COMMUNITY ACTION ORGANIZATION OF WESTERN NEW YORK INC Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

COMMUNITY ACTION ORGANIZATION OF WESTERN NEW YORK INC

EIN 16-0911473 · Housing & Shelter (L)

What they do

to PROMOTE OPPORTUNITIES for LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, and COMMUNITIES to ACHIEVE and SUSTAIN SELF-SUFFICIENCY THROUGH ADVOCACY PARTNERSHIPS, ACCESS to SERVICES and LOW-TO-MODERATE INCOME HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $82.90 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders31 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

84.32%of revenue went to mission work82.9% of expenses · Program services

$101.73spent for every $100 of revenueSpending was higher than revenue this year.

17.41%of revenue went to management and office costs17.1% of expenses

$0.48in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

88.0%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Worth asking: Expenses exceeded revenue by $620,002 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $221,900 for CHELSEA WHITE (EVP AND CHIEF OF EDUCATION). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$35,875,314

Mission workProgram services$30,249,54184.32% of revenue82.9% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$6,245,77517.41% of revenue17.1% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations0.00% of revenue0.0% of expenses

Total expenses$36,495,316101.73% of revenue

Expenses were greater than revenue, so the colored ring fills the available $100 and the total above 100% is shown below.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 82.9% mission · 17.1% management · 0.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 101.73% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 84.9% mission · 15.1% management · 0.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 103.13% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 86.3% mission · 13.7% management · 0.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 98.72% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 80.3% mission · 19.7% management · 0.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 98.04% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 91.6% mission · 8.4% management · 0.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 95.34% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 92.1% mission · 7.9% management · 0.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 102.66% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$35,875,314

Expenses$36,495,316

Annual shortfall $620,002 Expenses were higher than revenue for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$30,249,541 · 82.9% of expenses

Management and office costs$6,245,775 · 17.1% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$35,875,314

Expenses$36,495,316

Assets$17,634,089

Income$35,875,314

Contributions$31,583,334

Mission work (program services)$30,249,541

Grants given$6,492,734

Average grant$115,942

Management and general$6,245,775

Accounting fees$159,499

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

CHELSEA WHITEEVP AND CHIEF OF EDUCATION · 40 hrs/week $221,900Base $196,005 · Other $25,895

SHARADA BRIGGSCFO · 40 hrs/week $221,297Base $183,010 · Other $38,287

TONYA KOHLMANCPO · 40 hrs/week $214,261Base $182,817 · Other $31,444

ULYSEES WINGOINTERIM PRESIDENT/CEO (PART YEAR) · 40 hrs/week $206,686Base $174,731 · Other $31,955

YEABEN GOMPAHCCO · 40 hrs/week $197,401Base $178,348 · Other $19,053

DEANNE MONTOGMERYCQO · 40 hrs/week $149,996Base $117,613 · Other $32,383

BRANDI HAYNESCPO · 40 hrs/week $137,058Base $119,503 · Other $17,555

DR MARIE CANNONPRESIDENT/CEO · 40 hrs/week $106,332Base $103,517 · Other $2,815

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (31)

CHELSEA WHITEEVP AND CHIEF OF EDUCATION

SHARADA BRIGGSCFO

TONYA KOHLMANCPO

ULYSEES WINGOINTERIM PRESIDENT/CEO (PART YEAR)

YEABEN GOMPAHCCO

DEANNE MONTOGMERYCQO

BRANDI HAYNESCPO

DR MARIE CANNONPRESIDENT/CEO

LISA COLLINSDIRECTOR - POLICY COUNCIL

ZENETA EVERHARTDIRECTOR

NADJA PIATKADIRECTOR

RON STEWARTDIRECTOR

SANDRA GARNERDIRECTOR

THERESE M VITADIRECTOR (PART YEAR)

VERNEE SHAW-WILKINSTREASURER

VONETTA RHODES-OSIDIRECTOR

WILMER OLIVENCIA JRAT LARGE MEMBER / SERGEANT AT ARMS

ANGELA BLUEVICE PRESIDENT

LEAH HALTON-POPEDIRECTOR

LEAH ANDERSON-LOCKWOODDIRECTOR

JONATHAN A DANDESDIRECTOR

JOHN INGRAMDIRECTOR

HON ROBERT T RUSSELLDIRECTOR

HON FRANK TODARODIRECTOR

ERIC FIELDSDIRECTOR

DR WESLEY HICKS JRDIRECTOR

DR RAQUEL SCHMIDTSECRETARY

DR DEBRA HEADLEYDIRECTOR

DEMONE SMITHDIRECTOR

CRAIG HANNAHBOARD CHAIR/PRESIDENT

BRIDGET NILANDDIRECTOR

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1966
Location: 45 JEWETT AVE STE 150, BUFFALO, NY 14214-2442
County: Erie
In care of: DR MARIE CANNON
Primary officer: DR MARIE CANNON, PRESIDENT/CEO

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(716) 881-5150

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: March 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: CRI CAPIN CROUSE ADVISORS LLC
NTEE classification: Housing & Shelter (L)
IRS tax category: Housing & Shelter
Grant-giving organization: Yes