Empower Cherokee of Ga Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR ELIGIBLE DEVELOPMENTALLY CHALLENGED CLIENTS INCLUDING EDUCATION, NUTRITION, SOCIAL SERVICES, COMMUNITY LIVING SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT.
- Income
- $2.8 million
- Spending
- $2.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 6.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 97%
- Employees
- 43
- Volunteers
- 2
- Highest pay
- $99,502, executive dir.
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
Strong: 93 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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.
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 15 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
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 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)
- $2.3 million spent. Our services provided:CRA services are provided in a licensed community living arrangement, 24hours/7days per week and target individuals who require intense levels of support. Services are provided in daily and weekly routines that directly relate to each individuals interests, choices and preferences; and will accommodate fluctuations in his/her needs for various supports. Assistance with and/or training activities of daily living skills such as bathing, grooming, other personal hygiene, feeding, toileting and similar tasks; household care such as meal preparation and supervision of nutrition, clothes laundering, bed-making, housecleaning and other similar tasks.Services also include medically related activities such as arranging medical appointments, basic first aid, supervising self-administration of medication, and assisting with therapeutic exercises.These services also consist of implementing behavioral support plans designed for individuals to reduce inappropriate and/or maladaptive behaviors; the ability to intervene if a crisis arises.Transportation is provided to medical appointments, other waiver services and as needed to facilitate the individuals participation in community activities and personal shopping.EC ensures the capacity to support individuals through client/staff ratios (1:4 or as designated in the ISP) that reflect the needs of the individuals; professionals with experience in developmental disabilities that can address the needs of the individuals served; program flexibility to accommodate individual and family needs; and provides on-going training of both staff and individuals served.Individual Service Planning is the development of a plan that identifies personal outcomes, life goals, and needed supports for health, safety, and welfare. Through the use of person-centered practices, we promote self-determination, and exploration of personal outcomes and goals. On an ongoing basis we use person centered tools that help people discover things that are important to and for them, and how people can be best be supported. The plan is always focused on the person and builds on their strengths, gifts and interests. We try to build a One Page Profiles that highlight peoples gifts, talents, and what people appreciate about the person, highlight what is important to them, and how they would like to be supported. This also helps us to match people with the staff that share their interest and would support them best.Community Access Group services are provided in the community or at Empower Cherokee Day Center. Services are individually determined and planned using person-centered tools and approaches to discover the individuals interests, gifts, choices, and what is important to and for the individual. We learn about and listen to the individual, their support needs, health and safety, and their dreams and desires. Their individual plan is created around this foundation. Community Access services are provided outside the individuals place of residence. These services can occur during the day, the evenings, and weekends. Services include design of activities and environments for the participant to learn and/or use adaptive skills required for active community participation and independent functioning. These activities include training in socialization skills as well as personal assistance as indicated in the Individual Service Plan (ISP). Community Access services cannot be provided in the participants home or family home, personal care home, community living arrangement, or group home.Community Access Individual (CAI) services are provided to an individual participant, with a one-to-one staff to participant ratio. CAI services are directly linked to goals and expectations of improvement in skills. The intended outcome of CAI services is to improve the participants access to the community through increased skills, increased natural supports, and/or less paid supports. CAI services are designed to be teaching and coaching in nature. These services assist the participant in acquiring, retaining, or improving socialization and networking, independent use of community resources, and adaptive skills required for active community participation outside the participants place of residence. CAI services may include programming to reduce inappropriate and/or maladaptive behaviors. CAI services are not facility-based.Community Access Group (CAG) services are provided to groups of individuals, with a staff to individual ratio of one to two or more. The direct care staff to individual ratio for Community Access Group services cannot exceed one (1) to ten (10) and is determined based on individual need level of the participants in the group. CAG services are designed to provide oversight, assist with daily living, socialization, communication, and mobility skills building and supports in a group. CAG services may include programming to reduce inappropriate and/or maladaptive behaviors. CAG services may be provided in a facility or a community as appropriate for the skill being taught or specific activity supported.Specialized Medical Supplies (SMS) Services include various supplies that enable individuals to interact more independently with their environment and contribute to an enhanced quality of life, as well as a reduced dependence on physical support from others. SMS includes items such as food supplements, special clothing, diapers, bed wetting protective chucks, and other supplies that are specified in the approved Individual Service Plan and are not available under the other Medicaid non-waiver programs. Ancillary supplies necessary for the proper functioning of approved devices are also included in this service.Specialized Medical Equipment (SME) Services include various devices, controls or appliances, which are designed to enable individuals to interact more independently with their environment thus enhancing their quality of life and reducing their dependence on physical suppo
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1974.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.