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Employment Connection

EIN 43-1106386 · Saint Louis, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EMPLOYMENT CONNECTION IS A NONPROFIT ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY ASSET WHOSE MISSION IS "TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS WITH LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES TO SELF SUFFICIENCY" INCLUDING THOSE RECOVERING FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE, THE HOMELESS, LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) FAMILIES, AT-RISK YOUTH, U.S., VETERANS, NEW AMERICANS, AND NON-CUSTODIAL FATHERS.

Income
$6.1 million
Spending
$6.3 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
7.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 80%
Employees
297
Volunteers
176
Highest pay
$231,461, ceo

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: 81 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

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: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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 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)
  1. $4.5 million spent. THE COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM (CEP) WORKS TO REDUCE CRIME AND HOMELESSNESS BY ASSISTING INDIVIDUALS WITH SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS INTO EMPLOYMENT, LEADING TO A CAREER. INDIVIDUALS IN CEP PARTICIPATE IN THE WORLD OF WORK JOB READINESS TRAINING AND ARE THEN CONNECTED WITH A CAREER SPECIALIST WITH WHICH THEY CREATE A PERSONALIZED PLAN WHICH ADDRESSES EACH OF THEIR BARRIERS TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY. ADDITIONAL SERVICES AVAILABLE TO ELIGIBLE CEP PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE BEHAVIORAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH SERVICES, HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, WORK-RELATED CLOTHING, EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE, AND MORE. DURING 2024, EMPLOYMENT CONNECTION CONTINUED SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATION TRAINING AND ALSO GREEN JOBS EMPLOYMENT TRAINING. 551 WERE SUCCESSFULLY PLACED INTO EMPLOYMENT AT AN AVERAGE HOURLY WAGE OF (SEE CONTINUATION ON SCH O) $15.30, AND 41% MAINTAINED THEIR EMPLOYMENT FOR A MINIMUM OF 90 DAYS. AS PART OF CASE MANAGEMENT, EMPLOYMENT CONNECTION PROVIDED 367 HOURS OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INTAKES AND COUNSELING. IN ADDITION, EMPLOYMENT CONNECTION PROVIDED 620 INSTANCES OF DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TOTALING OVER $721,000 IN 2024. HOUSING SERVICES INCLUDED RENTAL AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO WERE HOMELESS, AND/OR AT-RISK OF HOMELESSNESS IN ST. LOUIS CITY AND COUNTY. MANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WERE DISABLED AND/OR FINANCIALLY IMPACTED BY COVID-19. THROUGH EMPLOYMENT CONNECTION'S DOCY PROGRAM, 95 YOUTH 10-17 YEAR OLDS IN THE DUTCHTOWN, GRAVOIS PARK, AND MOUNT PLEASANT NEIGHBORHOODS RECEIVED SERVICES. OVER 200 YOUTH WERE ENGAGED IN EVENTS ATTENDED OR HOSTED BY THE DOCY PROGRAM.
  2. $1.1 million spent. MANAGED WORK SERVICES OF ST. LOUIS (MWSSTL) IS DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF AREA EMPLOYERS IN RESPONSE TO HIGH TURN-OVER IN ENTRY LEVEL POSITIONS, AS WELL AS CLIENTS IN NEED OF ESTABLISHING A WORK HISTORY OR IN NEED OF A JOB WHILE WORKING WITH THEIR CAREER SPECIALIST TOWARD PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT AND A CAREER PATH. MWSSTL WORKS WITH AREA EMPLOYERS TO OVERCOME THEIR STIGMATIC PERCEPTIONS OF EMPLOYMENT CONNECTION'S TARGET CLIENT POPULATION (E.G. EX-OFFENDERS, RECOVERING ADDICTS, ETC.) AND ENCOURAGES THEM TO GIVE OUR CLIENTS A CHANCE TO PROVE THEMSELVES ON THE JOB. THE PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE TO ALL EC CLIENTS REGARDLESS OF THE NATURE OF THEIR BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT, BASED ON THE AVAILABILITY OF CURRENT CONTRACTS AND EMPLOYER NEED/CRITERIA. MWSSTL IS A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE DESIGNED TO MEET THE (SEE CONTINUATION ON SCH O) NEEDS OF CLIENTS IN MOST NEED OF POST-PLACEMENT RETENTION AND ON-THE-JOB TRAINING SERVICES.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 July 1977.

    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.