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Sub Zero Mission

EIN 45-4386322 · Painesville, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PREVENT THE FREEZING AND INJURY CAUSED BY EXTREME WEATHER EXPOSURE TO THE HOMELESS AND FINANCIALLY DESTITUTE AMERICANS.

Income
$820,672
Spending
$715,533
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
9.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
19
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$37,542, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 9 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, 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. $600,039 spent. RE-EMPOWER A HOMELESS VETERAN RE-EMPOWERING VETERANS OUR MISSION GOES FAR BEYOND PROVIDING WARM CLOTHING OR SIMPLY REFERRING INDIVIDUALS TO THE VA. AT THE SUB ZERO MISSION, WE ARE COMMITTED TO BREAKING THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS BY DELIVERING LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS, RATHER THAN TEMPORARY RELIEF. WHILE WE'VE SUCCESSFULLY HELPED HOUSE 31 INDIVIDUALS, WE'VE ALSO SEEN THE IMPACT OF MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, ADDICTION, AND ISOLATION-ISSUES THAT OFTEN LEAD TO VETERANS RETURNING TO THE STREETS. IT'S CLEAR THAT LASTING CHANGE REQUIRES ADDRESSING THESE DEEPER CHALLENGES AND HELPING INDIVIDUALS BREAK FREE FROM THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS. THIS YEAR MARKED A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD WITH THE HOMELESS VETERAN RE- EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM (HVRP), OFFICIALLY INAUGURATED ON VETERANS DAY. THIS WASN'T BY CHANCE-VETERANS DAY SYMBOLIZES HONOR AND GRATITUDE, MAKING IT THE PERFECT OCCASION TO LAUNCH A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO SERVE AND UPLIFT THOSE WHO'VE SERVED US. A DREAM REALIZED THE HVRP HAS BEEN A DREAM IN THE MAKING-16 YEARS OF DEDICATED WORK, INTENSIFIED FOCUS, AND PLANNING OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS. HUNDREDS OF HOURS WERE SPENT MEETING WITH POTENTIAL PARTNERS, CONSULTING SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, DRAFTING DOCUMENTATION, CONDUCTING LEGAL REVIEWS, DELIVERING TRAINING, AND REFINING PROCESSES. NOW, THE SUB ZERO MISSION HAS TAKEN THE NEXT STEP IN OUR JOURNEY: A PROGRAM THAT DOESN'T JUST KEEP VETERANS OFF THE STREETS BUT EMPOWERS THEM TO TRULY REBUILD THEIR LIVES-IF THEY ARE WILLING TO TAKE THAT FIRST STEP ALONGSIDE US. THIS MILESTONE REPRESENTS MY FAVORITE CHAPTER IN THIS MISSION'S JOURNEY-A SEASON OF TRANSFORMATION, AND A POWERFUL STEP TOWARD HELPING THOSE WHO HAVE SACRIFICED SO MUCH. WHAT WE KNOW THE VA OFFERS EXCELLENT PROGRAMS FOR VETERANS, SUPPORTED BY DEDICATED EMPLOYEES WITH UNPARALLELED EXPERTISE. HOWEVER, ITS LARGE BUREAUCRACY OFTEN ALIENATES AND OVERWHELMS SOME VETERANS SEEKING HELP. THE SYSTEM CAN ALSO BE SLOW, AND WHAT IT LACKS IS A CONSISTENT, DIRECT OUTREACH PRESENCE THAT BRINGS RESOURCES TO VETERANS WHERE THEY ARE. MANY VETERANS STRUGGLE WITH SELF-CARE, NAVIGATING REPETITIVE PAPERWORK, OR ATTENDING APPOINTMENTS THAT MAY INTERFERE WITH THEIR WORK. THE VETERANS WE ENCOUNTER ON THE STREETS HAVE OFTEN GIVEN UP ON THE VA, BRISTLING AT ITS MERE MENTION. FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS, STEPPING ONTO THE PATH OF VA ASSISTANCE REQUIRES ENCOURAGEMENT AND DEDICATED SUPPORT. IN THE PAST, WE TRIED TO BRING VETERANS OFF THE STREETS, AND WHILE MANY SUCCESSES WERE INITIALLY ACHIEVED, THEY OFTEN RETURNED TO THEIR PRIOR CIRCUMSTANCES. HARD LESSONS WERE LEARNED-BUT THEY LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR THIS PROGRAM. THE PLAN AS WE ENTERED THE SEASON, WE CAREFULLY DEFINED OUR OBJECTIVES AND CRAFTED AN EXECUTION PLAN BASED ON HUD DATA. KNOWING THERE WAS AN INCREASING HOMELESS POPULATION BUT A DECREASING NUMBER OF HOMELESS VETERANS, WE ANTICIPATED THAT FINDING VETERANS FOR THE PROGRAM WOULD BE MORE CHALLENGING. OUR APPROACH INVOLVED PHASED OUTREACH DURING THE SUB ZERO MISSION'S SEASON: 1.INITIAL PHASE: DURING THE FIRST PART OF THE SEASON, WE FOCUSED ON FINDING VETERANS IN THE STREETS, WOODS, BRIDGES, AND ALLEYS. 