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The Outreach Connection Inc

EIN 83-3788777 · Washington, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceWeak46 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

IT IS THE MISSION OF THE OUTREACH CONNECTION TO STREGNTHEN OUR COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING FOOD AND ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES TO THOSE FACING HARDSHIP. WE STRIVE TO ENGAGE VOLUNTEERISM AND TO FACILITATE ENRICHING PROGRAMS AND EVENTS THAT FURTHER UNITE OUR COMMUNITY.

Income
$477,185
Spending
$407,729
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
7
Volunteers
112
Highest pay
$53,024, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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, 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 (2)
  1. $220,269 spent. IN 2025, THE OUTREACH CONNECTION MADE REMARKABLE STRIDES IN COMBATING FOOD INSECURITY AND EXPANDING ITS SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. WE PROVIDED OVER 221,000 POUNDS OF SUPPLIES AND WELCOMED 16,271 INDIVIDUAL VISITS TO OUR CLIENT-CHOICE PANTRY. THIS EMPOWERING MODEL ALLOWS CLIENTS TO SELECT THE ITEMS THEY NEED, ENSURING THEY RECEIVE NUTRITIOUS FOOD WHILE MAINTAINING THEIR DIGNITY AND AUTONOMY. ADDITIONALLY, THROUGH OUR FOOD PANTRY, WE WERE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE 100 THANKSGIVING MEALS TO FAMILIES IN NEED AND 2,622 BAGS/CANS OF PET FOOD. WE ALSO PROVIDED 200+ HOLIDAY BREAK MEAL KITS AND 116 BACKPACKS FILLED WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES TO CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE INVITED PARTNER AGENCIES TO SET UP WITHIN OUR FACILITY, ALLOWING CLIENTS TO ACCESS A WIDER RANGE OF SERVICES WHILE PICKING UP THEIR FOOD. THESE COLLABORATIONS INCLUDED ACCESS TO FREE PRODUCE MARKETS, SNAP ASSISTANCE, FAMILY SERVICES, AND OTHER ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS, MAKING IT EASIER FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO RECEIVE THE COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT THEY NEED. THIS NETWORK OF RESOURCES ENHANCES OUR PANTRYS ABILITY TO MEET THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, PROVIDING CLIENTS WITH THE TOOLS AND GUIDANCE TO IMPROVE THEIR OVERALL WELL-BEING. BEYOND THE PANTRY, OUR RESOURCE MENTORS PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN OFFERING GUIDANCE TO INDIVIDUALS, HELPING THEM CONNECT WITH LOCAL AGENCY PROGRAMS. MANY PANTRY VISITORS ARE UNAWARE OF THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM OR FACE CHALLENGES IN ACCESSING THE SERVICES THEY NEED. BY UNDERSTANDING EACH PERSONS UNIQUE SITUATION, WE CONNECTED THEM WITH VITAL PROGRAMS SUCH AS HOUSING ASSISTANCE, HEALTHCARE SERVICES, AND JOB TRAINING. THIS PERSONALIZED SUPPORT EMPOWERS CLIENTS TO ACCESS THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO IMPROVE THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES AND WORK TOWARD GREATER SELF-SUFFICIENCY.
  2. $58,552 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WAS ALSO A KEY FOCUS FOR US IN 2025. OUR DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED AN IMPRESSIVE 11,648 HOURS TO SUPPORT OUR GROWING PROGRAMS. THEIR EFFORTS INCLUDED WORKING DIRECTLY IN THE PANTRY, ASSISTING AT 31 THREADS (OUR CLOTHING THRIFT STORE), AND SUPPORTING VARIOUS PROJECTS AND COMMITTEE WORK. 31 THREADS SERVES A DUAL PURPOSE. NOT ONLY DOES IT RAISE FUNDS FOR THE PANTRY, BUT IT ALSO PROVIDES AFFORDABLE, QUALITY CLOTHING TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN NEED. THIS INITIATIVE HELPS ENSURE EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY HAS ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE CLOTHING, WHILE ALSO FOSTERING DIGNITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THE FUNDS RAISED FROM 31 THREADS ARE ESSENTIAL IN SUSTAINING OUR PANTRY OPERATIONS AND SUPPORTING THE BROADER NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. THROUGH OUR COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMS, EXPANDED PARTNERSHIPS, AND THE INVALUABLE SUPPORT OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, THE OUTREACH CONNECTION CONTINUES TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD AND ESSENTIAL RESOURCES, FOSTERING A STRONGER, MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY. TOGETHER, WE EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 2025.

    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 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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: The Connection Inc (Middletown, CT), EIN 06-0886125. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.