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Lift Community Action Agency Inc

EIN 73-0772321 · Hugo, OK

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood73 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THROUGH SERVICE AND COLLABORATION LEADING TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

Income
$25.7 million
Spending
$26.1 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
5.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 69%
Employees
476
Volunteers
1,194
Highest pay
$130,582, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 28 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $10.4 million spent. EARLY CHILDHOOD - PRE-SCHOOL AND DAYCARE PROGRAMS FOR LOW-INCOME AND HANDICAPPED CHILDREN, FUNDED BY FEDERAL/STATE GRANTS AND PARENT FEES. EARLY CHILDHOOD EXPENSES ARE APPROXIMATELY 54% OF PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES. EARLY CHILDHOOD 88 INFANTS AND TODDLERS RECEIVED SERVICES THROUGH 3 CENTERS. 201 INFANATS & TODDLERS RECEIVED SERVICES THROUGH 6 PARTNERSHIP LOCATIONS EARLY HEAD START/CHILD CARE PARTNERSHIP/EARLY LEARNING CENTERS. HEAD START 340 CHILDREN WERE PROVIDED HEAD START SERVICES IN 28 CLASSROOMS. CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM (CACFP) - PROVIDED TRAINING AND MONITORING TO 125 DAYCARE HOMES IN 39 COUNTIES. CACFP PROVIDERS RECEIVED REIMBURSEMENTS FOR SERVING NUTRIOUS MEALS..
  2. $3.7 million spent. HOUSING REHAB AND WEATHERIZATION OF HOMES FOR LOW INCOME AND SECTION 8 HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME, FUNDED BY FEDERAL/STATE GRANTS AND TENANT RENTAL PAYMENTS. HOUSING EXPENSES AND APPROXIMATELY 20% OF PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES. MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING LIFT HAS 60 UNIT COMPLEX AND TRIPLEXES IN VALLIANT, GARVIN, FORT TOWSON, ANTLERS, SOPER, AND BOSWELL. DUPLEX UNITS ARE LOCATED IN ANTLERS, HUGO, AND CONSTRUCTED IN VALLIANT IN 2024. SELF HELP HOUSING - A TOTAL OF 9 FAMILIES BILT NEW HOMES IN 2024 SERVING ACROSS 8 COUNTIES OF SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA. WEATHERIZATION 42 HOMES WERE WEATHERIZED ACROSS 12 COUNTIES. A TOTAL OF 97 CLIENTS BENEFITED WITH A COMBINE ANNUAL COST SAVINGS OF $13,961.29. TECHNICAL AND MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS T&MA STAFF PROVIDED TRAINING AND MONITORING TO 16 SELF-HELP HOUSING GRANTEES IN REGION II WITH APPROXIMATELY $9.9 MILLION IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT SECTION 523 ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGETS. 6 OF THE GRANTEES OPERATE A REPAIR AND REHAB GRANT TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR HOMEOWNERS TO HAVE A SECENT, SAFE, SANITARY, AND INCREASED ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF THEIR HOMES.
  3. $4.1 million spent. COMMUNITY SERVICES - PROVIDE NECESSARY COMMUNITY SERVICES TO REDUCE POVERTY AND EMPOWER LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT. COMMUNITY SERVICES EXPENSES ARE APPROXIMATELY 15% OF PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES. COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES (CASA) 40 YOUTH WERE SERVED AND 4 NEW VOLUNTEERS TRAINED. HEALTHY START: THE HEALTHY START GRANT WAS REFUNDED IN MAY 2024, FOR ANOTHER 5 YEARS. THE SERVICE AREA NOW INCLUDES CHOCTAW, PUSHMATAHA, MC CURTAIN, ATOKA, COLE AND JOHNSTON COUNTIES. HEALTHY START PROVIDES SERVICES TO PREGNANT WOMEN, DADS, BABIES AND CHILDREN UP TO 18 MONTHS IN AGE. ADDITIONAL SERVICES NOW INCLUDE COMMUNITY EDUCATION THAT IS AVAILABLE TO ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY. SINCE MAY 1, 2024 HEALTHY START SERVED 183 PREGNANT WOMEN, 211 INTER-CONCEPTIONAL WOMEN, 16 DADS, 150 BABIES, BIRTH TO 11 MONTHS, AND 83 CHILDREN, FOR A TOTAL OF 643 PARTICIPANTS SERVED. HEALTHY START WAS AWARDED THE FIRST SAFE KIDS TULSA, AGENCY OF THE YEAR AWARD. THIS AWARD WAS GIVEN FOR THE EXEMPLARY SERVICES TO EDUCATE AND PROPERLY INSTALL CAR SEATS IN THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. CURRENTLY THERE ARE 11 CAR SEAT TECHS IN THE HEALTHY START PROGRAM. HEALTHY START HAS ALSO HAD ONE EMPLOYEE PASS THE CERTIFIED LACTATION COUNCILOR EXAM AND THREE EMPLOYEES BECOME CERTIFIED PRE-NATAL DOULAS. RX FOR OKLAHOMA 3 INDIVIDUALS WERE ASSISTED IN GETTING THEIR PRESCRIPTIONS FOR FREE OR REDUCED COST. VICTIMS ADVOCACY SERVICES PROVIDES SUPPORT SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME. 120 VICTIMS WERE SERVED IN 2024. 