Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Help Works Inc

EIN 73-1078009 · Pawhuska, OK

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 91 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO SERVE THE EDUCATION, RECREATION, SOCIAL, VOCATIONAL, AND CREATIVE NEEDS OF ADULT PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

Income
$4.0 million
Spending
$4.0 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 99%
Employees
137
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$130,805, ceo/exec. di

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: 43 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 34% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 91 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 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 (1)
  1. $3.8 million spent. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, THE ORGANIZATION CARRIED OUT ITS EXEMPT PURPOSE BY PROVIDING VOCATIONAL, RESIDENTIAL, AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, WITH A PRIMARY FOCUS ON EMPLOYMENT, SKILL DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT THROUGH ITS PROGRAM ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING "THE DAM PLACE- AND THE ORGANIZATION'S FOOD PANTRY. THE ORGANIZATION OPERATED "THE DAM PLACE", A NON-PROFIT RETAIL AND VOCATIONAL PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, JOB TRAINING, AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS SERVED. PARTICIPANTS GAINED HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE, INVENTORY MANAGEMENT, BASIC FINANCIAL SKILLS, AND WORKPLACE RESPONSIBILITY IN A SUPPORTED ENVIRONMENT DESIGNED TO PROMOTE INDEPENDENCE AND COMMUNITY INTEGRATION. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION OPERATED A FOOD PANTRY TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND AMONG INDIVIDUALS SERVED. THE FOOD PANTRY PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO APPROXIMATELY 200 INDIVIDUALS PER MONTH, SUPPORTING ACCESS TO FOOD, AND ESSENTIAL ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN NEED. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED RESIDENTIAL AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, INCLUDING GROUP HOMES AND DEVELOPMENTAL LIVING SUPPORT (DLS) HOMES, OFFERING DAILY LIVING ASSISTANCE AND INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORTS TO PROMOTE SAFE, STABLE HOUSING AND INDEPENDENT LIVING. DURING THE YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION EXPANDED ITS SERVICES BY OPENING ADDITIONAL DLS HOMES TO BETTER MEET THE INDIVIDUALIZED NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE SERVED. THE ORGANIZATION FURTHER DEVELOPED A NON-PROFIT FARM DURING THE YEAR TO SUPPORT VOCATIONAL TRAINING, THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITIES, AND SKILL-BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS SERVED. THE FARM DID NOT GENERATE REVENUE AND WAS OPERATED SOLELY IN FURTHERANCE OF THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION SERVED APPROXIMATELY 40 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH ITS RESIDENTIAL, VOCATIONAL, AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HELD 12 MEETINGS DURING THE YEAR TO PROVIDE GOVERNANCE AND OVERSIGHT OF THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION, PROGRAMS, AND FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, THE ORGANIZATION CARRIED OUT ITS EXEMPT PURPOSE BY PROVIDING VOCATIONAL, RESIDENTIAL, AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, WITH A PRIMARY FOCUS ON EMPLOYMENT, SKILL DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT THROUGH ITS PROGRAM ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING "THE DAM PLACE- AND THE ORGANIZATION'S FOOD PANTRY. THE ORGANIZATION OPERATED "THE DAM PLACE", A NON-PROFIT RETAIL AND VOCATIONAL PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, JOB TRAINING, AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS SERVED. PARTICIPANTS GAINED HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE, INVENTORY MANAGEMENT, BASIC FINANCIAL SKILLS, AND WORKPLACE RESPONSIBILITY IN A SUPPORTED ENVIRONMENT DESIGNED TO PROMOTE INDEPENDENCE AND COMMUNITY INTEGRATION. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION OPERATED A FOOD PANTRY TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND AMONG INDIVIDUALS SERVED. THE FOOD PANTRY PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO APPROXIMATELY 200 INDIVIDUALS PER MONTH, SUPPORTING ACCESS TO FOOD, AND ESSENTIAL ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN NEED. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED RESIDENTIAL AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, INCLUDING GROUP HOMES AND DEVELOPMENTAL LIVING SUPPORT (DLS) HOMES, OFFERING DAILY LIVING ASSISTANCE AND INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORTS TO PROMOTE SAFE, STABLE HOUSING AND INDEPENDENT LIVING. DURING THE YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION EXPANDED ITS SERVICES BY OPENING ADDITIONAL DLS HOMES TO BETTER MEET THE INDIVIDUALIZED NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE SERVED. THE ORGANIZATION FURTHER DEVELOPED A NON-PROFIT FARM DURING THE YEAR TO SUPPORT VOCATIONAL TRAINING, THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITIES, AND SKILL-BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS SERVED. THE FARM DID NOT GENERATE REVENUE AND WAS OPERATED SOLELY IN FURTHERANCE OF THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION SERVED APPROXIMATELY 40 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH ITS RESIDENTIAL, VOCATIONAL, AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HELD 12 MEETINGS DURING THE YEAR TO PROVIDE GOVERNANCE AND OVERSIGHT OF THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION, PROGRAMS, AND FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP.

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 December 1979.

    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.