Skip to main content

Nonprofit · EIN 16-0911473

THE COMMUNITY ACTION ORGANIZATION OF WESTERN NEW YORK INC

Tax-exempt · BUFFALO, NY 14214

Financials

$36.8M$36.3M2022$36M$37.2M2023$35.9M$36.5M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of THE COMMUNITY ACTION ORGANIZATION OF WESTERN NEW YORK INC by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
February 28, 2025990$35,875,314$36,495,316-$620,002$17,634,089$13,977,866$3,656,223
February 29, 2024990$36,035,037$37,163,635-$1,128,598$13,663,760$10,464,079$3,199,681
February 28, 2023990$36,768,953$36,298,047$470,906$19,716,309$15,804,452$3,911,857
Financial details: 990 for the year ended February 28, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$31,583,334
of which government grants
$31,562,624
Program service revenue
$4,154,558
Investment income
$137,422
Other revenue
$0

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$1,296,656
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$579,979
Other salaries and wages
$18,477,640
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$23,766,206
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$343,458
Accounting fees
$159,499
Occupancy
$3,078,231
Travel
$205,638
Depreciation
$376,502
Program services (functional)
$30,249,541
Management and general (functional)
$6,245,775

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$13,663,760
Total assets, end of year
$17,634,089
Total liabilities, end of year
$13,977,866
Net assets, end of year
$3,656,223
Land, buildings and equipment
$1,628,041
Net assets without donor restrictions
$3,656,223
Gross receipts
$35,875,314
Employees
505
Volunteers
22
Year formed
1965
State of legal domicile
NY

