Association of Community Services of Howard County
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
ACS' MISSION IS TO CHAMPION, STRENGTHEN, AND CONNECT HOWARD COUNTY NONPROFITS.
- Income
- $362,210
- Spending
- $403,541
- Spent on programs
- 63%
- Reserves
- 8.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 59%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 36
- Highest pay
- $78,000, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1563% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 (3)
- $139,028 spent. NONPROFIT CENTER/SHARED SPACE AND SERVICES: ACS MANAGES THE NONPROFIT COLLABORATIVE (NPC), HOWARD COUNTY'S ONLY NONPROFIT CENTER, WHICH HOUSES THIRTEEN MISSION-DRIVEN NONPROFITS. THE NPC BOLSTERS THE CAPACITY OF ITS NONPROFIT TENANTS BY PROVIDING SHARED SERVICES SUCH AS IT, PHONE, AND MEETING SPACES, ALONG WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE COORDINATION AND SHARE RESOURCES AMONG ITS TENANTS. SITUATED ON THE COUNTY'S COMMUNITY RESOURCES CAMPUS, IT ALSO INCREASES THE RANGE AND ACCESSIBILITY OF SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC IN ONE CONVENIENT LOCATION.
- $113,740 spent. NONPROFIT CAPACITY BUILDING: ACS PROVIDES TRAINING WORKSHOPS, COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND OTHER RESOURCES TO STRENGTHEN THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND CONNECTIONS OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. OUR PROGRAMS CREATE SPACE FOR LEARNING, SHARED PROBLEM-SOLVING, AND MEANINGFUL COLLABORATION. A KEY COMPONENT OF OUR CAPACITY BUILDING WORK IS HOCO EXCEL, HOWARD COUNTY'S NONPROFIT 'EXCELERATOR' PROGRAM, CREATED TO GROW THE CAPACITY, IMPACT, AND SUSTAINABILITY OF COUNTY NONPROFITS. HOCO EXCEL INCLUDES TWO COMPONENTS: TRAINING WORKSHOPS OPEN TO ALL LOCAL NONPROFITS AND A COHORT OF SELECTED NONPROFITS THAT ALSO RECEIVE INDIVIDUALIZED COACHING AND GRANT FUNDING OVER A 3-YEAR PERIOD.
- $110 spent. ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC POLICY: ACS ADVOCATES ON BEHALF OF THE NONPROFIT SECTOR. THIS INCLUDES BOTH PROMOTING THE CRITICAL ROLE NONPROFITS PLAY IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND ADVOCATING FOR POLICIES AND LEGISLATION THAT IMPACT THEIR ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS. ACS ALSO HELPS EQUIP NONPROFITS WITH THE SKILLS AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO EFFECTIVELY ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE AND ISSUES THEY SERVE. ACS' ACTIVE PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE MONITORS LOCAL AND STATE LEGISLATION OF CONCERN TO ITS MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 2025.
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 April 2014.
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.