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West River Area Health Education Center

EIN 84-3791857 · Box Elder, SD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak28 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CONNECTING STUDENTS TO CAREERS, PROFESSIONALS TO COMMUNITIES, AND COMMUNITIES TO BETTER HEALTH.

Income
$732,967
Spending
$813,119
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 98%
Employees
0
Volunteers
22
Highest pay
$96,276, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 28 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 74% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (health care, $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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 June 30, 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 (3)
  1. $122,165 spent. THE WRAHEC SCHOLARS RURAL HEALTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM IS DESIGNED FOR COLLEGE-LEVEL HEALTH PROFESSIONS STUDENTS INTERESTED IN SUPPLEMENTING THEIR EDUCATION BY GAINING RELEVANT KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES IN RURAL AND UNDERSERVED AREAS OF WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA. THIS PROGRAM IS A REQUIRED FOR OUR HRSA GRANT FUNDING. STUDENTS PARTICIPATE FOR 18 MONTHS AND ACQUIRE 80 HOURS OF EXPERIENTIAL/CLINICAL TRAINING AND 80 HOURS OF DIDACTIC TRAINING. THE EIGHT CORE TOPICS STUDIED IN THIS PROGRAM ARE: INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INTEGRATION, SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, CULTURAL COMPETENCY, PRACTICE TRANSFORMATION, CURRENT AND EMERGING HEALTH CARE ISSUES, VIRTUAL LEARNING AND TELEHEALTH,AND CONNECTED COMMUNITIES AND SUPPORTING HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, THE WRAHEC HAD 15 SCHOLARS PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM. IN ADDITION, THE SCHOLARS PUT TOGETHER A COMMUNITY IMPACT PROJECT IN SEPTEMBER THAT PROVIDED 45-50 SD MINES UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WITH AN AFTERNOON WELLNESS FAIR.
  2. $44,015 spent. WRAHEC HEALTHCARE CAREER EXPLORATION EVENTS (GRADES 8-12):THE WRAHEC REACHED A TOTAL OF 14,826 STUDENTS IN GRADES 8-12 DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR. THE EVENTS INCLUDED: RCAS STEVENS/CENTRAL SCRUBS CAMP, WOMEN IN SCIENCE AT SDSMT, SPEARFISH SCRUBS CAMP, RCAS CENTRAL HOSA STUDENTS - ANATOMAGE TABLE ACTIVITIY, PINE RIDGE SCRUBS CAMP, SD HOSA STATE CONFERENCE, THE INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE FOR HOSA IN NASHVILLE, TN, STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL HEALTHCARE PATHWAYS CLASSES, WOMEN IN SCIENCE AT BHSU IN SPEARFISH, COHORT V COMMUNITY IMPACT PROJECT HELD FOR SD MINES UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, SUMMER NURSING CAMP IN SPEARFISH, SUMMER NURSING CAMP IN RAPID CITY, AND SDSMT MOLE DAY FOR 8TH GRADE STUDENTS IN RURAL WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA. THESE EVENTS ARE GEARED TOWARDS GETTING STUDENTS EXCITED AND INTERESTED IN THE MANY TYPES OF HEALTHCARE CAREERS. THE FOLLOWING ARE A SAMPLING OF ACTIVITIES PROVIDED AT THESE EVENTS: YOU ARE THE CURE VIDEO (13 MIN VIDEO ON WORKING IN HEALTHCARE IN WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA, YOU ARE THE CURE BOOKLETS (PROVIDE INFORMATION ON JOBS, SCHOOLING REQUIRED, WHERE TO GO TO SCHOOL WHILE STAYING IN SOUTH DAKOTA, AND STARTING SALARY, 14' INFLATABLE MEGA BRAIN (STUDENTS CAN WALK THROUGH AND AROUND THE INFLATABLE BRAIN TO LEARN ABOUT MANY DISEASES OF THE BRAIN AS WELL AS HOW TO STRIVE TO KEEP THEIR BRAINS HEALTHY), BODY INTERACT 50" TOUCH SCREEN EDUCATION SIMULATOR, ANATOMAGE DIGITAL DISSECTION 50" TOUCH SCREEN, VIRTUAL DEMENTIA TOUR SIMULATION, PERCEPTION SIMULATOR (USING OCCULUS VIRTUAL REALITY HEADSETS, CPR AND CHOKING MANEUVER SKILLS, NUTRITION INFORMATION, AND WE PARTNERED WITH ADEA TO PROVIDE DENTAL HEALTH AND CAREER EXPLORATION TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
  3. $475,507 spent. COMMUNITY IMPACT:WRAHEC IMPLEMENTED THE FOURTH AND FINAL YEAR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, H-1B RURAL HEALTH CARE GRANT WITH PARTNERS: REDFIELD COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, USD CENTER FOR RURAL HEALTH IMPROVEMENT, AND MONUMENT HEALTH. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY SUCCESSES WITH UPSKILLING STUDENTS INTO HIGH DEMAND HEALTHCARE JOBS LIKE CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT, LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSING, REGISTERED NURSING, PRE-NURSING, BSN IN NURSING, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS, AND PARAMEDICS ACROSS SOUTH DAKOTA. THIS PROGRAM IS CHANGING LIVES FOR THE BETTER WITH GREAT PAYING AND REWARDING HEALTHCARE OCCUPATIONS WHILE LESSENING THE EXTREME WORKFORCE SHORTAGE SOUTH DAKOTA HAS BEEN FACING. WE SERVED 504 PEOPLE ACROSS SOUTH DAKOTA WITH THE GRANT. ON AVERAGE, PARTICIPANT SALARIES INCREASED BY 77% ONCE PLACED IN NEW EMPLOYMENT. FINALLY, THE WRAHEC IS INVITED TO MANY COMMUNITY EVENTS TO DISPLAY OUR 14' INFLATABLE MEGA BRAIN TO TEACH PEOPLE ABOUT KEEPING A HEALTHY BRAIN AND BODY AND HOW TO MINIMIZE DISEASES OF THE BRAIN. WRAHEC ALSO SERVES ON THE SD DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH BRAIN COALITION TO BRING EDUCATION ACROSS THE STATE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 April 2020.

    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: Mountain Area Health Education Center Inc (Asheville, NC), EIN 56-1071426. 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.