Gary Cares
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Our goal is *To assist where we can. *Lead where we have to. *Make a way where life situations have grid locked the ability of our community to move forward.We will do this by *Honoring our community with efforts to help make it an even better place to live, work and play, while showing respect for all the people of the community. *by working to the goal of our mission by defining needs and working to fulfill them. *Embracing the entire Gary community with compassion for sharing our feeling for he mission.We receive and distribute funds to area school, communities and organizaitons that have community improvement or betterment programs and projects.
- Income
- $136,717
- Spending
- $115,882
- Reserves
- 8.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 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 (4)
- $4,153 spent. Class of Activity: Community Betterment - Providing postage for books mailed monthly to children under the age of five in Norman County, Minnesota. Grantee's Name:Dolly Parton's Imagination LibraryGrantee's Address: 111 Dollywood Lane, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863-4113Grantee's Relationship: NoneAmount Given: $4,153.28
- $28,876 spent. Class of Activity: Youth Philanthropy addressing the changing needs of our community in an innovative and ever transforming society with financial assistance, grants and scholarships to individuals and organizations in Norman County, Minnesota.Grantee's Name:Shock & AweGrantee's Address: PO Box 61, Ada, MN 56510Grantee's Relationship: NoneAmount Given: Grant Recipients - Current $27,391 Scholarship Recipients: $1,000 Community Project Color Run Award/Cancer Society: $485.09 TOTAL AMOUNT GIVEN: $28,876.09
- $51,360 spent. Class of Activity: Facilitate charitable contributions through annual charity drive by township in Norman County, Minnesota.Grantee's Name:One Fund DriveGrantee's Address: PO Box 66, Gary, MN 56545Grantee's Relationship: NoneAmount Given: Benedictine Living Ada: $645Borup Community Club: $502Flom Community Club: $73Gary Community Club: $1,711Halstad Community Club: $106Twin Valley Community Club: $553Dolly Parton Library: $1,585Fire Department Ada, MN: $1,745Fire Department Borup, MN: $655Fire Department Fertile, MN: $688Fire Department Gary, MN: $7,538Fire Department Halstad, MN: $1,731Fire Department Hendrum, MN: $453.50Fire Department Perley, MN: $500.50Fire Department Shelly, MN: $473Fire Department Twin Valley, MN: $2,080Gary Cares Foundation: $2,035Halstad Living Center: $440Hospice of the RRV: $3,130Laurel Capistran Murphy Fund: $404Norman County Development Activities Center: $1,823Norman County Historical Society: $1,589Norman County Sheriff Canine Unit: $1,994Norman County Victim Assistance: $1,026NW Minnesota Aussie Rescue: $2,856REACH: $621Rescue County EMS: $674Rescue Squad Gary, MN: $7,422Rescue Squad Halstad, MN: $1,165Rescue Squad Hendrum, MN: $407.50Rescue Squad Perley, MN: $455.50Rescue Squad Shelly, MN: $463Rescue Squad Twin Valley, MN: $2,031Shock & Awe: $1,113Twin Valley-Gary Community Fund: $316Western Norman Community Fund: $356TOTAL AMOUNT GIVEN: $51,360
- $23,456 spent. Class of Activity: Gary Cares Community Betterment Accomplishments - Providing financial assistance, awards and designated grants for local community projects, schools and organizations.Grantee's Name: Gary Fitness CenterGrantee's Address: Thorpe Street, Gary, MN 56545Grantee's Relationship: NoneAmount Given: $7,000 (Equipment Fund)Grantee's Name: Gary Rescue SquadGrantee's Address: 97 Thorpe St, Gary, MN 56584Grantee's Relationship: NoneAmount Given: $10,000Grantee's Name: Community Projects-One Fund SupportGrantee's Address: PO Box 66, Gary, MN 56545Grantee's Relationship: NoneAmount Given: $675.81 Grantee's Name: City of Gary Zombie Run Grantee's Address: PO Box 104, Gary, MN 56545Grantee's Relationship: NoneAmount Given: $30Grantee's Name: Gary Fire Department AwardGrantee's Address: PO Box 104, Gary, MN 56545Grantee's Relationship: NoneAmount Given: $3,250Grantee's Name: Boy Scouts of America - Troop #655Operating under Northern Lights CouncilGrantee's Address: Local Chapter, Twin Valley, MN 56584Grantee's Relationship: NoneAmount Given: $2,500TOTAL AMOUNT GIVEN: $23,455.81
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 2011.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.