Catholic Charities of the Archdioce Se of Dubuque Iowa
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Our mission is to reduce poverty, strengthen families and empower communities in the 30 most northeast counties of Iowa.
- Income
- $4.9 million
- Spending
- $5.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 97%
- Reserves
- 32.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 51%
- Employees
- 39
- Volunteers
- 95
- Highest pay
- $146,440, finance officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 32.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1597% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 92 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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 October 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)
- $1.7 million spent. The primary mission of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa (Catholic Charities) is to strengthen families, reduce poverty, and empower communities by responding to changing social needs to provide help and create hope for the most vulnerable populations.Affordable Housing Affordable housing is a basic life necessity that Catholic Charities is committed to supporting. Catholic Charities Housing offers safe and affordable accommodations for low-income families, elderly and adults with disabilities. Rent for each of our properties is determined based on the renter's income. (Statement continued on Schedule O)Catholic Charities owns and manages properties in Dubuque, Maquoketa and Waterloo with a total of 208 units among our five locations.Ecumenical Tower in Dubuque is an 88-unit senior/disabled adult apartment complex located in downtown Dubuque. (Statement continued on Schedule O)Kennedy Park West is a 72-unit, 1-to-3-bedroom apartment complex for individuals and families located in Dubuque's west end.Carter Plaza also located in Dubuque's west end, offers eight family-friendly, low-income units.Alabar Plaza is a 12-unit, low-income property in Waterloo, close to schools, parks and shopping.Heartland East is a 28-unit affordable housing complex in Maquoketa, Iowa.Catholic Charities maintains affordable housing rates at approximately 30% of a person's income.
- $1.3 million spent. Jail & Prison Ministry Catholic Charities coordinates volunteer-based outreach for imprisoned and recently released individuals to support them in successful re-entry into society. 481 formerly incarcerated individuals received support for successful reentry into the community in 2025.Immigration Legal Services -Catholic Charities' immigration attorneys provide affordable legal services to help reunite families by assisting them in navigating the immigration system and advocating on their behalf. (Statement continued on Schedule O)Catholic Charities assists with paperwork for green card and citizenship applications, family and visitor visas, deferred action for childhood arrivals, temporary protected status, violence against women act, and other family-based immigration legal services. In 2025, our immigration attorneys provided 745 free immigration legal consultations. Clients represented 58 different countries of origin, which is our highest outreach yet.
- $982,368 spent. Mental Health Counseling Services Inspired by the belief that marriage and families are at the core of our social structure, Catholic Charities provides professional counseling for marriages, families, and individuals experiencing various social, emotional, and interpersonal struggles. The option to use insurance, or pay on a sliding fee scale, makes counseling attainable for anyone who is truly in need. All Catholic Charities' counselors are masters-level, licensed professionals, and services are available to anyone regardless of religious, social, or economic background. (Statement continued on Schedule O)In 2025, the total number of counseling sessions increased from 5,438 in FY 23-24 to 5,735 in FY 24-25, which includes telehealth sessions. In 2025, Catholic Services served 26,125 individuals across 30 counties in Northeast Iowa.
- $902,735 spent. Catholic Charities offers Case Management Services to individuals who are experiencing hardship with immediate needs and empowers them with the guidance and tools for a successful future. 100% of case management clients maintained housing, 74% of clients started an emergency savings fund and 32% of clients increased their employment income.Catholic Charities is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency, provided by a HUD-certified housing counselor.Catholic Charities partners with Catholic Charities USA through the Walmart Foundation to enroll families and individuals in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This program increases food security for low-income families in the US, particularly in underserved and rural communities. Catholic Charities guided 228 families through SNAP enrollment in 2025.Post Adoption Search Services Allows any adult member of an adoption, previously facilitated by Catholic Charities, to gain knowledge about the other parties such as non-identifying medical information, contact information, and knowledge of other siblings. In cases where members of an adoption group mutually agree to be reunited, Catholic Charities' staff provides counseling to assist the individuals in emotionally preparing themselves and evaluating readiness for the event.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.
Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending October 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1946.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 2026.
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