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Community Aid of Elk River

EIN 41-1415484 · Elk River, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceFair58 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROVIDE SUPPORT AND RELIEVE HUNGER TOGETHER.

Income
$2.9 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
12
Volunteers
142
Highest pay
$79,764, executive di

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (5)
  1. $2.2 million spent. CAER HAS BEEN SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ELK RIVER, ZIMMERMAN AND OTSEGO SINCE 1979 THROUGH THE COLLECTION OF FOOD AND PERSONAL CARE ITEM DONATIONS. ADDITIONAL ITEMS ARE PURCHASED BY CAER WITH CASH DONATIONS RECEIVED. EACH DONATION DOLLAR PROVIDES THE PURCHASING POWER TO PROVIDE THREE MEALS TO CLIENTS. TO ASSIST OUR CLIENTS IN STRETCHING THEIR FOOD BUDGETS TO INCLUDE FRESH PRODUCE, CAER FORGED ALLIANCES WITH SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND, THE FOOD GROUP FOOD BANKS, AS WELL AS LOCAL GROWERS AND GROCERS TO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF FRESH PRODUCE OFFERED. IN TOTAL FOR ALL PROGRAMS IN 2023, CAER PROVIDED 1,060,305 POUNDS OF FOOD TO THE COMMUNITIES OF ELK RIVER, ZIMMERMAN, OTSEGO AND SURROUNDING AREAS. IN 2010, CAER IMPLEMENTED A SUMMER PROGRAM CALLED "KIDZ KITZ". THE PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO HELP FAMILIES WITH SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN BY PROVIDING ADDITIONAL KID-FRIENDLY FOOD, PRODUCE, MILK AND BAKERY ITEMS AS WEEKLY SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PACKAGES DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. IN 2020, WITH THE SUDDEN SHIFT TO DISTANCE LEARNING, THE KIDZ KITZ PROGRAM WAS IMMEDIATELY IMPLEMENTED FROM MARCH TO AUGUST. CAER RENAMED THE KIDZ KITZ PROGRAM TO THE KIDS WEEKEND CAER PACKAGE IN APRIL 2021. IT WAS RESTRUCTURED TO PROVIDE WEEKEND FOOD ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES YEAR-ROUND. IN 2023, 8,243 CHILDREN (DUPLICATED) RECEIVED A KIDS WEEKEND CAER PACKAGE. ADDITIONAL FOOD OUTREACH PROGRAMS IN 2023 INCLUDED PROVIDING NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS TO OPEN DOORS FOR YOUTH, (A DROP-IN CENTER FOR HOMELESS AND AT- RISK YOUTH) AND THUMBS UP YOUTH AFTER SCHOOL/SUMMER PROGRAM TOTALLING OVER 2,859 POUNDS. WE ALSO PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY 80 EMERGENCY FOOD BAGS (1,051 POUNDS)TO SHERBURNE COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. CAER SERVES LOW-INCOME SENIORS IN ZIMMERMAN AND ELK RIVER BY DELIVERING BOTH PERISHABLE AND NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS TO SENIOR HOUSING UNITS. IN 2023, WE PROVIDED 25,997 POUNDS OF FOOD THROUGH 753 DELIVERIES. THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHURCH OF SAINT ANDREW, IN 2023 WE PROVIDED PRODUCE DISTRIBUTIONS TOTALLING 27,606 POUNDS OF FOOD. THE VISION OF CAER IS THAT HUNGER IS NO LONGER A BARRIER TO THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. CAER HAS BEEN SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ELK RIVER, ZIMMERMAN AND OTSEGO SINCE 1979 THROUGH THE COLLECTION OF FOOD AND PERSONAL CARE ITEM DONATIONS. ADDITIONAL ITEMS ARE PURCHASED BY CAER WITH CASH DONATIONS RECEIVED. EACH DONATION DOLLAR PROVIDES THE PURCHASING POWER TO PROVIDE THREE MEALS TO CLIENTS. TO ASSIST OUR CLIENTS IN STRETCHING THEIR FOOD BUDGETS TO INCLUDE FRESH PRODUCE, CAER FORGED ALLIANCES WITH SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND, THE FOOD GROUP FOOD BANKS, AS WELL AS LOCAL GROWERS AND GROCERS TO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF