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Iowa Healthiest State Initiative

EIN 45-4570642 · Des Moines, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood72 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CREATING AWARENESS AND INTEGRATING SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE THE PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, AND MENTAL WELL-BEING OF IOWANS.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
2.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 82%
Employees
7
Volunteers
35
Highest pay
$222,205, secretary/executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 120% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 8 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 September 30, 2025, 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 (5)
  1. $2.3 million spent. DOUBLE UP FOOD BUCKS: FOOD INSECURITY AND LACK OF ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD ARE PROBLEMS THAT MANY LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN IOWA COMMUNITIES EXPERIENCE. DOUBLE UP FOOD BUCKS IS AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM THAT MATCHES SNAP (FOOD ASSISTANCE) DOLLARS SPENT AT FARMERS MARKETS AND GROCERY STORES IN IOWA SO SNAP RECIPIENTS HAVE GREATER ACCESS TO FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. DOUBLE UP FOOD BUCKS SERVED 11,183 INDIVIDUALS.
  2. $189,584 spent. PRODUCE RX: PRESCRIPTIONS WORK TO HELP FOSTER HEALTHIER EATING HABITS TO PREVENT AND MANAGE CHRONIC DISEASES WHILE IMPROVING NUTRITION INSECURITY. IT IS A TOOL FOR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS TO REFER THEIR PATIENTS TO RECEIVE NUTRITION EDUCATION AND FINANCIAL INCENTIVES TO PURCHASE FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. PRODUCE RX SERVED 600 INDIVIDUALS.
  3. $108,752 spent. COMMUNITY EDUCATION: TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE ANNUAL AWARDS AND CONFERENCE THAT BRINGS TOGETHER WORKPLACES, SCHOOLS, EARLY CARE, OUT OF SCHOOL, HEALTHCARE AND COMMUNITIES IN SUPPORT OF IMPROVING THE PHYSICAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING OF IOWANS. COMMUNITY EDUCATION SERVED 75,000 INDIVIDUALS.
  4. $103,827 spent. MAKE IT OK: A COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN TO REDUCE STIGMA BY STARTING CONVERSATIONS AND INCREASING UNDERSTANDING ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS. MAKE IT OK SERVED 120,000 INDIVIDUALS.
  5. $96,904 spent. 5-2-1-0 HEALTHY CHOICES COUNT: PARENTS. TEACHERS. HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS. BUSINESS LEADERS. WHEN IT COMES TO KIDS, THERE'S ONE THING EVERYONE WANTS FOR THEM TO BE HEALTHY! THAT'S WHY IOWA HAS CREATED HEALTHY CHOICES COUNT! IT'S A HEALTH-FOCUSED MOVEMENT FOR KIDS THAT'S UNDER THE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PROGRAM, 5-2-1-0. THIS PROVEN, SCIENTIFIC METHOD HELPS KEEP KIDS HEALTHY BY FOCUSING ON THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD HABITS. AND IT ALL STARTS BY ENCOURAGING THEM TO EAT AND PLAY THE RIGHT WAY. IT'S HOW THEY CAN LIVE 5-2-1-0. WE PARTNER WITH EARLY CARE PROVIDERS, SCHOOLS, HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS, PARENTS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS FOR FAMILIES IN PLACES WHERE WE LIVE, LEARN, WORK, AND PLAY. 5-2-1-0 HEALTHY CHOICES COUNT SERVED 42,000 INDIVIDUALS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 November 6, 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 September 2025.

    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 2013.

    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 November 4, 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.