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Harm Reduction Sisters

EIN 45-2597370 · Duluth, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair56 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HARM REDUCTION SISTERS PROVIDES A FEMINIST RESPONSE, UTILIZING INNOVATIVE HARM REDUCTION PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES TO ADDRESS THE GAPS THAT EXIST FOR PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE SUBSTANCE USE AND TRAUMA.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 96%
Employees
17
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$93,100, executive 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

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 42% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 115% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 (1)
  1. $925,097 spent. HARM REDUCTION SISTERS PROVIDES SAFER INJECTION AND SMOKING SUPPLIES, NARCAN, NON-MEDICAL HIV CASE MANAGEMENT, HARM REDUCTION EDUCATION, DRUG CHECKING, AND MORE - ALL AT NO COST. OUR HARM REDUCTION SERVICES INCLUDE THE DISTRIBUTION OF STERILE INJECTION SUPPLIES, OVERDOSE EDUCATION, AND NALOXONE TO COMMUNITIES IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA. HARM REDUCTION SISTERS BEGAN PROVIDING MOBILE, CONFIDENTIAL RAPID HIV TESTING AND NON-MEDICAL HIV CASE MANAGEMENT IN DULUTH AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES IN THE FALL OF 2021. OUR PEER NAVIGATORS PROVIDE MOBILE RAPID HIV TESTING BY APPOINTMENT IN DULUTH AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS. OUTREACH HIV CASE MANAGEMENT - HARM REDUCTION SISTERS' OUTREACH HIV CASE MANAGER WORKS WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE RECEIVED A REACTIVE HIV TEST. THE OUTREACH CASE MANAGER MEETS CLIENTS IN ENVIRONMENTS THAT WORK FOR THEM TO:- COMPLETE AN INITIAL, RAPID, CLIENT-CENTERED ASSESSMENT OF SERVICE NEEDS- COLLABORATIVELY DEVELOP AN INDIVIDUALIZED CARE PLAN- MAKE TIMELY AND COORDINATED REFERRALS AND ASSISTANCE ACCESSING APPROPRIATE HEALTH AND SUPPORT SERVICES BASED ON CLIENT-IDENTIFIED PRIORITIES- PROVIDE ONGOING CLIENT SUPPORT TO ASSESS PROGRESS TOWARDS GOALS AND EMERGING NEEDS FOR SUPPORT, INCLUDING CLIENT-SPECIFIC ADVOCACY TO SUPPORT SERVICE ACCESS- DELIVER CLIENT-TAILORED EDUCATION REGARDING HIV CARE AND TREATMENT, RISK REDUCTION AND OTHER AREAS TO SUPPORT OPTIMAL HEALTH OUTCOMES- REASSESS CLIENT NEEDS AND REGULARLY UPDATE CARE PLANPEER ADVOCACY & LINKAGE - OUR OUTREACH TEAM PROVIDES LINKAGE TO REGIONAL SERVICES AND PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING HOUSING, INSURANCE NAVIGATION, AND HEALTH SERVICES.IN 2024, HARM REDUCTION SISTERS EXPANDED OUR SERVICES OFFERED AND OUTREACH MODEL TO BETTER SERVE OUR PARTICIPANTS AND REACH A WIDER REGION ACROSS NORTHERN MN. WE ACQUIRED A MOBILE UNIT, WHICH ALLOWS US TO TAKE ALL OF THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE IN OUR BRICK-AND-MORTAR LOCATIONS ON THE ROAD. WE ESTABLISHED A PARTNERSHIP WITH YOURPATH TO PROVIDE LINKAGE TO MOUD (MEDICATIONS FOR OPIOID USE DISORDER) TO OUR PARTICIPANTS, AND WE LAUNCHED OUR DRUG-CHECKING PROGRAM, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.WE SERVED 1,083 CLIENTS IN 2024, WHICH WAS AN INCREASE FROM 736 CLIENTS THE PREVIOUS YEAR. WE ALSO DISTRIBUTED NEARLY 10,000 DOSES OF NARCAN/NALOXONE.

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 March 2020.

    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.