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Southern Iowa Economic Development Association

EIN 42-0923813 · Ottumwa, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ADDRESS THE CAUSES AND CONDITIONS OF POVERTY THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, ECONOMIC SUPPORT, EDUCATION AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT, FAMILY SUPPORT, HEALTH AND WELFARE, HOUSING STABILIZATION, ANY OTHER ACTIVITIES WHICH SECURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR AND BENEFIT PEOPLE WITH LOW-INCOME AND AND INSUFFICIENT RESOURCES.

Income
$12.3 million
Spending
$12.4 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
3.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 75%
Employees
176
Volunteers
625
Highest pay
$122,499, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 69 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% 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 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 June 30, 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 (8)
  1. $3.9 million spent. CHILD EDUCATION:THE ORGANIZATION'S HEAD START PROGRAM IS A PRESCHOOL EXPERIENCE FOR LOW-INCOME AND DISABLED CHILDREN 3-5 YEARS OF AGE. HEAD START IS A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION THAT ADDRESSES NOT ONLY THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN BUT ALSO THE HEALTH, NUTRITION, SOCIAL, MENTAL HEALTH AND LITERACY NEEDS AS WELL. MULTI-CULTURAL CLASSROOMS SERVE CHILDREN WHO ARE UNABLE TO SPEAK ENGLISH OR SPEAK ENGLISH AS A SECONDARY LANGUAGE.CHILDREN ATTEND PRESCHOOL CLASSES FOUR DAYS A WEEK. MEALS AND SNACKS ARE SERVED. IN ADDITION TO THE CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES, CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS TAKE PART IN FIELD TRIPS TO EXPOSE THEM TO EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
  2. $2.7 million spent. ENERGY ASSISTANCE:THE ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE TO ASSIST WITH PARTIAL PAYMENT OF HEATING COSTS FOR QUALIFIED APPLICANTS. APPLICATIONS MAY BE MADE AT ANY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD RESOURCE CENTERS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES SEVERAL TYPES OF ASSISTANCE. THE AMOUNT OF THE PAYMENT IS BASED ON THE FAMILY INCOME, NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE FAMILY, TYPE OF HOUSING AND TYPE OF HEATING FUEL USED.
  3. $1.7 million spent. SUBSTANCE ABUSE:THE ORGANIZATION'S SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES PROGRAM IS LICENSED BY THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND TREATMENT SERVICES PROVIDES OUTPATIENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT AND EVALUATION SERVICES. THE PROGRAM BEGINS WITH THE THOROUGH EVALUATION OF THE TREATMENT NEEDS OF CLIENTS FOLLOWED BY THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT PLAN INTENDED TO ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC CONCERNS IDENTIFIED BY THE CLIENT. AFTERCARE AND REFERRAL ARE ALSO AVAILABLE.
  4. $1.1 million spent. FOOD PROGRAMS.
  5. $701,185 spent. COMMUNITY SERVICES.
  6. $641,447 spent. DISCRETIONARY ACTIVITIES-WE ADDED A DAYCARE CENTER AND BECAME FISCAL AGENT FOR IOWA COMMUNITY ACTION.
  7. $528,753 spent. WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE:OUR ORGANIZATION'S WEATHERIZATION SERVICES IS CONTRACTED THROUGH FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS. WEATHERIZATION SERVICES HELP REDUCE THE HEATING AND COOLING COSTS FOR LOW-INCOME PERSONES, BY IMPROVING THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF THEIR HOMES.
  8. $436,754 spent. FAMILY DEVELOPMENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 May 1968.

    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.