Maine Needs Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
We strive to help individuals and families in Maine meet their basic, material needs by providing donated clothing, hygiene products, household items, and other necessities. We focus our work on those starting life over from scratch: domestic abuse survivors, asylum seekers and those facing financial hardships. We partner with schools, caseworkers, nurses and nonprofits to provide these material resources.
- Income
- $5.4 million
- Spending
- $5.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 97%
- Reserves
- 2.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 2,562
- Highest pay
- $33,000, 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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 82% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1597% 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
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $5.0 million spent. Maine Needs organically grew out of people in the community coming together on social media to organize and deliver household donations to help those facing financial hardship. Examples of people helped by Maine Needs are homeless individuals setting up a new place to live, domestic abuse survivors, low-income families, and others that are essentially starting their lives over from scratch. Maine Needs is overseen by a volunteer board of directors. Maine Needs activities are carried out by dozens of volunteers, with hundreds in the community donating to Maine Needs to help others. Many donations are coordinated online through social media. Maine Needs has set up donation shopping facilities for those in need by utilizing spare space from a local nonprofit and by coordinating to deliver needed items to existing community centers (e.g., churches or food pantries), school supply closets for children in need, and similar spaces where those facing financial hardship can get household items, warm coats, etc. By coordinating with existing community resources, Maine Needs helps fill in the gaps to serve the community. For example, if a school needs warm children's coats and mittens in a certain sizes for low-income children coming to school without appropriate clothing for Maine winters, Maine Needs can help coordinate donations to meet that need. Maine Needs is fundraising to have its own dedicated space where individuals and families facing financial hardship could 'shop' (without charge) for material necessities up to 3 times per year by appointment. With a more permanent space, Maine Needs would also be able to store donations year round so that they could be distributed to other organizations at appropriate times of the year--including to schools, churches, food pantries, etc. Virtually 100% of Maine Need's time is devoted to its primary activity of coordinating donations and delivering material necessities to individuals and families facing financial hardship in Maine.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2020.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.