The Cares Project, INC. Is a non-profit emerging community development financial institution serving people with incomes at or below eighty percent of the area median family income who live in forsyth, davie, and davidson counties. The organization's mission is to help low income individuals and families to become financially secure through car ownership, by making community-funded vehicle loans and by building skills through financial and credit coaching.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
85¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$57K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

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FY2020 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $59K a year · 19% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 5 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
85%
of spending
Looks good: 85% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$57K
to officers and key staff · 28% of spending
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 28% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
8 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 7.5 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $6K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$2K
1% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 1% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
8
of 8 voting members
Looks good: 8 of 8 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$259K
Spent
$204K
To programs
85%
Net assets
$216K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$259K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$259K
FY2021$352K
FY2022$121K
FY2023$425K
FY2024$297K
FY2025$363K
Expenses
$204K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$204K
FY2021$230K
FY2022$200K
FY2023$242K
FY2024$253K
FY2025$336K
Net assets
$216K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$216K
FY2021$339K
FY2022$259K
FY2023$442K
FY2024$486K
FY2025$513K

From the FY2020 Form 990 · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Sep 2016.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

85 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 85% · $172K Management & general 15% · $31K Fundraising 0% · $133

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

9 people listed on the 990; $57K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$57,245Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Preside
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Scott McLaughlin’s $88K as CEO is at the 78th percentile of top reported officer pay among 2168 $100K–1M human services nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Scott McLaughlin$88,171$81,640$78,500$60,775$57,881$57,245

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Provides car loans and financial coaching to help low-income families achieve financial security.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $172K · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

The organization made community funded vehicle loans to four low income, credit-challenged, working adults which assisted them and their families in becoming financially secure through car ownership.

$172Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$6K

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$259K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$253K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$6K
Money outPt IX
$204K
Ln 25
Programscol B$172K
Managementcol C$31K
Fundraisingcol D$133
Owns and owesPt X
$216K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$128K
Total assetsLn 16$219K
LiabilitiesLn 26$2K
PeoplePt VI, VII
9
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a8
IndependentVI 1b8
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$253K
Government grantsLn 1e$151K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$6K
Total revenueLn 12$259K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$128K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$128K
Other assetsLn 15$277
Total assetsLn 16$219K
LiabilitiesLn 26$2K
Net assetsLn 32$216K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 53
VolunteersI 612
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$56K$128K
Total assetsLn 16$165K$219K
LiabilitiesLn 26$4K$2K
Net assetsLn 32$161K$216K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$74K$63K$11K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$68K$58K$10K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$15K$12K$3K
Payroll taxesLn 10$17K$15K$3K
Accounting feesLn 11c$6K$2K$4K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$1K$1K$133
Office expensesLn 13$504$161$343
OccupancyLn 16$8K$8K$8
TravelLn 17$367$367
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$362$362
InsuranceLn 23$750$750
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$10K$10K$916
All other expensesLn 24e$1K$1K
Total functional expensesLn 25$204K$172K$31K$133

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $363K$336K$27K$513K 990 PDF
FY2024 $297K$253K$44K$486K 990 PDF
FY2023 $425K$242K$183K$442K 990 PDF
FY2022 $121K$200K−$79K$259K 990 PDF
FY2021 $352K$230K$122K$339K 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $259K$204K$55K$216K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $258,904 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $209,910$252,979
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $3,773$5,925
I-10 Investment income$0
I-11 Other revenue$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $213,683$258,904
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $136,358$174,882
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $36,857$28,974
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $173,215$203,856
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $40,468$55,048
Part VI · Governance 8 of 8 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body8
VI-1b Independent voting members8
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $258,904 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$29,000
VIII-1e Government grants$151,487
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$72,492
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$252,979
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $5,925$5,925
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $5,925$258,904
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $203,856 across 13 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $63,475 · Management $10,869$74,344
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $58,320 · Management $9,987$68,307
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $12,362 · Management $2,735$15,097
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $14,629 · Management $2,505$17,134
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $1,698 · Management $3,915$5,613
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $1,029 · Fundraising $133$1,162
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $161 · Management $343$504
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $8,328 · Management $8$8,336
IX-17 TravelPrograms $367$367
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $362$362
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $750$750
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $9,517 · Management $916$10,433
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $1,447$1,447
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $172,445 · Management $31,278 · Fundraising $133$203,856
Part X · Balance sheet $218,878 assets, 10 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $88,870; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $55,927$127,895
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $24,500$1,836
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $161$277
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $165,320$218,878
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $3,872$2,382
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $3,872$2,382
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $161,448$211,496
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictions$5,000
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $161,448$216,496
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $165,320$218,878
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $216,496 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$258,904
XI-2 Total expenses$203,856
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$55,048
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$161,448
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$216,496

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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