Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Catholic Charities of East Tennessee Inc

EIN 62-1377551 · Knoxville, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EMPOWERED BY THE GRACE OF JESUS CHRIST, CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF EAST TENNESSEE ADDRESSES THE UNMET NEEDS OF THE MOST VULNERABLE OF OUR REGION BY PROVIDING SHELTER, NOURISHMENT, COUNSELING AND EDUCATION, IN ORDER TO FOSTER HUMAN DIGNITY.

Income
$8.6 million
Spending
$5.8 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%
Employees
89
Volunteers
109
Highest pay
$134,706, former director of development

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

Good: 75 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 113% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 17 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (5)
  1. $1.4 million spent. CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF KNOXVILLE OUTREACH SERVICES SERVED 5,634 INDIVIDUALS DURING THE YEAR.
  2. $1.3 million spent. HOUSING: AS PART OF ITS MISSION TO ADDRESS UNMET NEEDS, CCETN FOCUSES ITS HOUSING PROGRAMS ON SPECIAL POPULATIONS FOR WHOM SAFE AND STABLE COMMUNITY LIVING MAY BE DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE, TO SECURE. THESE POPULATIONS VARY BY COMMUNITY. SERVED 147 INDIVIDUALS DURING THE YEAR.
  3. $1.1 million spent. COUNSELING AND EDUCATION: COUNSELING AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS SERVE WOMEN AND FAMILIES FACING THE CONSEQUENCES OF AN UNPLANNED PREGNANCY; AND UNINSURED OR UNDER-INSURED INDIVIDUALS, COUPLES AND FAMILIES DEALING WITH EMOTIONAL OR ADJUSTMENT ISSUES. SERVED 1,547 INDIVIDUALS DURING THE YEAR.
  4. $575,142 spent. CHILDREN'S SERVICES PROVIDES RESIDENTIAL, IN-HOME AND APPOINTMENT-BASED INTERVENTIONS FOR ABUSED, NEGLECTED OR AT-RISK CHILDREN AND YOUTH. AS CHILD CUSTODY AND PROTECTION LAWS HAVE CHANGED, CCETN HAS ADAPTED ITS SERVICES TO ENSURE PROTECTION AND NUTURING OF THESE YOUNGEST AND MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SERVED 855 INDIVIDUALS DURING THE YEAR.
  5. $438,727 spent. DISASTER RELIEF: ESTABLISHED TO ASSIST THOSE WHO HAVE ENCOUNTERED INDIVIDUAL OR NATURAL DISASTERS IN THE EAST TENNESSEE AREA. SERVED 10,265 INDIVIDUALS DURING THE YEAR.

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? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for churches. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Worth knowing.

    The IRS does not require this organization to file annual returns.

    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 March 1946.

    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.