Bell-Whitley Community Action Agency Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 27% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE AGENCY PROVIDES HEALTH EDUCATION, UTILITIES ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICS TO LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND SENIOR CITIZENS OF BELL & WHITLEY COUNTIES, KENTUCKY.
- Income
- $10.3 million
- Spending
- $10.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 27%
- Reserves
- 0.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 87%
- Employees
- 395
- Highest pay
- $111,035, 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
Weak: 26 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 33% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Spending floor
0 of 1527% 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2525 of 25 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 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 (7)
- $1.6 million spent. HEATING AND ENERGY ASSISTANCE - PROVIDES ASSISTANCE WITH ENERGY COSTS FOR HOUSEHOLDS WHO ARE INCOME ELIGIBLE AND RESPONSIBLE FOR HOME HEATING COSTS
- $534,224 spent. HEAD START - COMPREHENSIVE CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS WHICH SERVE PREGNANT WOMAN AND CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO FIVE YEARS OF AGE. HEAD START / EARLY HEAD START FOCUSES ON FOUR MAJOR COMPONENTS: EDUCATION, HEALTH, PARENT INVOLVEMENT, AND SOCIAL SERVICES.
- $388,335 spent. JOB ASSISTANCE & TRAINING - DELIVERS TIERED LEVELS OF SERVICES TO ADULTS, DISLOCATED WORKERS, AND JOB SEEKERS. ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS MAY RECEIVE ASSISTANCE WITH TUITION, BOOKS, FEES, AND OTHER TRAINING RELATED COSTS. AN ASSORTMENT OF RESOURCES IS USED TO SUPPLY THE LATEST JOB, INFORMATION, IDENTIFY INTEREST AND APITUDES, HELP WITH RESUME PREPARATION, AND ENCHANCE CAREER ADVANCEMENT.
- $220,473 spent. HOUSING - ASSISTS FAMILIES TO QUALIFY TO BECOPME HOMEOWNERS AND ASSISTS CURRENT HOMEOWNERS WITH COUNSELING ON WAYS TO MAINTAIN THEIR HOMES
- $96,723 spent. WEATHERIZATION - SEEKS TO IMPROVE THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS BY INSULATING, REPAIRING, OR INSTALLING ENERGY EFFICIENT HEATING SYSTEMS. THIS PROGRAM SERVES LOW-INCOME HOMES OF THE ELDERLY, THE DISABLED, AN FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN.
- $33,549 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
- $87 spent. EMERGENCY SERVICES - AVAILABLE TO ASSIST HOUSEHOLDS IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, SUCH AS LOSS OF HOME FROM FIRE, HOMELESSNESS, ETC. CONSUMER MUST COMPLETE AN APPLICATION TO VERIFY ELIGIBILTY.
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 June 1973.
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.