALTH" PROGRAM USES VIDEO TECHNOLOGY ON IPADS TO DELIVER HEALTH EDUCATION MESSAGES THROUGH HEALTH WORKERS (FROM HOSPITAL/CLINICS) AND COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS (WHO WORK AT THE VILLAGE LEVEL) TO IMPROVE HEALTH KNOWLEDGE, ACCESS TO CARE, AND QUALITY OF SERVICES. RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF FINANCIAL STABILITY FOR ACHIEVING OPTIMAL HEALTH, OUR SURVIVE AND THRIVE VILLAGE COMMUNITY BANKING GROUPS PROVIDE HEALTH EDUCATION, SMALL BUSINESS SKILLS TRAINING AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO IMPLEMENT A VILLAGE COMMUNITY BANKING MODEL. IN 2024, 101,549 SERVICE CONTACTS, 887 SURVIVE AND THRIVE GROUP PARTICIPANTS AND 1,613 VICOBA PARTICIPANTS RECEIVING TECHNICAL TRAINING IN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMING TANZANIA, BARIADI DISTRICT: 'SURVIVE AND THRIVE GROUPS- AND 'TOGETHER FOR HEALTH' PROJECTS OUR "TOGETHER FOR HEALTH" PROGRAM USES VIDEO TECHNOLOGY ON IPADS TO DELIVER HEALTH EDUCATION MESSAGES THROUGH HEALTH WORKERS (FROM HOSPITAL/CLINICS) AND COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS (WHO WORK AT THE VILLAGE LEVEL) TO IMPROVE HEALTH KNOWLEDGE, ACCESS TO CARE, AND QUALITY OF SERVICES. RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF FINANCIAL STABILITY FOR ACHIEVING OPTIMAL HEALTH, OUR SURVIVE AND THRIVE VILLAGE COMMUNITY BANKING GROUPS PROVIDE HEALTH EDUCATION, SMALL BUSINESS SKILLS TRAINING AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO IMPLEMENT A VILLAGE COMMUNITY BANKING MODEL. IN 2024, 101,549 SERVICE CONTACTS, 887 SURVIVE AND THRIVE GROUP PARTICIPANTS AND 1,613 VICOBA PARTICIPANTS RECEIVING TECHNICAL TRAINING IN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.

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

  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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1981.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.