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Lines for Life

EIN 93-0725294 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LINES FOR LIFES PRIMARY PURPOSE IS PREVENTING SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND SUICIDE AND PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH. Lines for Life is Oregons home for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. We provide help and hope to individuals and communities through mental health and substance abuse prevention programs and crisis support services. We bring communities together to promote mental wellness and break the stigma associated with reaching out for help. We offer skills training to help communities recognize and respond to mental health concerns before they reach a point of crisis and advocate for state and federal policies to create lasting change. We recognize our communities unique needs and offer specific services to reduce barriers for those seeking personalized help

Income
$24.1 million
Spending
$23.3 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 88%
Employees
313
Volunteers
190
Highest pay
$277,891, chief executive officer

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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 37% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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 (2)
  1. $20.4 million spent. CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES - LINES FOR LIFE OPERATES 24-HOUR CRISIS LINES OFFERING IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE TO HELP PEOPLE OVERCOME SUBSTANCE ABUSE & PREVENT SUICIDE AND TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW TO ASSESS WHETHER OR NOT A LOVED ONE IS AT RISK FOR SUICIDE OR HOW TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO GET TREATMENT FOR ADDICTION. THE CRISIS LINES TOOK OVER 200,000 CALLS TEXTS AND CHATS IN FY 2024 SPECIFICALLY THROUGH THE FOLLOWING: THE 988 SUICIDE & CRISIS LIFELINE CONNECTS CALLERS TO TRAINED CRISIS COUNSELORS IN THEIR AREA WHO CAN OFFER SUPPORT AND RESOURCES; ALCOHOL & DRUG HELPLINE ASSISTS THOSE STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND CAN PROVIDE REFERRALS TO LOCAL RESOURCES FOR PEER SUPPORT AND TREATMENT; YOUTHLINE CONNECTS YOUNG PEOPLE WITH TRAINED TEEN VOLUNTEERS SUPERVISED BY ADULTS; TEEN PEERS ANSWER CHATS TEXTS AND CALLS FROM ANYONE 21 OR UNDER; THE OREGON BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT LINE PROVIDES IMMEDIATE NO-COST BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SCREENING AND CAN HELP A CALLER FIND A MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE USE PROVIDER NEARBY; MILITARY HELPLINE OFFERS HELP AND HOPE TO SERVICE MEMBERS VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES; SENIOR LONELINESS IS A CONFIDENTIAL CALL SERVICE FOR OREGONIANS 55 AND OLDER ASSISTING OLDER ADULTS AND PROVIDING FRIENDLY CONVERSATION SUPPORT AND RESOURCE REFERRAL TO ANY AGING ADULT IN OREGON WHO IS EXPERIENCING LONELINESS ISOLATION DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY.
  2. $1.0 million spent. PREVENTION - LINES FOR LIFE OFFERS EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS IN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OREGON. CONFERENCES AND TRAINING OFFERINGS ARE TAUGHT BY CERTIFIED PROFESSIONALS AND EQUIP SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES TO IDENTIFY AND ASSIST PEOPLE AT RISK OF SUICIDE AND TO RESPOND TO SIGNS OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE. OUR HELPERS HELPING HELPERS PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS REACHING OVER 1,000 PARTICIPANTS AND THE SCHOOL SUICIDE PREVENTION AND WELLNESS PROGRAM SUPPORTED OVER 125 OREGON SCHOOL DISTRICTS. WITH FUNDING FROM THE OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY AND OTHER DONORS LINES FOR LIFE PRODUCES OREGONS STATEWIDE SUICIDE PREVENTION AND OREGON PAIN AND ADDICTION TREATMENT OPAT CONFERENCES.

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 October 13, 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 February 1995.

    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 October 21, 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.