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Model Cities of St Paul Inc

EIN 41-1687873 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES THAT DEVELOP AND STABILIZE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.

Income
$3.0 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
2.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 64%
Employees
32
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$119,955, ceo/board secretary

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

Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 49% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 9 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 (1)
  1. $2.3 million spent. MODEL CITIES' SERVICE CONTINUUM CREATES PATHWAYS TO MOVE PEOPLE FROM HOMELESSNESS AND POVERTY TO HOUSING STABILITY AND HOMEOWNERSHIP. OUTCOMES FROM 2025 DEMONSTRATE THE FOLLOWING OUTCOMES:PROVIDED SERVICES TO 2,324 INDIVIDUALS ACROSS ALL PROGRAMS.PROVIDED HOMEOWNERSHIP EDUCATION, 1:1 ADVISING, AND FINANCIAL COACHING SERVICES TO 544 INDIVIDUALS, REDUCING HOMEOWNERSHIP GAPS AND CREATING BETTER PATHWAYS TOWARD WEALTH CREATION AND FINANCIAL STABILITY.SERVED 1,598 ADULTS AT OUR SAFE SPACE SHELTERMODEL CITIES SAFE SPACE SHELTER INTRODUCED A 7DAY BEDRESERVATION PILOT THAT REDUCED DAILY ACCESS BARRIERS AND SUPPORTED GUESTS' WORK AND APPOINTMENT SCHEDULES.SECURED FUNDING TO LAUNCH A TRAUMAINFORMED HOMEOWNERSHIP ACCELERATOR PROGRAM THAT WILL EXPAND ACCESS TO FINANCIAL EDUCATION, CREDIT REPAIR, AND HOMEBUYER READINESS SUPPORT FOR BIPOC HOUSEHOLDS.LAUNCHED A NEW AGENCY WEBSITE DESIGNED TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY, ELEVATE TRANSPARENCY, AND BETTER CONNECT COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PROGRAMS, RESOURCES, AND IMPACT.INCREASED AWARENESS OF MODEL CITIES THROUGH A HOST OF COMMUNITY EVENTS, MEDIA ENGAGEMENT, AND NATIONAL EXPOSURE, WHILE DEEPENING LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS THAT STRENGTHEN OUR MISSION AND IMPACT.OUR CORE OFFERINGS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:CORE PROGRAM OFFERINGSMODEL CITIES' CORE PROGRAM OFFERINGS ARE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT HOUSING STABILITY, ECONOMIC MOBILITY, AND LONGTERM SELFSUFFICIENCY FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ACROSS SAINT PAUL. THESE SERVICES ARE DELIVERED THROUGH AN INTEGRATED CONTINUUM OF HOUSING, HOMEOWNERSHIP, FINANCIAL WELLNESS, SHELTER, AND COMMUNITYBASED COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.HOUSING SUPPORT SERVICES (HSS)ADDRESSING HOUSING INSTABILITY REQUIRES A WHOLEPERSON APPROACH THAT RESPONDS TO THE DIVERSE AND INTERCONNECTED NEEDS OF HOUSEHOLDS. IN 2025, MODEL CITIES PROVIDED HOUSING SUPPORT SERVICES THROUGH THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS:FAMILIES FIRST SUPPORTIVE HOUSING (FFSH):FFSH PROVIDES PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING TO FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, WHERE ONE OR MORE HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS HAVE A CHRONIC DISABILITY AND/OR THE HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD IS IN RECOVERY FROM CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY.SANKOFA SUPPORTIVE HOUSING:SANKOFA PROVIDES PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING TO YOUNG ADULTS AGES 1725 WHO ARE PREGNANT OR PARENTING A CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF THREE. SERVICES FOCUS ON HOUSING STABILITY, PARENTING SUPPORT, AND LONGTERM ECONOMIC AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT.HOMEOWNERSHIP SERVICESMODEL CITIES OFFERS A RANGE OF HOMEOWNERSHIP AND FINANCIAL CAPABILITY SERVICES DESIGNED TO HELP