Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Autism Opportunities Foundation

EIN 41-1847652 · Minnetonka, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 67 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

We improve the lives of the people in our care affected by autism.

Income
$29.4 million
Spending
$30.4 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 98%
Employees
853
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$424,108, ceo

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: 38 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 55% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 67 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 37% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 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 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 (1)
  1. $25.6 million spent. The Autism Opportunities Foundation dba Minnesota Autism Center (MAC) provides therapeutic support for children, adolescents, and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). MAC is staffed by highly trained professionals with a variety of behavioral health certifications and licensures. Our services utilize several therapeutic modalities, including applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy. MAC's services are center-based and in-home, and include speech and occupational therapy, assessment and diagnostic services, and individual and family therapy. MAC provides services to clients age 18 months to 21 years old throughout the state of Minnesota. Programming is tailored to accommodate client and family specific needs and goals.Early Intervention Program - MAC provides early intervention programs primarily for preschool aged children in a center-based setting. Early intervention programs are intensive, often consisting of over 40 hours of therapy per week.School Age Program - The MAC's school age programs serve children that are of school age, with the goal of the program to help the child acquire functional skills in the areas of communication, socialization and daily living; the program focuses on reducing challenging behaviors which may interfere with the child's functioning in home, community and school settings.MAC School Readiness Program - The MAC school readiness program strives to aide children on the autism spectrum who possess a wide range of abilities. The goals of the MAC school readiness program is to foster therapeutic success, independence, self-awareness, social consciousness and behavioral management skills to help prepare children to transition to a less intrusive environment. The MAC school readiness program is a year-round program providing intensive, individualized therapy in a rich and fulfilling school-like setting. Over the past year, the MAC provided the following: assessments and diagnosis.The team of MAC's mental health professionals conduct intake and annual assessments on-site at the assessment center. Furthermore, family feedback sessions are an essential component to the assessment process.

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 2003.

    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.