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Gadsden Progress Council

EIN 63-0505214 · Gadsden, AL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE GADSDEN ETOWAH COUNTY HEAD START PROGRAM WILL NURTURE AND ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. THE COUNCIL PROVIDES A SAFE AND HAPPY ENVIRONMENT WHILE MOLDING YOUNG MINDS FOR FUTURE LEARNING. THE COUNCIL STRIVES TO DEVELOP WELL-ROUNDED INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE POSITIVE SELF-ESTEEM AND WHO WILL BECOME VALUABLE AND PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

Income
$5.0 million
Spending
$4.5 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 92%
Employees
122
Volunteers
440
Highest pay
$94,858, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 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 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 July 31, 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 (2)
  1. $3.1 million spent. HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM: THE GADSDEN-ETOWAH COUNTY PROGRESS COUNCIL NURTURED AND ADVOCATED FOR 319 CHILDREN THROUGH THE HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS. THE COUNCIL PROVIDED A SAFE AND HAPPY ENVIRONMENT, USING A CREATIVE CURRICULUM TO PROVIDE QUALITY SERVICE TO THE CHILDREN WE SERVE, PREPARING THEM FOR THE NEXT LEVEL OF LEARNING. THE COUNCIL STROVE TO DEVELOP WELL-ROUNDED, LIFE-LONG INDIVIDUALS WITH POSITIVE SELF-ESTEEM THAT WILL BECOME VALUABLE AND PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY UTILIZING ALL OF OUR SERVICE AREAS: HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, NUTRITION, AND PARENT-FAMILY-COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
  2. $386,803 spent. FOOD SERVICES PROGRAM: DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 294 CHILDREN PARTICIPATING IN THE HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS WERE SERVED HEALTHY, NUTRITIOUS SNACKS AND LUNCH THROUGH ASSISTANCE FROM USDA'S CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 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 July 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 March 1966.

    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.