Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Ellison Center

EIN 83-2525766 · Saint Cloud, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceWeak41 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NONE

Income
$925,709
Spending
$936,629
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 80%
Employees
8
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$44,000, 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

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 44% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 9 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $421,932 spent. THERAPY/MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES:-PROVIDED OVER 4000 SESSIONS TO CLIENTS-SERVED OVER 500 CLIENTS, MOST OF THEM ARE CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 5 OR OLDERCHILDREN IMPACTED BY EARLY CHILDOOD TRAMA.-OPENED A SECOND LOCATION IN LITTLE FALLS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO RURAL FAMILIES-SECURED REFERRAL RELATIONSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS WITH LOCAL PROFESSIONALS WHO IMPACT THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND CAREGIVERS- FUNRAISED $70,000 TO EXPAND OUR OFFICE SPACE TO INCLUDE 5 ADDITIONAL OFFICE SPACES TO ADD CLINICIAN IN 2024.
  2. $198,556 spent. TRAINING/REFLECTIVE CONSULTATION:-WE PROVIDED THREE VIRTUAL TRAININGS CALLED LUNCH AND LEARNS, THAT WERE OFFERED AT A VERY LOW COST TO PROFESSIONALS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THE STATE THAT ARE IN THE FIELD OF INFANT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH. WE HAD ABOUT 75 ATTENDEES AT EACH SESSIONS. -SECURED CONTRACTS WITH 18 AGENCIES TO PROVIDE REFLECTIVE CONSULTATION & TRAINING TO PROFESSIONALS SUPPORTING YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.-PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATION TO A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER TO SUPPORT THEIR ADVOCATES WHO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES.
  3. $206,829 spent. PARENTING SUPPORT SERVICES:-GRANT BASED SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO OVER 185 FAMILIES. SERVICES INCLUDED VIRTUAL HOME VISITS TO FAMILIES THAT HAVE BARRIERS TO ACCESSING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. -FUNDING WAS RECEIVED IN 2022 THAT CARRIED OVER TO 2023 BUT IS NOT CAPTURED-CLASSES WERE PROVIDED IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH. IN ADDITION, AN AFFINITY GROUP WAS OFFERED TO AFRICAN/AFRICAN-AMERICAN/BLACK CAREGIVERS BY PROVIDERS OF COLOR.

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 November 6, 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 August 2019.

    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 November 4, 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.