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Community Emergency Services Inc

EIN 41-1728341 · Minneapolis, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COMMUNITY EMERGENCY SERVICE (CES) IS ONE OF THE LARGEST FOOD DISTRIBUTION NONPROFITS SERVING ONE OF THE POOREST COMMUNITIES IN THE TWIN CITIES. OUR MISSION IS TO TURN HUNGER INTO HOPE THROUGH THREE PRINCIPAL PROGRAMS: (I) FOOD MARKET, (II) MEALS ON WHEELS, AND (III) ANI-MEALS, WHICH SUPPORTS PET FOOD ACCESS AND VETERINARY HEALTH FOR COMPANION ANIMALS. TOGETHER, THESE PROGRAMS SERVE THOUSANDS OF NEIGHBORS EACH WEEK. DURING THE YEAR, CES DISTRIBUTED 250,000 POUNDS OF FOOD THROUGH OUR FOOD SHELF, PROVIDED 82,000 MEALS THROUGH MEALS ON WHEELS, AND SUPPORTED 900 NEIGHBORS THROUGH THE ANI-MEALS PROGRAM.

Income
$3.2 million
Spending
$2.7 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
6.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
13
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$119,881, president

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 11 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 (3)
  1. $1.2 million spent. OUR FOOD MARKET SERVES THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EACH YEAR THROUGH A SUPERSHELF-STYLE GROCERY STORE THAT ALLOWS NEIGHBORS TO CHOOSE FOODS THAT MEET THEIR CULTURAL AND DIETARY NEEDS. IN ADDITION, REFRIGERATED FOOD LOCKERS LOCATED OUTSIDE OUR FACILITY PROVIDE 24/7 ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD. SUPPORTED BY NEARLY 2,000 DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS, THIS PROGRAM DISTRIBUTES MORE THAN 250,000 POUNDS OF FOOD ANNUALLY TO THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.THE CES FOOD MARKET ASSISTED OVER 144,000 INDIVIDUALS DURING THE YEAR BY PROVIDING SAFE, HEALTHY FOOD. THE PROGRAM RELIES HEAVILY ON RESCUED FOOD FROM GROCERY STORES AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, ALLOWING CES TO MEET DEMAND WITHOUT TURNING AWAY ANY NEIGHBOR SEEKING ASSISTANCE. CES IMPLEMENTED AN ONLINE APPOINTMENT SYSTEM AND EXPANDED ITS REFRIGERATED FOOD LOCKER PROGRAM, PROVIDING 24/7 ACCESS TO FOOD. OVER 90% OF FOOD SHELF VISITORS UTILIZE THESE ONLINE TOOLS, SAVING HOURS OF WAIT TIME PER VISIT. OVER 90% OF CLIENTS SELF-IDENTIFIED AS BLACK, INDIGENOUS, OR PEOPLE OF COLOR (BIPOC). CES ALSO HOSTS VISITING MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS WHO PROVIDE SERVICES SUCH AS BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS, DIABETIC SCREENINGS, AND OPIOID DEPENDENCY SUPPORT.
  2. $746,697 spent. CES MEALS ON WHEELS DELIVERS OVER 82,000 NUTRITIOUS MEALS EACH YEAR TO HUNDREDS OF HOMEBOUND SENIORS AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES. IN ADDITION TO FOOD, CLIENTS RECEIVE DAILY WELLNESS CHECKS AND SOCIAL CONNECTION, HELPING THEM REMAIN SAFELY AND INDEPENDENTLY IN THEIR HOMES. SEVENTY PERCENT OF MEALS ON WHEELS CLIENTS WERE SENIORS, AND THE REMAINING 30% WERE ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES OR UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT KEPT THEM HOMEBOUND. WHILE THE PROGRAM WAS OPEN TO ALL ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS, 94% OF CLIENTS WERE LOW-INCOME AND UNABLE TO PAY PRIVATELY FOR MEALS. MOST MEALS WERE SUBSIDIZED THROUGH FUNDING FROM HENNEPIN COUNTY OR THE FEDERAL TITLE III OLDER AMERICANS ACT. MEALS WERE DELIVERED BY VOLUNTEERS, WHO ALSO CONDUCTED WELLNESS CHECKS AND FREQUENTLY PROVIDED NON-FOOD ASSISTANCE SUCH AS WINTER CLOTHING, BIRTHDAY GIFTS, AND OTHER ESSENTIAL ITEMS.
  3. $60,190 spent. THE ANI-MEALS PROGRAM SERVES THE PETS OF LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORS ACROSS THE TWIN CITIES BY PROVIDING PET FOOD, VETERINARY HEALTH CHECKS, AND VACCINATIONS. EACH YEAR, ANI-MEALS SUPPORTS THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES, HELPING ENSURE THAT FINANCIAL HARDSHIP DOES NOT FORCE PEOPLE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN CARING FOR THEMSELVES AND CARING FOR THEIR PETS.THE ANI-MEALS PROGRAM PROVIDES PET FOOD AND VETERINARY SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE TWIN CITIES. CES REGULARLY HOSTS ANIMAL CLINICS AT ITS FACILITY AND OFFERS DIRECT HOME-BASED SERVICES. IN ADDITION TO FOOD AND VETERINARY CARE, THE PROGRAM PROVIDES PET SUPPLIES SUCH AS TOYS, CARRIERS, BLANKETS, AND OTHER ESSENTIAL ITEMS

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 December 1992.

    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.