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A Better Way Outreach Inc

EIN 83-2883799 · Indianapolis, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceWeak39 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY OPIATE DEPENDENCE TREATMENT TO ASSIST IN REGAINING NORMAL LIFE EXPERIENCE.

Income
$879,278
Spending
$726,281
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 69%
Employees
7
Highest pay
$29,500, 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

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 103% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 39 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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 (2)
  1. $617,839 spent. IN 2024, A BETTER WAY OUTREACH (ABWO) MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN ADDRESSING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS (SUDS) AND EXPANDING ACCESS TO CARE FOR MARGINALIZED INDIVIDUALS IN INDIANAPOLIS AND CENTRAL INDIANA. EXPANDED TREATMENT AND COUNSELING SERVICES SERVED OVER 600 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE ADDICTION TREATMENT, INCLUDING: MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT (MAT) FOR OPIOID AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE (SUBOXONE, SUBLOCADE, VIVITROL, ZUBSOLV, BRIXADI). INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING FOCUSED ON RECOVERY, MENTAL HEALTH, AND TRAUMA. PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN SERVICES, INTEGRATING MEDICAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE. INCREASED CLIENT ADHERENCE TO TREATMENT PLANS BY 1.5%, IMPROVING RECOVERY OUTCOMES. CONTINUED OPERATING AS A WALK-IN CLINIC, REDUCING BARRIERS TO TREATMENT FOR THOSE MOST IN NEED. FACILITY EXPANSION TO SERVE MORE CLIENTS EXPANDED TO A LARGER LOCATION, ALLOWING US TO SERVE MORE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES SEEKING RECOVERY SUPPORT. THE NEW SPACE IMPROVES ACCESSIBILITY AND OFFERS ROOM FOR ADDITIONAL COUNSELING, MEDICAL CARE, AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. IN 2024, A BETTER WAY OUTREACH (ABWO) MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN ADDRESSING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS (SUDS) AND EXPANDING ACCESS TO CARE FOR MARGINALIZED INDIVIDUALS IN INDIANAPOLIS AND CENTRAL INDIANA. EXPANDED TREATMENT AND COUNSELING SERVICES SERVED OVER 600 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE ADDICTION TREATMENT, INCLUDING: MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT (MAT) FOR OPIOID AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE (SUBOXONE, SUBLOCADE, VIVITROL, ZUBSOLV, BRIXADI). INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING FOCUSED ON RECOVERY, MENTAL HEALTH, AND TRAUMA. PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN SERVICES, INTEGRATING MEDICAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE. INCREASED CLIENT ADHERENCE TO TREATMENT PLANS BY 1.5%, IMPROVING RECOVERY OUTCOMES. CONTINUED OPERATING AS A WALK-IN CLINIC, REDUCING BARRIERS TO TREATMENT FOR THOSE MOST IN NEED. FACILITY EXPANSION TO SERVE MORE CLIENTS EXPANDED TO A LARGER LOCATION, ALLOWING US TO SERVE MORE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES SEEKING RECOVERY SUPPORT. THE NEW SPACE IMPROVES ACCESSIBILITY AND OFFERS ROOM FOR ADDITIONAL COUNSELING, MEDICAL CARE, AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.
  2. $79,043 spent. IN 2024, A BETTER WAY OUTREACH (ABWO) RECEIVED A 250,000 ELEVATION GRANT AS PART OF A CRIME PREVENTION AND VIOLENCE REDUCTION INITIATIVE. THE GRANT SUPPORTS ABWO'S WORK TO ADDRESS SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS (SUDS) AND THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH THAT CONTRIBUTE TO CRIME AND VIOLENCE IN INDIANAPOLIS.

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 June 2019.

    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.