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Passes our checks

Total Action Against Poverty in Roanoke Valley

EIN 54-6057095 · Roanoke, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TAP'S MISSION IS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ACHIEVE ECONOMIC AND PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE THROUGH EDUCATION, EMPLOYENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND SAFE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS.

Income
$27.1 million
Spending
$28.4 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 93%
Employees
313
Volunteers
54
Highest pay
$116,480, president & ceo

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: 48 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 59% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

    26 of 26 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. $16.2 million spent. HEAD START- THE TAP HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM IS THE LARGEST PROGRAM IN THE AGENCY AND WAS TAPS FIRST PROGRAM STARTED IN 1965. THE OBJECTIVE OF HEAD START IS TO PREPARE ENROLLED CHILDREN FOR SUCCESS IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE BY ENCOURAGING THEIR DEVELOPMENT IN ALL AREAS; PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE, LANGUAGE, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL. IN OUR CURRENT PROGRAM YEAR, HEAD START SERVED 429 CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE TAP SERVICE AREA THROUGH CLASSROOM AND HOME-BASED INSTRUCTION AND CARE.
  2. $1.2 million spent. WEATHERIZATION AND ENERGY CONSERVATION - THE TAP ENERGY CONSERVATION AND HOME REPAIR COMPONENT PROVIDES HOME WEATHERIZATION, ENERGY CONSERVATION, AND CRITICAL REHABILITATION AND REPAIR SERVICES TO CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE, ROANOKE COUNTY, SALEM CITY, BATH COUNTY, CRAIG COUNTY, AND THE ALLEGHANY HIGHLANDS. WEATHERIZATION AND HOME REPAIR SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE COST OF HEATING AND AIR-CONDITIONING AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE. THESE PROGRAMS ARE FUNDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM LOCAL UTILITIES LIKE DOMINION ENERGY AND APPALACHIAN POWER. ELIGIBILITY FOR ALL SERVICES IS DETERMINED BY THE CLIENT'S INCOME. DURING THE CURRENT PROGRAM YEAR, 352 INDIVIDUALS WERE PROVIDED WITH IMPROVED ENERGY EFFICIENCY AS A RESULT OF THE COMPONENT ACTIVITIES AND 5 HOMES WERE REHABILITATED.
  3. $4.9 million spent. THIS VALLEY WORKS (TVW) - THIS VALLEY WORKS' EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT TRAINING PROGRAMS FOCUS ON SECURING AND IMPROVING AN INDIVIDUAL'S EMPLOYABILITY BY PROVIDING A WIDE RANGE OF INSTRUCTION DESIGNED TO ASSIST THE UNEMPLOYED OR UNDER-SKILLED. WORKING WITH FOUNDATIONS, LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, TVW PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL AND JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS TO ASSIST IN DEVELOPING THE SKILLS NEEDED TO GET AND HOLD A JOB. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES, THE PROGRAMS HELP DEVELOP INDIVIDUAL OPPORTUNITY THROUGH CUSTOMIZED TRAINING INCLUDING ACCESS TO HEALTH CAREERS, CAREERS IN CONSTRUCTION, LITERACY, GED, COLLEGE ACCESS, ETC. DURING THE CURRENT PROGRAM YEAR, TVW'S PROGRAMS EDUCATED AND TRAINED 210 YOUTH AND ADULTS, AND HELPED 208 YOUTH AND ADULTS SECURE JOBS.
  4. $3.4 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMS AND SERVICES PROVIDED BY TAP INCLUDE FAMILY SERVICES SUCH AS COVINGTON CLOTHING CLOSET, DENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE, INCARCERATION RE-ENTRY PROGRAMS, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERAN FAMILIES, SUPERVISED CUSTODY EXCHANGES AND VISITATIONS, AND HELP AND ESCAPE FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. IN ADDITION, TAP PROVIDES FINANCIAL SERVICES SUCH AS EVICTION PREVENTION PROGRAM, HOUSING COUNSELING AND DOWNPAYMENT ASSISTANCE, TAX CLINIC, PERSONAL FINANCE COUNSELING AND GUIDANCE, AND HELPING NEW ENTREPRENEURS.

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 June 1965.

    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.