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Companions on a Journey Grief Support Inc

EIN 77-0675357 · West Chester, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceFair66 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COMPANIONS ON A JOURNEY GRIEF SUPPORT (COJ) PROVIDES ONGOING SUPPORT TO THE BEREAVED OF ALL AGES, SURROUNDING THEM WITH HOPE, STRENGTH, AND HEALING AS THEY CREATE THEIR NEW LIFE BALANCE.

Income
$336,100
Spending
$326,832
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
5.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
13
Volunteers
58
Highest pay
$16,206, executive di

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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 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

    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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (5)
  1. $197,325 spent. SCHOOL-BASED GRIEF SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR K-12: COJ'S SCHOOL-BASED GRIEF SUPPORT PROGRAM HELPS TRANSFORM SCHOOLS INTO GRIEF-INFORMED SPACES WHERE STUDENTS CAN PROCESS COMPLICATED FEELINGS OF GRIEF AND LOSS, CONNECT WITH A CARING COMMUNITY, AND BUILD A TOOLBOX OF CRITICAL WELLNESS AND RESILIENCY SKILLS. IN 2024 COJ PARTNERED WITH 65 PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE MONTHLY GRIEF SUPPORT. COJ FACILITATED 97 SCHOOL GROUPS, AND ALSO PROVIDED CONSULTATION AND EDUCATION FOR STAFF AND CAREGIVERS. CRISIS RESPONSE WAS PROVIDED IN 18 SCHOOLS, SUPPORTING 891 STUDENTS. COJ WORKS ALONGSIDE ADMINISTRATORS AND COUNSELORS TO BUILD A GRIEF-SENSITIVE CULTURE WHERE BEREAVED STUDENTS AND STAFF FEEL LOVED, ACCEPTED, AND SUPPORTED. MONTHLY SCHOOL-BASED GROUPS ARE CO-FACILITATED BY A COJ BEREAVEMENT SPECIALIST AND THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR. THEY ARE SUPPORTED BY COJ SOCIAL WORK INTERNS THAT PROVIDE ADDED MENTORSHIP FOR STUDENT SUPPORT. SCHOOL-BASED GRIEF SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR K-12: COJ'S SCHOOL-BASED GRIEF SUPPORT PROGRAM HELPS TRANSFORM SCHOOLS INTO GRIEF-INFORMED SPACES WHERE STUDENTS CAN PROCESS COMPLICATED FEELINGS OF GRIEF AND LOSS, CONNECT WITH A CARING COMMUNITY, AND BUILD A TOOLBOX OF CRITICAL WELLNESS AND RESILIENCY SKILLS. IN 2024 COJ PARTNERED WITH 65 PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE MONTHLY GRIEF SUPPORT. COJ FACILITATED 97 SCHOOL GROUPS, AND ALSO PROVIDED CONSULTATION AND EDUCATION FOR STAFF AND CAREGIVERS. CRISIS RESPONSE WAS PROVIDED IN 18 SCHOOLS, SUPPORTING 891 STUDENTS. COJ WORKS ALONGSIDE ADMINISTRATORS AND COUNSELORS TO BUILD A GRIEF-SENSITIVE CULTURE WHERE BEREAVED STUDENTS AND STAFF FEEL LOVED, ACCEPTED, AND SUPPORTED. MONTHLY SCHOOL-BASED GROUPS ARE CO-FACILITATED BY A COJ BEREAVEMENT SPECIALIST AND THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR. THEY ARE SUPPORTED BY COJ SOCIAL WORK INTERNS THAT PROVIDE ADDED MENTORSHIP FOR STUDENT SUPPORT.
  2. $14,493 spent. FAMILY AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS: INCLUDE "MENDING HEARTS FOR GRIEVING FAMILIES," A MONTHLY PROGRAM FOR GRIEVING CHILDREN, TEENS AND FAMILIES, AS WELL AS "PATHWAY TO HEALING" EVENTS AND FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPS. THESE PROGRAMS AND EVENTS SEEK TO RESTORE FAMILY BALANCE--ONE CHILD, ONE TEEN, AND ONE FAMILY AT A TIME. COJ BELIEVES A FAMILY THAT GRIEVES TOGETHER, HEALS TOGETHER. WE ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES AND CONVERSATIONS THAT ALLOW NOT ONLY INDIVIDUAL FAMILY MEMBERS TO EXPERIENCE HEALING, BUT THE ENTIRE FAMILY. PROGRAMS OFFER A SAFE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL AGES TO HONOR LOVED ONES, STRENGTHEN FAMILY BONDS, AND FIND HOPE. IN 2024, COJ'S MENDING HEARTS FAMILIES MET FOR 9 SESSIONS AND THE PATHWAY TO HEALING EVENTS SERVED 79 CHILDREN, TEENS, AND ADULTS.
  3. $30,953 spent. ADULT SUPPORT PROGRAMS: COJ APPROACHES BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT HOLISTICALLY THROUGH INTERACTIVE, HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES AND CONVERSATIONS WHERE ADULTS FIND CONNECTION AND ARE GIFTED WITH THE SPACE TO PROCESS AND SHARE FEELINGS AS THEY ARE READY. THROUGH MONTHLY AND BI-MONTHLY SUPPORT GROUP SESSIONS, EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, TAILORED ACTIVITIES, AND HEALING EVENTS, COJ PROVIDES RESOURCES THAT HONOR EACH PERSON'S UNIQUE GRIEF STORY. IN 2024, 416 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED IN COJ'S ADULT GROUPS.
  4. $1,198 spent. COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND TRAINING: COJ PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND TRAINING THROUGH CUSTOMIZED IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS AND ONLINE WEBINARS TO PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITIES. COJ PROVIDES MEANINGFUL AND ENGAGING LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND SKILLS TO SUPPORT CHILDREN, TEENS, ADULTS, AND FAMILIES THROUGH GRIEF AND LOSS. IN 2024, COJ PARTICIPATED IN 8 COMMUNITY EVENTS AND DELIVERED 12 TRAININGS IN 2024 WITH A TOTAL OF 620 INDIVIDUALS SERVED.
  5. COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND TRAINING: COJ PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND TRAINING THROUGH CUSTOMIZED IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS AND ONLINE WEBINARS TO PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITIES. COJ PROVIDES MEANINGFUL AND ENGAGING LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND SKILLS TO SUPPORT CHILDREN, TEENS, ADULTS, AND FAMILIES THROUGH GRIEF AND LOSS. IN 2024, COJ PARTICIPATED IN 8 COMMUNITY EVENTS AND DELIVERED 12 TRAININGS IN 2024 WITH A TOTAL OF 620 INDIVIDUALS SERVED.

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 2024.

    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 September 2008.

    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.

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.