Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Cornerstones Inc

EIN 54-1037615 · Reston, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TOGETHER WITH OUR COMMUNITY, CORNERSTONES PROMOTES STABILITY, EMPOWERMENT, AND HOPE THROUGH SUPPORT, ADVOCACY, AND COMMUNITY-BUILDING FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN NEED. PROVIDING MORE THAN 26,000 INSTANCES OF SERVICES ANNUALLY THROUGHOUT FAIRFAX AND LOUDOUN COUNTIES, CORNERSTONES WORK IS FOCUSED IN THREE KEY AREAS OF PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ENSURING FOOD SECURITY, AND SUPPORTING THRIVING FAMILIES AND CHILDREN.

Income
$14.7 million
Spending
$15.6 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 53%
Employees
207
Volunteers
2,432
Highest pay
$208,458, chief executive officer

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

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 54% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 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 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 (4)
  1. $6.1 million spent. FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, CORNERSTONES HAS PROVIDED COMPREHENSIVE HUMAN SERVICES AND WRAP AROUND CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT TO HELP INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES GAIN STABILITY AND BUILD RESILIENCY AND OPPORTUNITY. CORNERSTONES' CORE PROGRAMS AND IMPACT ARE AS FOLLOWS: PROVIDING STABLE HOUSING: PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE EMBRY RUCKER COMMUNITY SHELTER (ERCS), SEASONAL AND OVERFLOW SHELTER, HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND RAPID RE-HOUSING SERVICES, AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING, AND FORECLOSURE AND EVICTION PREVENTION COUNSELING.
  2. $3.0 million spent. ENSURING FOOD SECURITY: THROUGH OUR FREE FROM HUNGER FOOD RESCUE CENTER (FOOD HUB), ON-SITE PANTRY, AND EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, WE WORK TO ENSURE FAMILIES HAVE CONSISTENT ACCESS TO FOOD AND CRITICAL RESOURCES. SINCE OPENING, THE FOOD HUB HAS RESCUED OR SOURCED MORE THAN 1,000,000 POUNDS OF FOOD - DISTRIBUTING AN AVERAGE OF 6,283 POUNDS PER WEEK, EQUIVALENT TO MORE THAN 5,200 MEALS FOR FAMILIES.
  3. $1.7 million spent. SUPPORTING THRIVING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES: CORNERSTONES PROVIDES AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, AND FAMILY STRENGTHENING PROGRAMS THAT HELP CHILDREN SUCCEED AND FAMILIES THRIVE. LAUREL LEARNING CENTER OFFERS HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, INCLUDING DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS, SCHOOL READINESS, AND PRE- AND AFTERSCHOOL ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT, ALONG WITH FULL-DAY SUMMER RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS SERVING NEARLY 100 STUDENTS.FOR SCHOOL-AGE YOUTH, CORNERSTONES DELIVERS OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND PERSONAL GROWTH THROUGH TUTORING IN MATH AND READING, CAREER EXPLORATION, SERVICE-LEARNING, AND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES.
  4. $1.9 million spent. THROUGH OUR OPPORTUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVES IN RESTON AND HERNDON, COMMUNITY CONNECTED SITES, AND NEIGHBORHOOD RESOURCE CENTERS, WE WORK ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY LEADERS, NONPROFITS, AND VOLUNTEERS TO ADDRESS SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES. THESE EFFORTS STRENGTHEN CONNECTIONS BETWEEN SCHOOLS, FAMILIES, AND CRITICAL RESOURCES - CREATING MORE EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

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

  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 June 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 January 1980.

    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.