Economic Opportunity for Savannah Chatham County Area Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES WHICH EMPOWER CITIZENS TO ATTAIN ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE AND A HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE.
- Income
- $12.7 million
- Spending
- $12.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- -1.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 99%
- Employees
- 163
- Volunteers
- 176
- Highest pay
- $120,736, executive di
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
Fair: 54 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 90 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 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
0 of 10Did not give 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 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)
- $7.7 million spent. HEADSTART PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE U.S. DEP'T. OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT FOR ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN, SOME OF WHOM ARE HANDICAPPED.
- $2.3 million spent. LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE - THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO HELP LOW-INCOME PEOPLE MEET THE COSTS OF HOME ENERGY, DEFINED AS HEATING AND COOLING OF RESIDENCES, AS WELL AS THE COSTS OF DRINKING WATER AND WASTEWATER OF RESIDENCES. A PRIMARY PURPOSE IS MEETING IMMEDIATE HOME ENERGY AND WATER UTILITY NEEDS. THE TARGET POPULATION IS LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH THE LOWEST INCOMES AND THE HIGHEST HOME ENERGY AND WATER COSTS OR NEEDS IN RELATION TO INCOME. ADDITIONAL TARGETS ARE LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS WITH MEMBERS WHO ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE, INCLUDING THE ELDERLY, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, AND YOUNG CHILDREN.
- $589,147 spent. COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT-THE COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT (CSBG) IS A FEDERALLY FUNDED BLOCK GRANT IN THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SERVICES, ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. CSBG FUNDED SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES INCLUDING HOUSING, AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE; EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, AND OTHER INCOME AND ASSET BUILDING SERVICES; CRISIS AND EMERGENCY SERVICES; AND COMMUNITY ASSET BUILDING INITIATIVES, AMONG OTHER THINGS.
- $959,825 spent. USDA CHILD & ADULT FOOD PROGRAM,HUD AUSTIN HOUSE PROGRAM, DUFFY STREET SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY PROGRAM, PAYEE PROGRAM, RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, AND FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM.
- USDA CHILD & ADULT FOOD PROGRAM,HUD AUSTIN HOUSE PROGRAM, DUFFY STREET SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY PROGRAM, PAYEE PROGRAM, RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, AND FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM.
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
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 November 6, 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 September 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 June 1965.
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 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.