FRESH PRODUCE OFFERED. IN TOTAL FOR ALL PROGRAMS IN 2023, CAER PROVIDED 1,060,305 POUNDS OF FOOD TO THE COMMUNITIES OF ELK RIVER, ZIMMERMAN, OTSEGO AND SURROUNDING AREAS. IN 2010, CAER IMPLEMENTED A SUMMER PROGRAM CALLED "KIDZ KITZ". THE PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO HELP FAMILIES WITH SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN BY PROVIDING ADDITIONAL KID-FRIENDLY FOOD, PRODUCE, MILK AND BAKERY ITEMS AS WEEKLY SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PACKAGES DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. IN 2020, WITH THE SUDDEN SHIFT TO DISTANCE LEARNING, THE KIDZ KITZ PROGRAM WAS IMMEDIATELY IMPLEMENTED FROM MARCH TO AUGUST. CAER RENAMED THE KIDZ KITZ PROGRAM TO THE KIDS WEEKEND CAER PACKAGE IN APRIL 2021. IT WAS RESTRUCTURED TO PROVIDE WEEKEND FOOD ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES YEAR-ROUND. IN 2023, 8,243 CHILDREN (DUPLICATED) RECEIVED A KIDS WEEKEND CAER PACKAGE. ADDITIONAL FOOD OUTREACH PROGRAMS IN 2023 INCLUDED PROVIDING NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS TO OPEN DOORS FOR YOUTH, (A DROP-IN CENTER FOR HOMELESS AND AT- RISK YOUTH) AND THUMBS UP YOUTH AFTER SCHOOL/SUMMER PROGRAM TOTALLING OVER 2,859 POUNDS. WE ALSO PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY 80 EMERGENCY FOOD BAGS (1,051 POUNDS)TO SHERBURNE COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. CAER SERVES LOW-INCOME SENIORS IN ZIMMERMAN AND ELK RIVER BY DELIVERING BOTH PERISHABLE AND NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS TO SENIOR HOUSING UNITS. IN 2023, WE PROVIDED 25,997 POUNDS OF FOOD THROUGH 753 DELIVERIES. THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHURCH OF SAINT ANDREW, IN 2023 WE PROVIDED PRODUCE DISTRIBUTIONS TOTALLING 27,606 POUNDS OF FOOD. THE VISION OF CAER IS THAT HUNGER IS NO LONGER A BARRIER TO THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
  2. $125,490 spent. CAER PROVIDES EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP PEOPLE MAINTAIN OR OBTAIN HOUSING, GAS AND ELECTRIC UTILITIES. WE SEEK TO PREVENT EVICTION AND UTILITY SHUT OFF ON BEHALF OF OUR CLIENTS. OUR SERVICE AREA IS EXTENDED FOR THIS ASSISTANCE TO RESIDENTS IN THE CITIES OF ELK RIVER, BIG LAKE, BECKER, OTSEGO AND ZIMMERMAN. IN 2023, 122 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED HOUSING OR UTILITY ASSISTANCE.
  3. $11,227 spent. CAER INITIATED OUR "CAR CAER" PROGRAM MORE THAN 15 YEARS AGO AS PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO HELP CLIENTS REMAIN MOBILE SO THEY CAN WORK OR LOOK FOR WORK. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE BY HELPING INDIVIDUALS WITH VEHICLE MAINTENANCE. WE PARTNER WITH A LOCAL BUSINESS THAT PROVIDES FACILITIES AND VOLUNTEER MECHANICS WHO PROVIDE THE EXPERTISE AND LABOR TO FIX OR MAINTAIN A VEHICLE. CAER PAYS FOR THE NECESSARY PARTS OR SUPPLIES. THESE PARTS AND SUPPLIES ARE PURCHASED THROUGH THE SHOP OWNER AT WHOLESALE PRICES. IN 2023, 16 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED HELP THROUGH CAR CAER.
  4. $356,804 spent. IN 2023, CAER HELPED OVER 400 HOUSEHOLDS WITH MISCELLANEOUS NEEDS INCLUDING SCHOOL SUPPLIES, WINTER OUTERWEAR AND GAS CARDS.
  5. IN 2023, CAER HELPED OVER 400 HOUSEHOLDS WITH MISCELLANEOUS NEEDS INCLUDING SCHOOL SUPPLIES, WINTER OUTERWEAR AND GAS CARDS.

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 October 13, 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 April 1987.

    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 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.