Community Betterment Organization
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE COMMUNITY BETTERMENT ORGANIZATION ("CBO") WAS FORMED TO SUPPORT CENTRAL COLLEGE, THE CITY OF PELLA, AND PELLA REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER, TO ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES THAT SUCH ORGANIZATIONS WOULD STRIVE TO ENGAGE IN THEMSELVES WERE IT NOT FOR CBO, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, PROVIDING AMENITIES THAT MAKE A SMALL TOWN A MORE DESIRABLE PLACE TO LIVE AND CONDUCT BUSINESS.
- Income
- $36,644
- Spending
- $257,330
- Spent on programs
- 99%
- Reserves
- 14 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 57%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $278,487, director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 14.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 602% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 64% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1599% of spending went to programs.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 253 of 5 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (2)
- $100,182 spent. THE CBO'S PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THE YEAR 2024 INVOLVE IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY OF PELLA, THE OPERATION OF A BUILDING (THE "BUILDING") THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED IN THE YEARS 2000 AND 2001 AS PART OF A LARGE DOWNTOWN BLOCK DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (THE "DOWNTOWN PROJECT"). THE DOWNTOWN PROJECT BY THE CITY OF PELLA WAS DEVELOPED TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE TO DO BUSINESS AND LIVE IN THE TOWN, AND INCLUDES A HOTEL, BUSINESS SPACE, RESTAURANT SPACE, AND ENTERTAINMENT ATTRACTIONS TO IMPROVE THE CITY OF PELLA. THE CBO'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE DOWNTOWN PROJECT INVOLVED THE CONSTRUCTION AND ONGOING MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF THE BUILDING ON BEHALF OF THE CITY. THE BUILDING INCLUDES A THREE-SCREEN MOVIE THEATER AND A RESTAURANT. IN 2012, CBO DETERMINED THAT NEW PROJECTION EQUIPMENT WAS NEEDED FOR THE MOVIE THEATER TO UPGRADE TO DIGITAL CAPABILITIES. THIS COST OF THE NEW EQUIPMENT WAS $199,077. CBO RECEIVED $64,000 IN GRANTS FROM VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND OBTAINED A $111,500 LOAN FROM GENLINK LLC IN 2012 TO PAY FOR THE COSTS OF THIS UPGRADE. THE INSTALLATION OF THIS NEW EQUIPMENT CONTINUES TO MEET THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION IN PROVIDING ENHANCEMENTS TO COMMUNITY AMENITIES. DEPRECIATION LISTED ON PART IX, LINE 22 RELATED TO THE DEPRECIATION OF THE BUILDING $49,954PROPERTY TAXES PAID FOR THE BUILDING OF $44,643INSURANCE PAID FOR THE BUILDING OF $5,109REPAIRS AND SERVICE PAID FOR THE BUILDING $476
- $154,473 spent. CBO SUPPORTED CENTRAL COLLEGE DURING 2024 BY PAYING FOR THE AMOUNT OF LOSSES INCURRED BY THE MOVIE THEATER. THIS INCLUDED PAYING FOR SOUND REPAIRS FOR THE MOVIE THEATER.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
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 June 2000.
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 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.