2.SECOND PHASE: IF THIS APPROACH DIDN'T RESULT, WE SEARCHED INTAKE SHELTERS LIKE 2100 LAKESIDE OR VALOR HOME AFTER MID-SEASON (AROUND FEBRUARY). THESE SHELTERS EVALUATE INDIVIDUALS AND ATTEMPT TO CONNECT VETERANS WITH RESOURCES. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS, WE ALSO WELCOMED REFERRALS FOR EVALUATION. EXECUTION OBJECTIVES FIRST OBJECTIVE: IDENTIFY VETERANS AMONG THE HOMELESS POPULATION AND CONFIRM THEIR VETERAN STATUS USING THE SQUARES SYSTEM. IF QUALIFIED, OFFER THE PROGRAM AND BRING THEM BACK AFTER THE OUTREACH MISSION TO ENROLL IN THE HOMELESS VETERAN RE-EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM. SECOND OBJECTIVE: IF A VETERAN CANNOT BE CONFIRMED, REFUSES THE PROGRAM, OR DOES NOT QUALIFY, ENROLL THEM IN THE CONSTANT CONTACT PROCESS, MANAGED BY THE VETERAN OPERATIONS TEAM. THIRD OBJECTIVE: THROUGH CONSTANT CONTACT, WORK TOWARD BETTERMENT: "IF DEPENDENT ON THE VETERAN, ASSIST THEM IN COMPLETING THE TASK. "IF RELIANT ON EXTERNAL GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS, ADVOCATE AND ACT TACTFULLY ON BEHALF OF THE VETERAN TO SECURE HOUSING. "PERSIST WITH PATIENCE AND ACCURACY TO ACHIEVE POSITIVE OUTCOMES. BETTERMENT REPRESENTS MAKING MEANINGFUL, POSITIVE CHANGES THAT LEAD TO A HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE AND MORE FAVORABLE OUTCOMES FOR THE VETERANS WE SERVE. RE-EMPOWER A HOMELESS VETERAN RE-EMPOWERING VETERANS OUR MISSION GOES FAR BEYOND PROVIDING WARM CLOTHING OR SIMPLY REFERRING INDIVIDUALS TO THE VA. AT THE SUB ZERO MISSION, WE ARE COMMITTED TO BREAKING THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS BY DELIVERING LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS, RATHER THAN TEMPORARY RELIEF. WHILE WE'VE SUCCESSFULLY HELPED HOUSE 31 INDIVIDUALS, WE'VE ALSO SEEN THE IMPACT OF MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, ADDICTION, AND ISOLATION-ISSUES THAT OFTEN LEAD TO VETERANS RETURNING TO THE STREETS. IT'S CLEAR THAT LASTING CHANGE REQUIRES ADDRESSING THESE DEEPER CHALLENGES AND HELPING INDIVIDUALS BREAK FREE FROM THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS. THIS YEAR MARKED A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD WITH THE HOMELESS VETERAN RE- EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM (HVRP), OFFICIALLY INAUGURATED ON VETERANS DAY. THIS WASN'T BY CHANCE-VETERANS DAY SYMBOLIZES HONOR AND GRATITUDE, MAKING IT THE PERFECT OCCASION TO LAUNCH A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO SERVE AND UPLIFT THOSE WHO'VE SERVED US. A DREAM REALIZED THE HVRP HAS BEEN A DREAM IN THE MAKING-16 YEARS OF DEDICATED WORK, INTENSIFIED FOCUS, AND PLANNING OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS. HUNDREDS OF HOURS WERE SPENT MEETING WITH POTENTIAL PARTNERS, CONSULTING SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, DRAFTING DOCUMENTATION, CONDUCTING LEGAL REVIEWS, DELIVERING TRAINING, AND REFINING PROCESSES. NOW, THE SUB ZERO MISSION HAS TAKEN THE NEXT STEP IN OUR JOURNEY: A PROGRAM THAT DOESN'T JUST KEEP VETERANS OFF THE STREETS BUT EMPOWERS THEM TO TRULY REBUILD THEIR LIVES-IF THEY ARE WILLING TO TAKE THAT FIRST STEP ALONGSIDE US. THIS MILESTONE REPRESENTS MY FAVORITE CHAPTER IN THIS MISSION'S JOURNEY-A SEASON OF TRANSFORMATION, AND A POWERFUL STEP TOWARD HELPING THOSE WHO HAVE SACRIFICED SO

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, 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 March 2026.

    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 June 2012.

    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.