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended February 28, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
CHELSEA WHITEEVP AND CHIEF OF EDUCATION
Highest-paid employee
40$196,005$25,895
SHARADA BRIGGSCFO
Officer
40$183,010$38,287
TONYA KOHLMANCPO
Highest-paid employee
40$182,817$31,444
ULYSEES WINGOINTERIM PRESIDENT/CEO (PART YEAR)
Officer
40$174,731$31,955
YEABEN GOMPAHCCO
Highest-paid employee
40$178,348$19,053
DEANNE MONTOGMERYCQO
Highest-paid employee
40$117,613$32,383
BRANDI HAYNESCPO
Highest-paid employee
40$119,503$17,555
DR MARIE CANNONPRESIDENT/CEO
Officer
40$103,517$2,815
CRAIG HANNAHBOARD CHAIR/PRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0$0
ANGELA BLUEVICE PRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0$0
DR RAQUEL SCHMIDTSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0$0
VERNEE SHAW-WILKINSTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0$0
LISA COLLINSDIRECTOR - POLICY COUNCIL
Trustee or director
2$0$0
BRIDGET NILANDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
DR DEBRA HEADLEYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
16 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
DEMONE SMITHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
ERIC FIELDSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
HON FRANK TODARODIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
JONATHAN A DANDESDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
LEAH ANDERSON-LOCKWOODDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
LEAH HALTON-POPEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
NADJA PIATKADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
HON ROBERT T RUSSELLDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
RON STEWARTDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
SANDRA GARNERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
VONETTA RHODES-OSIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
DR WESLEY HICKS JRDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
ZENETA EVERHARTDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
JOHN INGRAMDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
WILMER OLIVENCIA JRAT LARGE MEMBER / SERGEANT AT ARMS
Trustee or director
2$0
THERESE M VITADIRECTOR (PART YEAR)
Trustee or director
2$0
990 for the year ended February 29, 2024: 30 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
Chelsea WhiteEVP and Chief of Education
Highest-paid employee
40$203,478$26,433
Thomas KimPresident/CEO (Part year)
Officer
40$211,037$17,054
Sharada BriggsCFO
Officer
40$165,265$26,759
Tonya KohlmanCPO
Highest-paid employee
40$161,579$18,126
Yeaben GompahCCO
Highest-paid employee
40$145,913$8,495
Deanne MontgomeryCQO
Highest-paid employee
40$124,173$27,050
Brandi HaynesCPO
Highest-paid employee
40$138,017$10,242
Angela BlueVice President
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0$0
Craig HannahPresident
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0$0
Dr Raquel SchmidtSecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0$0
Vernee Shaw-WilkinsTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0$0
Bridget NilandDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Demone SmithDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Dr Debra HeadleyDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Dr Wesley Hicks JrDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Eric FieldsDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Hon Frank TodaroDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Hon Robert T RussellDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
John IngramDirector
Trustee or director
–$0$0
Jonathan A DandesDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
LaQuenta Anderson-LockwoodDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Leah Halton-PopeDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Lisa CollinsDirector - Policy Council
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Nadja PiatkaDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Ron StewartDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Sandra GarnerDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Therese M VitaDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Vonetta Rhodes-OSIDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Wilmer Olivencia JrAt Large Member / Sergeant at Arms
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Zeneta EverhartDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
990 for the year ended February 28, 2023: 23 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
Thomas KimPresident/CEO
Officer
40$187,036$13,556
Chelsea WhiteEVP and Chief of Education
Highest-paid employee
40$149,105$13,556
Deanne MontgomeryChief Program and Administrative Officer
Highest-paid employee
40$109,664$20,743
Tonya KohlmanCPO
Highest-paid employee
40$107,583$13,556
Sharada BriggsCFO
Officer
40$98,736$13,556
Angela BlueVice President
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0$0
Craig HannahPresident
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0$0
Ulysees O Wingo SrSecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0$0
Vernee Shaw-WilkinsTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0$0
Bridget NilandDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Demone SmithDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Dr Raquel SchmidtDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Dr Wesley L Hicks JrDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Eric FieldsDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Hon Robert T RussellDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
John IngramDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Jonathan A DandesDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
LaQuenta Anderson-LockwoodDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Lisa CollinsDirector - Policy Council
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Shandra GarnerDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Theresa M VitaDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Vonetta Rhodes-OSIDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Wilmer Olivencia JrAt Large Member / Sergeant at Arms
Trustee or director
2$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
45 JEWETT AVE STE 150, BUFFALO, NY 14214-2442
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
DR MARIE CANNON, 45 JEWETT AVENUE 150, BUFFALO, NY 14214
Signed the 990
DR MARIE CANNON, PRESIDENT/CEO
Phone
(716) 881-5150
Return prepared by
CRI CAPIN CROUSE ADVISORS LLC

Mission

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.