HOUSEHOLDS SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE THE PATH TO OWNING A HOME.HOME STRETCH HOMEBUYER EDUCATION:HOME STRETCH IS AN 8HOUR EDUCATIONAL COURSE OFFERED IN BOTH WEEKDAY AND WEEKEND FORMATS TO ACCOMMODATE VARIED SCHEDULES. THE CURRICULUM COVERS TOPICS SUCH AS MORTGAGE SELECTION, PREPARING FOR CLOSING, AVOIDING PREDATORY PRACTICES, AND UNDERSTANDING THE HOMEBUYING PROCESS. INSTRUCTION IS DELIVERED THROUGH INTERACTIVE DISCUSSIONS, MULTIMEDIA RESOURCES, AND PRESENTATIONS FROM VOLUNTEER PROFESSIONALS WITH EXPERTISE IN HOUSING, LENDING, AND REAL ESTATE.PREPURCHASE COUNSELING:PREPURCHASE COUNSELING PROVIDES INDIVIDUALIZED, ONEONONE SUPPORT TO HOUSEHOLDS WORKING TOWARD HOMEOWNERSHIP. HOMEOWNERSHIP ADVISORS ASSESS INCOME, CREDIT, DEBT, AND EMPLOYMENT HISTORY AND COLLABORATE WITH HOUSEHOLDS TO DEVELOP ACTION PLANS TO ADDRESS BARRIERS TO HOMEOWNERSHIP.HOMEOWNERSHIP ACCELERATOR (DEVELOPED 2025; LAUNCH PLANNED MARCH 2026):IN 2025, MODEL CITIES DEVELOPED THE HOMEOWNERSHIP ACCELERATOR, A STRUCTURED, COHORTBASED PROGRAM DESIGNED TO DEEPEN AND ACCELERATE SUPPORT FOR HOUSEHOLDS PREPARING TO PURCHASE A HOME. THE ACCELERATOR BUILDS UPON EXISTING EDUCATION AND COUNSELING SERVICES BY OFFERING MORE INTENSIVE COACHING, GOAL TRACKING, AND COORDINATED FINANCIAL READINESS SUPPORTS. THE PROGRAM IS SCHEDULED TO LAUNCH IN MARCH 2026 AND IS INTENDED TO STRENGTHEN HOMEOWNERSHIP OUTCOMES, PARTICULARLY FOR HOUSEHOLDS HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED FROM HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.FISCALLY FIT:FISCALLY FIT PROVIDES FINANCIAL WELLNESS EDUCATION AND COACHING TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, YOUTH, INDIVIDUALS, AND LOWINCOME HOUSEHOLDS. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON BUILDING FINANCIAL SKILLS, REDUCING ECONOMIC DISPARITIES, AND PROMOTING LONGTERM FINANCIAL HEALTH AND STABILITY.SHELTER SERVICESIN NOVEMBER 2019, MODEL CITIES BEGAN OPERATING SAFE SPACE, A LOWBARRIER EMERGENCY SHELTER PROVIDING OVERNIGHT SHELTER TO UNSHELTERED ADULTS. EMERGENCY SHELTER SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FOR UP TO 64 INDIVIDUALS NIGHTLY, OPERATING DAILY FROM 10:00 P.M. TO 9:00 A.M. SAFE SPACE SERVES INDIVIDUALS BROUGHT BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER AUTHORIZED PARTNERS FROM LOCATIONS SUCH AS LIGHT RAIL PLATFORMS, SKYWAYS, AND OTHER UNAUTHORIZED SPACES. THE PROGRAM'S GOAL IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE, TEMPORARY ALTERNATIVE WHILE INDIVIDUALS PURSUE LONGERTERM HOUSING SOLUTIONS. IN NOVEMBER 2024, MODEL CITIES RELOCATED SAFE SPACE OPERATIONS TO CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH IN SAINT PAUL'S MIDWAY AREA.BROWNSTONE SERVICESSINCE OPENING IN 2017, THE BROWNSTONE PROPERTY HAS CONSISTENTLY MAINTAINED HIGH OCCUPANCY FOR ITS 35 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AVERAGING APPROXIMATELY 97% OCCUPANCY ANNUALLY. RESIDENTS REFLECT A DIVERSE MIX OF HOUSEHOLDS, AND DEMAND FOR UNITS REMAINS STRONG, WITH MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS TYPICALLY RECEIVED FOR EACH VACANCY.IN ADDITION TO RESIDENTIAL HOUSING, MODEL CITIES OPERATES AFFORDABLE COMMERCIAL RETAIL SPACE WITHIN THE BROWNSTONE BUILDING. AS OF 2024, ALL FIVE COMMERCIAL UNITS WERE FULLY LEASED AND OPERATED BY BIPOCOWNED BUSINESSES, SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, AND COMMUNITYBASED COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY.

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 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 2025.

    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 August 1991.

    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.