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Community Connection of Northeast Oregon

EIN 93-0575647 · La Grande, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF COMMUNITY CONNECTION OF NE OREGON, INC. IS TO ADVOCATE FOR AND ASSIST SENIOR CITIZENS, CHILDREN, LOW-INCOME PERSONS, AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN ATTAINING BASIC HUMAN NEEDS AND IN BECOMING MORE SELF SUFFICIENT.

Income
$13.8 million
Spending
$13.3 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
-5.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 82%
Employees
78
Volunteers
389

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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% 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 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • 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.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $6.5 million spent. Low-income programs: Every year, many Northeast Oregon residents struggle to make ends meet and rely on Community Connection's services to help meet their basic human needs. In addition to direct assistance to clients, we are also the Regional Food Bank for our four-county area. As such, we distribute food to nineteen food pantries and several Harvest Share and Fresh Alliance sites. We also replace unsafe furnaces, weatherize homes, and rehabilitate homes to improve living conditions and address structural concerns. In Fiscal Year 2025, thousands of people stayed warm and safe with heating assistance; we helped people, whether housed or homeless, with security deposits, rent and utility payments, motel lodging, meals, tents, sleeping bags, socks and transportation; food boxes and produce pickups eased families hunger; and people received home repair and energy efficiency information resulting in homes being improved.
  2. $2.8 million spent. Senior programs: Helping seniors live independently in their homes while providing opportunities for socialization and access to services remains the primary goal of our senior programs. When a senior citizen or their family member seeks answers, we are usually the first place they turn. Just a few hours of assistance per week often makes the difference between living independently and a move to a care facility. Seniors received 13 phone calls to check on their health and well-being; 1556 seniors and 155 volunteers and people under the age of sixty enjoyed 43,602 meals from our senior centers; 502 seniors had 68,653 meals delivered to their homes; 144 frail seniors were helped with 23,971 professional caregiver hours; 25 family caregivers received 411 hours of respite relief; 4 seniors and their families recieved guidance on addressing immediate needs and planning for the future; and 5,787 recreational activities such as dances, card games, billiards, and exercise classes brought together 432 people.
  3. $2.7 million spent. Transportation programs: Throughout FY25, Community Connection continued its multi-faceted transportation system. The deviated fixed route systems in Baker, Union, and Wallowa County are open to everyone as well as the Dial-A-Ride busses in Baker and Wallowa Couties. Also available for all riders are the Intercity busses from Baker City and Enterprise to our multi-modal hub in La Grande. Beyond our region, passengers travel to medical appointments in Boise, Wallowa, and Portland are common occurrences.
  4. $290,604 spent. Other Program Services: Programs for everyone: The Regional Food Bank has completed several projects; exterior painting, generator, power to exterior storage building, and office moves. There are still several remodeling projects in process that are funded through the Oregon Food Bank grants program. Projects that are ongoing are redoing the floors, heating/air conditioning improvements, and possibly replacing the metal roof. Most projects have the necessary funding, we are waiting on contractor availability. In our role as a HUD-certified Housing Counseling Center, we assist homeowners with forgivable down payment loans, homebuyer and budget education workshops; pre-purchase, foreclosure and financial capabilities counseling; and, for eligible households, mortgage payment assistance.

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 1970.

    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.