Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Central Arkansas Area Agency on Aging Inc

EIN 71-0521402 · N Little Rock, AR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood76 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CARELINK CONNECTS OLDER PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH RESOURCES TO MEET THE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF AGING. WE ACCOMPLISH THIS BY PROVIDING IN-HOME SERVICES TO HELP HOMEBOUND OLDER PEOPLE LIVE IN THEIR OWN HOMES AS LONG AS POSSIBLE; HELPING ACTIVE OLDER PEOPLE STAY FIT, HEALTHY AND INVOLVED; AND HELPING FAMILY CAREGIVERS NAVIGATE THE MAZE OF AVAILABLE SERVICES AND CARE FOR AGING FAMILY MEMBERS. OUR VISION IS A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO CELEBRATE LIVING AND ARE AGING WELL. THE SERVICE AREA SERVED BY CARELINK INCLUDES FAULKNER, LONOKE, MONROE, PRAIRIE, PULASKI, AND SALINE COUNTIES IN CENTRAL ARKANSAS. CARELINK OFFERS MANY SERVICES AND ASSISTS OVER 12,068 PEOPLE ANNUALLY.

Income
$13.6 million
Spending
$14.1 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
7.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 52%
Employees
561
Volunteers
985
Highest pay
$213,030, ceo / president

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: 76 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 25

    18 of 18 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 (4)
  1. $8.7 million spent. CARELINK PROVIDES IN-HOME SERVICES TO HELP HOMEBOUND OLDER PEOPLE SAFELY LIVE IN THEIR OWN HOMES AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. CLIENTS RECEIVE ASSISTANCE WITH THE DAY-TO-DAY TASKS ASSOCIATED WITH HOUSEKEEPING AND PERSONAL GROOMING. CLIENTS MAY ALSO RECEIVE NUTRITIOUS MEALS-ON-WHEELS, THE REASSURANCE OF A DAILY TELEPHONE WELLNESS CHECK-IN, OR NON-EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION.APPROXIMATELY 2,973 HOMEBOUND OLDER PEOPLE RECEIVED SERVICES DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025.
  2. $1.8 million spent. CARELINK HELPS ACTIVE OLDER PEOPLE STAY FIT, HEALTHY AND INVOLVED THROUGH FITNESS AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS, SENIOR CENTERS AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES. AT SENIOR CENTERS, PEOPLE CAN ENJOY A NUTRITIOUS LUNCH, MAKE NEW FRIENDS, RENEW OLD ACQUAINTANCES, ENJOY GROUP ACTIVITIES AND RELIEVE THE STRESS OF BEING ALONE. A GROUP TRANSPORTATION OPTION PROVIDES SHOPPING TRIPS AND OTHER OUTINGS. FITNESS AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED IN SENIOR CENTERS AND OTHER LOCATIONS. CARELINK ALSO OFFERS A VARIETY OF VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES. CARELINK AND SENIOR CENTER PROGRAMS IN OUR SERVICE AREA RECEIVE OVER $2 MILLION A YEAR IN VOLUNTEER EFFORT FROM DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS.APPROXIMATELY 3,554 ACTIVE OLDER PEOPLE RECEIVED SERVICES DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025.
  3. $1.1 million spent. CARELINK HELPS OLDER PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES DETERMINE WHAT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE. FREE INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE TO HELP FAMILIES MATCH THEIR NEEDS WITH PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. CARELINK HELPS FIND THE BEST WAY TO PAY FOR THESE SERVICES AND EITHER DELIVERS THEM DIRECTLY OR MAKES REFERRALS. INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE SERVES AS A CLEARINGHOUSE OF USEFUL RESOURCES ON VIRTUALLY EVERY AGING-RELATED TOPIC. LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND NURSING HOME OMBUDSMAN PROGRAMS PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. APPROXIMATELY 7,036 DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY SERVICES DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025.
  4. $388,054 spent. CARELINK HELPS FAMILY CAREGIVERS NAVIGATE THE MAZE OF AVAILABLE SERVICES AND CARE FOR THEIR AGING FAMILY MEMBERS. FAMILY CAREGIVERS RECEIVE COUNSELING SERVICES FOCUSING ON ISSUES THAT AFFECT THEIR PERSONAL STRESS LEVELS AND WELL-BEING IN ADDITION TO BEING INFORMED ABOUT POTENTIAL SERVICES FOR THE AGING FAMILY MEMBER THEY ARE ASSISTING. THEY ALSO RECEIVE INSTRUCTION OR ASSISTANCE WITH COMPLETING APPLICATIONS FOR AGING SERVICES.APPROXIMATELY 686 FAMILY CAREGIVERS RECEIVED SERVICES DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 1980.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.