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Medassist of Mecklenburg

EIN 56-2018957 · Charlotte, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NC MedAssist is a nonprofit pharmacy program providing access to lifesaving prescription medications, client support, advocacy and other services to poor, vulnerable, and uninsured North Carolina residents.

Income
$53.0 million
Spending
$52.8 million
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
55
Volunteers
5,613
Highest pay
$168,816, chief operating

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

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

    11 of 11 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 (1)
  1. $51.9 million spent. NC MedAssist is a nonprofit pharmacy program that provides access to lifesaving prescription medications, over the counter (OTC) medicines, patient support, advocacy, and related services to poor, vulnerable, and uninsured residents across North Carolina. During the reporting year, NC MedAssist advanced its mission through expanded partnerships, improved operational efficiency, and enhanced patient-centered programming aligned with Year 2 of its strategic plan. Within the Free Pharmacy Program, NC MedAssist continued to respond to industry-wide changes as pharmaceutical manufacturers increasingly removed donated brand-name medications from patient assistance programs. As a result, the organization absorbed rising costs to procure generic alternatives, while implementing cost-saving sourcing strategies that generated up to $100,000 in savings and expanded the availability of inhalers and other essential medications on formulary. The enrollment team achieved 100% SHIIP counseling certification, strengthening support for Medicare-eligible patients navigating coverage and cost-saving options.Through the Mobile Free Pharmacy (MFP) and Free OTC Store programs, NC MedAssist distributed more than $7.4 million in OTC medications to low-income individuals and families, serving over 42,000 people statewide. OTC medicines were received through partnerships with organizations such as Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina and numerous corporate and community donors. Research indicates that every $1 in OTC medicine provided prevents approximately $6 in downstream healthcare costs, reinforcing the programs significant cost-avoidance impact. Strategic partnerships also enabled expanded access to womens health screenings, vaccinations, food distribution, and disaster relief services.NC MedAssist strengthened community engagement and patient voice by launching a statewide Community Advisory Committee, hosting its first patient focus group, and implementing language access enhancements to improve medication understanding and adherence. The organization also distributed 2,598 units of Narcan through a pilot program in partnership with Mecklenburg County Alliance Health and other collaborators, addressing urgent public health needs.The Transitional Jobs Program (TJP) continued to provide paid, work-based learning opportunities for individuals facing long-term unemployment or barriers to employment. Participants developed social, business, and customer service skills to support successful workforce reentry. Additionally, NC MedAssists social workers and pharmacy teams provided over 5,600 referrals addressing social drivers of health, including smoking cessation, substance use support, housing instability, and access to care.Through these combined efforts, NC MedAssist dispensed more than $39 million prescription & more than $7 million OTC medications in value to the community and achieved over $100 million in estimated healthcare cost avoidance, while expanding access, improving efficiency, and strengthening community partnerships in alignment with its strategic goals.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1997.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.