Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Community Action Council for Lex- Fayette Bourb Harr Nich Counties

EIN 61-0650121 · Lexington, KY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL FOR LEXINGTON-FAYETTE, BOURBON, HARRISON, AND NICHOLAS COUNTIES, INC. PREVENTS, REDUCES, AND ELIMINATES POVERTY AMONG INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH DIRECT SERVICES AND ADVOCACY.

Income
$55.4 million
Spending
$51.7 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 95%
Employees
658
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$271,411, chief executive director

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

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $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. $38.0 million spent. CHILD EDUCATION-CAC IS THE GRANT RECIPIENT OF MULTIPLE FEDERAL HEAD START AWARDS. CUMULATIVELY, THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY, COMPREHENSIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, AGES THREE TO FIVE, AND THEIR FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITIES OF CLARK, ESTILL, FAYETTE, GARRARD, HARRISON, JACKSON, LAUREL, MADISON, NICHOLAS, POWELL, ROCKCASTLE AND SCOTT COUNTIES IN KENTUCKY. PARENTS, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND AGENCIES ARE INVOLVED IN PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES TO REACH DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES, PREPARING THEM TO ENTER KINDERGARTEN ""READY TO LEARN."" IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE HEAD START PROGRAMS SERVED 870 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.CAC IS THE GRANT RECIPIENT OF MULTIPLE FEDERAL EARLY HEAD START AWARDS. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE FAMILY-CENTERED, HIGH-QUALITY, COMPREHENSIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SERVICES FOR VERY YOUNG CHILDREN (AGES BIRTH TO 36-MONTHS) AND THEIR FAMILIES, INCLUDING PREGNANT WOMEN, IN THE COMMUNITIES OF BOURBON, CLARK, ESTILL, FAYETTE, GARRARD, HARRISON, LAUREL, MADISON, NICHOLAS, POWELL, ROCKCASTLE AND SCOTT COUNTIES IN KENTUCKY. EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF EACH CHILD AND ENABLE FAMILIES TO DEVELOP AND MEET GOALS THAT WILL MOVE THEM ALONG THE PATHWAY TOWARD SELF-SUFFICIENCY. EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS ARE TAILORED FOR THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF INFANTS AND TODDLERS, PROMOTING THEIR PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO PREPARE THEM FOR CONTINUED GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT AND EVENTUAL SUCCESS IN SCHOOL AND LIFE. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS SERVED 768 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.CAC IS THE GRANT RECIPIENT OF MULTIPLE FEDERAL EARLY HEAD START AWARDS. CUMULATIVELY, THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY, COMPREHENSIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, AGES BIRTH TO FIVE, FROM FARM WORKING FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITIES OF BOURBON, CLARK, FAYETTE, MADISON, PULASKI AND WARREN COUNTIES IN KENTUCKY. PARENTS, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND OTHER AGENCIES ARE INVOLVED IN PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE MIGRANT AND SEASONAL HEAD START PROGRAMS SERVED 266 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.
  2. $6.0 million spent. COMMUNITY SERVICES-THROUGH VARIOUS PROGRAMS, THE COUNCIL SERVED 12,612 INDIVIDUALS AND 6,382 HOUSEHOLDS DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025. THE SERVICES PROVIDED RANGE FROM EMERGENCY SERVICES, SUCH AS LIHEAP ENERGY ASSISTANCE, FOOD PANTRY OPERATIONS AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE, TO THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH TRANSITIONAL AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. THE COUNCIL ALSO ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND TAX PREPARATION THROUGH ITS FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT AND VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
  3. $2.7 million spent. WEATHERIZATION SERVICES - THE ORGANIZATION IS THE GRANT RECIPIENT OF THE FEDERAL WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN FAYETTE, BOURBON, HARRISON AND NICHOLAS COUNTIES, KENTUCKY. THE WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IMPROVES THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF PARTICIPANTS' HOMES THROUGH INSPECTION, IMPROVEMENTS AND REPAIRS SUCH AS INSULATING WALLS AND FLOORS, REPLACING HEATING SYSTEMS AND SEALING WINDOWS AND DOORS. IN 2025, CAC'S WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING WARMWISE, SERVED 61 INDIVIDUALS.THE ORGANIZATION IS THE GRANT RECIPIENT OF THE FEDERAL LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP) IN FAYETTE, BOURBON, HARRISON AND NICHOLAS COUNTIES, KENTUCKY. LIHEAP OFFERS SUBSIDY AND CRISIS ASSISTANCE WITH ENERGY BILLS. SUBSIDY ASSISTANCE OFFERS PARTICIPANTS A ONE-TIME CREDIT TO THEIR UTILITY BILL AND IS AVAILABLE FROM NOVEMBER THROUGH MID-DECEMBER. CRISIS ASSISTANCE OFFERS PARTICIPANTS WHO HAVE RECEIVED A DISCONNECTION NOTICE (OR WHO ARE WITHIN FOUR DAYS OF RUNNING OUT OF HOME HEATING FUEL) PAYMENT OF THEIR UTILITY BILLS WITH A CO-PAY REQUIREMENT. CAC ALSO OPERATED A LIHEAP SUMMER PROGRAM TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR HOUSEHOLDS STRUGGLING WITH HIGH UTILITY BILLS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. IN TOTAL DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025, CAC'S LIHEAP PROGRAMS SERVED 8,467 HOUSEHOLDS.
  4. $298,397 spent. SENIOR PROGRAMS

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 May 1967.

    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.