1,420 VICTIMS RECEIVED SERVICES SINCE INCEPTION IN JULY 2015. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE - THROUGH FUNDING RECEIVED FROM EMERGENCY FOOD & SHELTER PROGRAM, AND LOCAL DONATIONS TO THE LIFT EMERGENCY FUND AND THROUGH SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGING, A TOTAL OF 57 INDIVIDUALS/FAMILIES RECEIVED MUCH NEEDED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE. SAFE PLACE HEALING HEARTS - SERVED 195 VICTIMS IN AREAS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, DATING VIOLENCE, AND STALKING VICTIMS. SINCE INCEPTION IN 2017 A TOTAL OF 2,177 VICTIMS HAVE BEEN SERVED. YOUTH BUILD - PROVIDED PATHWAYS TO EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT THROUGH PROVISION OF HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION, CONSTRUCTION APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING AND LIFE SKILLS ACTIVITIES. SERVED 68 INDIVIDUALS SINCE RECEIVING NEW GRANT AWARD, 47 OBTAINED THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA WHILE 15 ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED; 68 HAVE RECEIVED OSHA 10 CERTIFICATION; 63 EARNED THEIR HBI-PACT CONSTRUCTION CERTIFICATION, AND 45 EARNED THEIR FIRST AID/CPR CERTIFICATIONS. TRI-COUNTY OPIOID - EDUCATED 35 VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS ON HOW TO ADMINISTER NARCAN/NALOXONE, OPIOID MISUSE, AND STIGMA SURROUNDING OPIOID USE DISORDER. CONDUCTED 5 MEDICATIONS TAKE BACK EVENTS AND RECEIVED 77 LBS OF PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE FOR PROPER DISPOSAL. PARTNERED WITH PARENTS HELPING PARENTS TO START A PARENT SUPPORT GROUP FOR PARENTS WITH CHILDREN DEALING WITH ADDICTION ISSUES OR WHO ARE IN RECOVERY. STAFF PROVIDED MENTAL HEALTH FIRST RESPONDER CLASSES TO 40 DIFFERENT COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN 2024 INCLUDING STAFF FROM PUSHMATAHA, CHOCTAW, AND MCCURTAIN COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT. PROVIDED 10 TRAINING COURSES FOR FENTANYL TESTING KITS WITH PROBATION & PAROLE, CHOCTAW CO & PUSH CO JAIL, ANTLERS & HUGO PD. HOSTED A MENTAL HEALTH/SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT EVENT IN MAY OF 2024 TO PROVIDE LOCAL MH/SA PROFESSIONALS WITH FREE CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH FREE CLEET HOURS. 85 PROFESSIONALS ATTENDED THE TRAINING.
  4. $3.0 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 4: TRANSPORTATION - PROVISION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, FUNDED BY FEDERAL GRANTS, LOCAL CONTRACTS, AND PARTICIPATION FEES. TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES ARE APPROXIMATELY 7% OF PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES. 311,235 MILES WERE DRIVEN WITH ACCOUNTING FOR 57,967 PASSENGER TRIPS PROVIDED BY A FLEET OF 38 VEHICLES. 11,925 ELDERLY CLIENTS WERE SERVED AND 10,523 TRIPS FOR PASSENGERS WITH DISABILITIES WERE PROVIDED. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 5: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - FOSTER ECONOMIC AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN A THREE COUNTY ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES ARE APPROXIMATELY 4% OF TOTAL PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES. INTERMEDIARY PROGRAM LIFT WAS DESIGNATED BY THE RURAL HOUSING SERVICES DIVISION OF USDA/RURUAL DEVELOPMENT AS AN INTERMEDIARY ASSISTING CERTIFIED LOAN PACKAGERS IN TEXAS, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, KANSAS, ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, AND OKLAHOMA. IN 2024, WE ASSISTED 40 NON-PROFIT AGENCIES IN THOSE STATES IN SUBMITTING 109 PACLAGERS TO RURAL DEVELOPMENT FOR REVIEW AND ASSISTED WITH 49 CLOSINGS. STATE PARKS OPERATED BY LIFT INCLUDE: CLAYTON LAKE STATE PARK, HUGO LAKE STATE PARK, AND RAYMOND GARY STATE PARK.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 December 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 August 1968.

    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 October 21, 2026.

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