Minnesota Valley Action Council Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
DEVELOP RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES WHICH EMPOWER PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $28.6 million
- Spending
- $27.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- 3.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 87%
- Employees
- 566
- Volunteers
- 800
- Highest pay
- $172,503, executive director
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
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 25% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1596% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2525 of 25 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (4)
- $8.2 million spent. HOUSING - MINNESOTA HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY (MHFA) MONEY IS AVAILABLE TO MAKE ENERGY-SAVING AND GENERAL HOME IMPROVEMENTS FOR HOMEOWNERS OF ALL INCOME LEVELS. MHFA SUBSIDIZES LOANS TO ENCOURAGE HOMEOWNERS TO MAKE HOME IMPROVEMENTS TO HELP MAINTAIN THE IMAGE OF CLEAN, WELL-RUN RURAL COMMUNITIES. LOAN PROGRAMS INCLUDE FIX-UP LOAN, COMMUNITY FIX-UP REHABILITATION LOAN, AND RENTAL REHABILITATION LOAN PROGRAMS. WE ASSISTED 85 PEOPLE TO SECURE LOW INTEREST LOANS SO THEY COULD MAKE NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR HOMES. MHFA PROVIDES FUNDING FOR HOMELESS PREVENTION TO HELP HOUSEHOLDS FROM EITHER BECOMING HOMELESS BECAUSE OF AN EVICTION, OR IF THEY ARE CURRENTLY HOMELESS, (BY HUD'S DEFINITION) GET THEM INTO PERMANENT HOUSING. FACILITATED 9 HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE TEAMS. ASSISTED 355 HOUSEHOLDS WITH SERVICES THAT PREVENTED THEM FROM JOINING THE RANKS OF HOMELESS STATISTICS. WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE - THIS PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE TO BOTH LOW-INCOME HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS IN THE NINE-COUNTY AREA. IT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE ENERGY CONSERVATION SERVICE SUCH AS FURNACE MODIFICATIONS, CAULKING, WEATHERSTRIPPING, ATTIC INSULATION, REPAIR OF PRIMARY WINDOWS, STORM WINDOWS, MINOR FOUNDATION REPAIRS AND INSULATION, HOT WATER HEATER AND PIPE INSULATION AND FURNACE MAINTENANCE. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PREVENT HEAT LOSS IN THE HOME AND THUS REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. SERVED WERE 194 HOUSEHOLDS AND REPLACED OR REPAIRED 248 FAULTY FURNACES. LOW-INCOME HOUSING ASSISTANCE - UNDER THE HUD SECTION 8 VOUCHER CHOICE PROGRAM RENT SUBSIDY PAYMENTS ARE PROVIDED FOR QUALIFIED LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND ELDERLY, DISABLED OR HANDICAPPED PERSONS RENTING FROM PRIVATE LANDLORDS. THE PARTICIPANTS PAY UP TO 30% OF THEIR INCOME TOWARDS RENT AND UTILITIES AND THE BALANCE IS PAID DIRECTLY TO THE LANDLORD THROUGH HUD FUNDING. APPROXIMATELY 355 HOUSEHOLDS WERE SERVED. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT - THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES FUNDS FOR HOUSING REHABILITATION WITH DEFERRED LOAN REPAYMENT OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. CURRENTLY, MVAC OPERATES THE CDBG PROGRAM IN THE CITIES OF MANKATO AND AMBOY, AND IN DAKOTA COUNTY SERVED WERE OVER 20 HOUSEHOLDS OR COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS.
- $6.8 million spent. HEAD START - 508 LOW-INCOME CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN QUALITY PRESCHOOL. HEARING AND VISION SCREENINGS WERE PROVIDED TO 260 CHILDREN. 203 CHILDREN RECEIVED DENTAL EXAMS, SOME FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME. PROVIDED 120 PREGNANT WOMEN, INFANTS AND TODDLES WITH QUALITY HOME VISITING SERVICES. 520 VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED THEIR TIME TO ENHANCE THE SERVICE PROVIDED TO FAMILIES.
- $6.0 million spent. EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING - 199 ADULTS GAINED EMPLOYMENT WITH OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE. PROVIDED TRAINING TO 73 INDIVIDUALS WHO LOST THEIR JOBS DUE TO BUSINESS/PLANT CLOSING OR DOWNSIZING. 277 AT-RISK TEENAGERS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND EARN THROUGH PAID WORK EXPERIENCE, PLANNING FOR CAREERS AND ACHIEVING SUCCESS IN THEIR EDUCATION AND TRAINING. PROVIDED SERVICES THROUGH MINNESOTA FAMILY INVESTMENT PROGRAM (MFIP) IN THE COUNTIES OF LESUEUR, NICOLLET, BROWN, SIBLEY, AND WASECA. THESE SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO DECREASE LONG-TERM WELFARE DEPENDENCY. SERVED WERE APPROXIMATELY 547 INDIVIDUALS. SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) - EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING - PARTICIPANTS TAKE STEPS TO IMPROVE SKILLS THAT CAN LEAD TO A CAREER AND FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE. APPROXIMATELY 153 HOUSEHOLDS WERE SERVED.
- $5.4 million spent. LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE - THIS PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED TO COMBAT THE CONTINUING HARDSHIP BROUGHT UPON LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS BY RISING ENERGY COSTS. ITS PURPOSE IS TO ASSIST ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS WITH THEIR HEATING BILLS. ASSISTANCE IS IN THE FORM OF A DIRECT PAYMENT TO A FUEL/UTILITY VENDOR ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSEHOLD. SERVED WERE 7,693 HOUSEHOLDS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1966.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.
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