Building Blocks Non Profit
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY, LOW COST HOUSING TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS; PRODUCE POSITIVE HEALTHY LIVING PROGRAMMING FOR NORTH MINNEAPOLIS'S YOUTH;AND CREATE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND LOWER BARRIERS TO ENTRY FOR ASPIRING BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $1,156
- Spending
- $3,248
- Spent on programs
- 43%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
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
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (housing, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 254 of 5 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
0 of 7Reports no 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.
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 (1)
- $1,411 spent. HOUSING-THE COMMONS AT PENN APARTMENT BUILDING BEGAN LEASE UP AT THE BEGINNING OF 2016, AND ALL 47 UNITS WERE LEASED BY THE END OF APRIL, 2016. THESE APARTMENTS PROVIDE STABLE HOUSING TO RESIDENTS WHOSE INCOMES ARE BELOW 50% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME. THE BUILDING CONTINUED TO BE FULLY LEASED THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF 2016 AND CONTINUED TO BE FULLY LEASED THROUGH 2018. PLANS HAVE BEGUN FOR A SECOND PHASE OF AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS. THE GROUND BREAKING FOR PHASE II "PENN AVE UNION" HAPPENED IN JUNE 2019. THIS WILL BE 64 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. PENN AVE UNION IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED IN OCT-NOV 0F 2020. COMMONS AT PENN CONTINUES TO BE FULLY LEASED. HEALTHY LIVING-WIRTH CO-OP SIGNED A LEASE IN AUGUST OF 2016 TO OCCUPY THE COMMERCIAL SPACE IN COMMONS AT PENN. THIS ORGANIZATION WILL PROVIDE GROCERIES TO AN AREA OF NORTH MINNEAPOLIS THAT IS A FEDERALLY DECLARED FOOD DESERT. CORE GROCERIES WILL BE SET AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE, AND CULTURALLY SENSITIVE FOOD ITEMS WILL BE PRESENT IN THE STORE. BUILDING BLOCKS RECEIVED RENT FROM THE WIRTH COOP THROUGH JULY, 2019 AT WHICH TIME THE COOP CLOSED TEMPORARILY. IT WAS ANNOUNCED IN JAN OF 2019 THAT THE COOP WILL NOT BE REOPENING. THE SPACE WILL NOW BE USED BY HENNEPIN COUNTY FOR A FOOD SHELF. NEW LEASE SIGNED WITH HENNEPIN COUNTY FOR THIS SPACE BEGINNING JAN 8, 2019. THE FOOD SHELF HAS BEEN WIDELY SUCCESSFUL AND CONTINUES TO BE A WELCOME ADDITIONAL SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS AND COMMONS AT PENN AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. HENNEPIN COUNTY HAS RECENTLY SIGNED AN EXTENSION TO THE LEASE OF THE SPACE UNTIL FEB 2023. YOUTH MENTORSHIP-BUILDING BLOCKS PROVIDED AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOR COMMONS AT PENN RESIDENTS BEGINNING IN MARCH OF 2016, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OPPORTUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT SPECIALIZES IN PROVIDING AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING IN LOW INCOME HOUSING. PROGRAMMING WAS PROVIDED 4 DAYS PER WEEK AND INCLUDES A HEALTHY SNACK, HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE, AND A ROTATING SCHEDULE OF MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. IN JAN 2018 BUILDING BLOCKS TRANSITIONED TO A NEW AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM THROUGH VIZION THE FUTURE THROUGH OCT 2018. THE PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY ON PAUSE AND WILL BEGIN AGAIN IN THE FALL OF 2020.. THERE ARE CURRENTLY LIMITATIONS ON THE PROGRAM DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE CURRENT SPACE. AS THE NEW PHASE IS OPEN THE PROGRAMMING WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO THAT FACILITY AND THE SIZE OF THE SPACE WILL INCREASE FROM 400-500 SQ FT TO 4000-5000 SQ FT. THE CURRENT SPACE SIZE WAS A CONCESSION MADE IN ORDER TO ALLOW EXTRA SPACE FOR THE COOP FOOTPRINT. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BUILDING BLOCKS, DEVEAN GEORGE CONTINUES TO DO MOBILE MENTORSHIP OF LOCAL YOUTH AT AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND CAMPS. HE IS ORGANIZING EVENTS FOR YOUTH FOR FALL TO INCLUDE TRIPS TO MUSEUMS, TIMBERWOLVES GAMES AND COOKING CLASSES. DISCUSSIONS ARE IN PROCESS FOR A JOINT VENTURE WITH "MIND THE GAP".
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 August 2013.
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.