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Link of Northern Kandiyohi County

EIN 82-1911575 · New London, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO HELP PEOPLE IN NEED ACCESS TO EXISTING COMMUNITY RESOURCES; IDENTIFY GAPS IN COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS; INCREASE VOLUNTEERISM IN THE COMMUNITY; AND RAISE AWARENESS OF THE REALITY OF POVERTY IN THE COMMUNITY.

Income
$449,690
Spending
$387,503
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
6.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
4
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$60,000, executive dir.

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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    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 (4)
  1. $85,836 spent. COMMUNITY REVIIVAL BOUTIQUE & THRIFT: BOUTIQUE AND THRIFT STORE OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY WHERE ALL PROCEEDS AND DONATIONS GO TO SUPPORT OTHER LINK PROGRAMS & THE COMMUNITY.
  2. $82,465 spent. FOOD PANTRY PROGRAM: THE LINK OPERATES A FOOD SHELF AND PROVIDES FOOD TO PEOPLE FACING HUNGER. THE PROGRAM IS PARTNERED WITH SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND AND OPERATES A FREE CHOICE MODEL- SERVING ANYONE FROM ANYWHERE FACING HUNGER. THIS PROGRAM IS FUNDED THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF GRANTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS FROM FOUNDAITONS, THE UNITED WAY, CHURCHES, BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND INDIVIDUAL DONORS. ADDITIONALLY, MANY BUSINESSES, CHURCHES, THE LOCAL SCHOOL AND INDIVIDUALS HAVE GIVEN DONATIONS OF FOOD TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT. IN 2024, THE LINKS FOOD PANTRY SERVED 2,232 HOUSEHOLDS, INCLUDING 671 SENIORS, 2,270 CHILDREN AND 3,699 ADULTS AND DISTRIBUTED 132,662 POUNDS OF FOOD. THE LINKS VOLUNTEERS DONATE APPROXIMATELY 2,000 HOURS EACH YEAR TO ENSURE THIS PROGRAM RUNS SMOOTHLY
  3. $48,411 spent. CLIENT SERVICES & OUTREACH PROGRAM: ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED TO PEOPLE IN NEED TO MEET BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS HOUSING, UTILITIES, MEDICAL NECESSITIES, AND TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES. THE LINK PROVIDES FINANCIAL RESOURCES ONLY WHEN OTHER RESOURCES HAVE BEEN LEVERAGED AND DOES NOT DUPLICATE., IT IS A FILL THE GAP ORGANIZATION. EACH YEAR 100-250 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVE SERVICES THROUGH THE CLIENT SERVICES AND OUTREACH PROGRAM. AN ADDITIONAL ASPECT OF THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES OUTREACH EFFORTS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF POVERTY IN THE COMMUNITY AND ENGAGE PEOPLE IN MEEDING THOSE NEEDS- SPEAKING TO LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDERS, CHURCHES, BUSINESSES, YOUTH, SCHOOLS, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS TO BUILD AWARENESS OF THE LINKS PROGRAMS AND TO BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE IN POVERTY. THIS ACTIVITY IS FUNDED THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF GRANTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF FOUNDATIONS, THE UNITED WAY, CHURCHES, BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND INDIVIDUAL DONORS.
  4. $34,083 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDING - WILDCAT BACKPACK PROGRAM: PROVIDING MEALS FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE AT-RISK OF HUNGER, ESPECIALLY OVER THE WEEKEND. THE LINK PROVIDES EACH STUDENT WITH A BACKPACK OF FOOD FOR THE WEEKEND. SERVED 140 KIDS AND 5,240 LBS OF FOOD IN 2024. - THE SNACK PANTRY: THE LINK PARTNERS WITH LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PROVIDE FOOD DURING THE SCHOOL DAY TO STUDENTS WHO MAY HAVE STRUGGLES IN SCHOOL RELATED TO FOOD SCARCITY. PROVIDED 30 TEACHERS WITH SNACKS FOR CLASSROOMS IN 2024. - TUESDAY'S TABLE: A WEEKLY COMMUNITY MEAL FOCUSED ON PROVIDING FOOD AND FELLOWSHIP ACROSS SOCIOECONOMIC LINES. SERVED 6,670 MEALS IN 2024. - HOUSEHOLD EXCHANGE: RECEIVE DONATIONS OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS WHICH ARE THEN PROVIDED TO PEOPLE IN NEED IN THE COMMUNITY.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 September 2017.

    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.