Center For Community Alternatives
Center For Community Alternatives shows strong revenue and asset growth with 0% reported officer compensation.
EIN: 161395992 · Syracuse, NY · NTEE: Z99Z · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $18.7M |
| Total Expenses | $18.2M |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $18.9M |
| Net Assets | $4.2M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Center For Community Alternatives Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Center For Community Alternatives directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Center For Community Alternatives
Center For Community Alternatives (EIN: 161395992) is a nonprofit organization based in Syracuse, NY, classified under NTEE code Z99Z. The organization reported total revenue of $18.7M and total assets of $14.6M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Center For Community Alternatives's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Center For Community Alternatives is a large nonprofit that has been operating for 35 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 8.9%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $18.9M |
| Total Expenses | $18.2M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$753K |
| Total Assets | $14.6M |
| Total Liabilities | $10.4M |
| Net Assets | $4.2M |
| Operating Margin | 4.0% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 71.1% |
| Months of Reserves | 9.6 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Center For Community Alternatives reported a surplus of $753K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 9.6 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 71.1% (high leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Center For Community Alternatives's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.9%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +17.5% | +14.8% | +20.1% |
| 2022 | +24.0% | +29.5% | +105.0% |
| 2021 | +10.5% | +1.2% | +1.6% |
| 2020 | +19.1% | +32.1% | +53.6% |
| 2019 | +18.9% | +15.7% | +19.1% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1991 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Center For Community Alternatives with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 10%
- programs: 85%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Center For Community Alternatives allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $753K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 71.1%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size ($18.9M revenue in 2023) and suggests that executive compensation is either not paid or is categorized differently on the 990, warranting further investigation for full transparency.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Center For Community Alternatives's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent 0% officer compensation reported for an organization of this size, which is unusual and may obscure actual leadership remuneration.
- Lack of detailed functional expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided summary limits precise spending efficiency analysis.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Center For Community Alternatives:
- Strong and consistent revenue growth, nearly doubling from $9.8M in 2019 to $18.9M in 2023.
- Significant increase in assets, more than tripling from $3.7M in 2019 to $14.5M in 2023, indicating improved financial stability.
- Expenses consistently track closely with revenue, suggesting efficient operational management and avoiding large deficits.
- Low liabilities relative to assets, with assets at $14.5M and liabilities at $10.3M in 2023, indicating a healthy balance sheet.
Frequently Asked Questions about Center For Community Alternatives
Is Center For Community Alternatives a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Center For Community Alternatives (EIN: 161395992) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Center For Community Alternatives spend its money?
Center For Community Alternatives directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Center For Community Alternatives tax-deductible?
Center For Community Alternatives is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 161395992). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Center For Community Alternatives CEO make?
Center For Community Alternatives's highest-compensated officer earns $18.9M annually. The organization reported $18.7M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Center For Community Alternatives's spending goes to programs?
Center For Community Alternatives directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Center For Community Alternatives compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Center For Community Alternatives is above average for NTEE category Z99Z nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Center For Community Alternatives located?
Center For Community Alternatives is headquartered in Syracuse, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 161395992. It is classified under NTEE code Z99Z.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Center For Community Alternatives have?
Center For Community Alternatives has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $18.7M in total revenue.
Is Center For Community Alternatives a good charity?
Based on the provided data, Center For Community Alternatives appears to be a financially healthy organization with strong revenue growth (from $9.8M in 2019 to $18.9M in 2023) and increasing assets ($3.7M in 2019 to $14.5M in 2023). The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation is a positive indicator for donor trust, suggesting a high dedication to mission over executive pay. However, without a detailed functional expense breakdown, a definitive assessment of program efficiency is challenging.
How has the organization's financial health changed over time?
The organization has experienced significant financial growth and improved health over the past five years. Revenue has nearly doubled from $9,867,376 in 2019 to $18,928,608 in 2023, and assets have more than tripled from $3,792,753 to $14,575,873 in the same period. Liabilities have also increased but at a slower rate than assets, indicating a strengthening balance sheet.
What is the organization's approach to executive compensation?
The IRS 990 filings consistently show 0% officer compensation for all reported periods. This suggests that the organization's officers are either unpaid, or their compensation is reported under different categories (e.g., salaries and wages for employees) rather than specifically as 'officer compensation' on the 990. This practice, while potentially indicating a lean operational structure, could also warrant further inquiry for complete transparency regarding leadership remuneration.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Center For Community Alternatives showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Center For Community Alternatives's revenue has grown by 178.1%, moving from $6.8M to $18.9M. Total assets increased by 545.7% over the same period, from $2.3M to $14.6M. Total functional expenses rose by 157.1%, from $7.1M to $18.2M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Center For Community Alternatives reported a surplus of $753K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $10.4M in liabilities against $14.6M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 71.1%), resulting in net assets of $4.2M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $18.9M | $18.2M | $14.6M | $10.4M | — | — |
| 2022 | $16.1M | $15.8M | $12.1M | $8.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $13.0M | $12.2M | $5.9M | $2.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $11.8M | $12.1M | $5.8M | $3.4M | — | — |
| 2019 | $9.9M | $9.2M | $3.8M | $1.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $8.3M | $7.9M | $3.2M | $1.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $7.8M | $7.5M | $3.0M | $1.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $7.6M | $7.4M | $2.6M | $1.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $7.7M | $7.5M | $2.7M | $1.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $8.3M | $8.0M | $2.6M | $1.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $9.5M | $9.2M | $2.9M | $2.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $8.2M | $8.6M | $2.1M | $1.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $6.8M | $7.1M | $2.3M | $1.2M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $18.9M, expenses of $18.2M, and assets of $14.6M (revenue +17.5% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $16.1M, expenses of $15.8M, and assets of $12.1M (revenue +24.0% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $13.0M, expenses of $12.2M, and assets of $5.9M (revenue +10.5% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $11.8M, expenses of $12.1M, and assets of $5.8M (revenue +19.1% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $9.9M, expenses of $9.2M, and assets of $3.8M (revenue +18.9% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $8.3M, expenses of $7.9M, and assets of $3.2M (revenue +6.9% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $7.8M, expenses of $7.5M, and assets of $3.0M (revenue +2.6% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $7.6M, expenses of $7.4M, and assets of $2.6M (revenue -1.9% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $7.7M, expenses of $7.5M, and assets of $2.7M (revenue -7.1% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $8.3M, expenses of $8.0M, and assets of $2.6M (revenue -12.2% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $9.5M, expenses of $9.2M, and assets of $2.9M (revenue +15.8% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $8.2M, expenses of $8.6M, and assets of $2.1M (revenue +20.1% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $6.8M, expenses of $7.1M, and assets of $2.3M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Center For Community Alternatives:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Center For Community Alternatives is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.