990 for the year ended February 28, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • CAO HEAD START (HS) AND EARLY HEAD START (EHS) CONTRIBUTES TO THE WELL-BEING AND SUCCESS OF 831 HS AND 205 EHS IN ERIE COUNTY, 200 HS SLOTS FOR NIAGARA COUNTY, AND THE PROGRAM WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH TEN (12) DAYCARE PROVIDERS SUPPORTING ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY (225) INFANTS/TODDLERS, WE ARE WORKING ON COLLABORATING WITH OTHER DAY CARE PROVIDERS AS WELL FOR THE UPCOMING YEARS. 12% OF THE HS/EHS OPENINGS ARE RESERVED FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. CAO ALSO PARTNERS WITH EARLY HEAD START CHILDCARE PARTNERSHIPS TO SERVICE APPROXIMATELY 160 PRESCHOOLERS AT 7 LOCATIONS. WE HAVE OVER 29 EDUCATION AGREEMENTS AND OVER 95 COLLABORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS. OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE EXEMPLARY COMPREHENSIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES TO OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN COOPERATIVE, COLLABORATIVE, AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENTS.
    Expenses $23,266,312 · grants $1,225,425 · revenue $410,991
  • THE CAO DRUG ABUSE, RESEARCH AND TREATMENT PROGRAM (DART) CURRENTLY SERVES APPROXIMATELY 450 CONSUMERS IN OUR OUTPATIENT OPIATE TREATMENT PROGRAM. THE CLIENTS ATTEND OUR CLINIC DAILY AT WHICH TIME THEY RECEIVE MEDICATION, METHADONE THAT ASSISTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF THEIR RECOVERY FROM OPIATE DEPENDENCE. CLIENTS ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO ATTEND WEEKLY INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS WITH THEIR ASSIGNED COUNSELOR AS WELL AS GROUP THERAPY, WHOSE GOALS ARE TO IDENTIFY THE ANTECEDENTS TO ADDICTION AND DEVELOP AND MONITOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THEIR RECOVERY PLANS. DURING THIS PERIOD THE DART PROGRAM CONDUCTED 138,050 DISPENSING AND APPROXIMATELY 32,630 CLINICAL EPISODES OF CARE.
    Expenses $3,986,972
  • COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT - THE CAO IS A COMMUNITY BASED, CITIZEN DRIVEN ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES ESSENTIAL HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES, EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING PROGRAMS TO LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS ACROSS ERIE COUNTY, NY WITH EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN SITE MANAGEMENT, CRISIS AND EMERGENCY SERVICES, YOUTH AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT, FOOD PANTRY DISTRIBUTIONS, EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING, REPORTING TO FUNDING SOURCES AND CREATING AND MAINTAINING VITAL PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. ON AVERAGE WE SERVE OVER 38,000 INDIVIDUALS AND OVER 38,000 FAMILIES AT OVER 8 SITES ANNUALLY.
    Expenses $2,996,257 · grants $71,231 · revenue $3,743,567

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in February, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025February 28, 2026July 15, 2026Not on file
2024February 28, 2025July 15, 2025990 on file
2023February 29, 2024July 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
16-0911473
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
1966
Accounting year ends
February
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$17,634,089
Income (IRS master file)
$35,875,314

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990February 2025$35,875,314$36,495,316$17,634,089XML
990February 2024$36,035,037$37,163,635$13,663,760XML
990February 2023$36,768,953$36,298,047$19,716,309XML
990February 2022$31,001,421$30,395,124$11,956,609IRS
990February 2021–––IRS
990February 2020–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 16-0911473).

Questions about THE COMMUNITY ACTION ORGANIZATION OF WESTERN NEW YORK INC

What is the EIN of THE COMMUNITY ACTION ORGANIZATION OF WESTERN NEW YORK INC?
The employer identification number (EIN) of THE COMMUNITY ACTION ORGANIZATION OF WESTERN NEW YORK INC is 16-0911473.
Is THE COMMUNITY ACTION ORGANIZATION OF WESTERN NEW YORK INC tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1966.
Are donations to THE COMMUNITY ACTION ORGANIZATION OF WESTERN NEW YORK INC tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does THE COMMUNITY ACTION ORGANIZATION OF WESTERN NEW YORK INC file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of THE COMMUNITY ACTION ORGANIZATION OF WESTERN NEW YORK INC due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending February 28, 2026) is due July 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did THE COMMUNITY ACTION ORGANIZATION OF WESTERN NEW YORK INC last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended February 2025.
Who is the principal officer of THE COMMUNITY ACTION ORGANIZATION OF WESTERN NEW YORK INC?
The 990 for the year ended February 28, 2025 names DR MARIE CANNON.
Who are the officers and directors of THE COMMUNITY ACTION ORGANIZATION OF WESTERN NEW YORK INC?
The 990 for the year ended February 28, 2025 lists 31 people; 8 received compensation from the organization, the highest $196,005 (CHELSEA WHITE, EVP AND CHIEF OF EDUCATION).
How much revenue does THE COMMUNITY ACTION ORGANIZATION OF WESTERN NEW YORK INC have?
On its 990 for the year ended February 28, 2025 it reported revenue of $35,875,314, expenses of $36,495,316 and total assets of $17,634,089 at year end.

Other nonprofits in BUFFALO

All nonprofits in BUFFALO · New York