Great Northern Services FY2020 filing

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Great Northern Services mission is to invigorate communities by initiating positive social change to improve economic conditions.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
97¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$81K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

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
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $13K a year · under 1% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 2 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
97%
of spending
Looks good: 97% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$81K
to officers and key staff · 3% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 3% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Worth a look: 0.9 months of spending in cash; under 1.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
9
named funders · $181K
Looks good: 9 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.1M
53% of total assets
Fine: liabilities are 53% of assets; 50% to 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
4
of 4 voting members
Looks good: 4 of 4 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.7M
Spent
$2.7M
To programs
97%
Net assets
$974K
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$2.7M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.7M
FY2021$2.9M
FY2022$3.7M
FY2023$4.1M
FY2024$3.3M
Expenses
$2.7M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.7M
FY2021$2.9M
FY2022$3.7M
FY2023$4.0M
FY2024$3.3M
Net assets
$974K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$974K
FY2021$1.1M
FY2022$1.0M
FY2023$1.1M
FY2024$1.1M

From the FY2020 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Jan 1980.

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

Where the money goes

97 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 97% · $2.6M Management & general 3% · $67K

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

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

5 people listed on the 990; $81K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Dir.
$80,965Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary/Treas
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Marie-Josee Wells’s $101K as Executive Dir. is at the 35th percentile of top reported officer pay among 2036 $1–10M housing 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

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Marie-Josee Wells$100,900$101,717$82,215$80,516$80,965

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.

See Great Northern Services executive salaries →

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 15aNo

Programs and updates

Energizes communities through social change, improving economic conditions for all.

Questions for Great Northern Services

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Your first name shows with your question. Great Northern Services answers here, for everyone.

3 programs · $2.1M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Block Grant is funded by the Federal Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and provides two basic types of services. Eligible low-income persons, via local governmental and nonprofitorganizations, can receive financial assistance to offset the costs of heating and/or cooling…

$1.1Mprogram expense
02

The Food Bank Program distributes USDA Commodities and emergency food to 23 food pantries in Siskiyou County. The Organization was designated by the State of California, and the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors, to operate this program.

$646Kprogram expense
03

GNS Other

$429Kprogram 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
See all 9 funders →

Federal money

Single Audit · Federal Audit Clearinghouse · money spent from federal programs
Year ending Dec 2025 · $2.7M federal money spent
Low-Income Home Energy AssistanceDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.568 · Through California Department of Community Service$1.3M
Emergency Food Assistance Program (food Commodities)Department of Agriculture · ALN 10.569 · Through California Department of Social Services$683K
Special Programs for the Aging, Title III, Part C, Nutrition ServicesDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.045 · Through Planning and Service Area 2 2 Area Agency on Aging$306K
Community Development Block Grants/State's Program and Non-Entitlement Grants in HawaiiDepartment of Housing and Urban Development · ALN 14.228 · Through California Department of Housing & Community Development$229K
Weatherization Assistance for Low-Income PersonsDepartment of Energy · ALN 81.042 · Through California Department of Community Service$85K

Plus 3 smaller programs.

The auditor reported no findings.

Year ending Dec 2024 · $2.9M federal money spent
Low-Income Home Energy AssistanceDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.568 · Through Ca Dept of Coumm Servs$1.6M
Emergency Food Assistance Program (food Commodities)Department of Agriculture · ALN 10.569 · Through Ca Deptmt of Social Services and 1 more$409K
Special Programs for the Aging, Title III, Part C, Nutrition ServicesDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.045 · Through Planning & Serv Area 2 on Aging$291K
Community Development Block Grants/State's Program and Non-Entitlement Grants in HawaiiDepartment of Housing and Urban Development · ALN 14.228 · Through Ca Dept of Hous & Community Dept$268K
Weatherization Assistance for Low-Income PersonsDepartment of Energy · ALN 81.042 · Through Ca Dept of Coumm Servs$214K

Plus 3 smaller programs.

The auditor reported no findings.

Year ending Dec 2023 · $3.5M federal money spent
Low-Income Home Energy AssistanceDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.568 · Through Ca Dept of Coumm Servs$2.1M
Community Development Block Grants/State's Program and Non-Entitlement Grants in HawaiiDepartment of Housing and Urban Development · ALN 14.228 · Through Ca Dept of Hous & Community Dept$501K
Emergency Food Assistance Program (food Commodities)Department of Agriculture · ALN 10.569 · Through Ca Deptmt of Social Services and 1 more$384K
Special Programs for the Aging_title III, Part C_nutrition ServicesDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.045 · Through Planning & Serv Area 2 on Aging$356K
Grants to Provide Outpatient Early Intervention Services with Respect to HIV DiseaseDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.918 · Through Plumas County$79K

Plus 4 smaller programs.

The auditor reported no findings.

Year ending Dec 2022 · $3.0M federal money spent
Low-Income Home Energy AssistanceDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.568 · Through Ca Dept Csd$1.7M
Community Development Block Grants/State's Program and Non-Entitlement Grants in HawaiiDepartment of Housing and Urban Development · ALN 14.228 · Through Ca Dept Hcd$531K
Special Programs for the Aging_title III, Part C_nutrition ServicesDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.045 · Through A2a Agency on Aging$329K
Emergency Food Assistance Program (food Commodities)Department of Agriculture · ALN 10.569 · Through Ca Dept of Social Services and 1 more$278K
Grants to Provide Outpatient Early Intervention Services with Respect to HIV DiseaseDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.918 · Through Plumas County$79K

Plus 5 smaller programs.

The auditor reported no findings.

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.7M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.6M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$59K
Investment incomeLn 3$7K
Money outPt IX
$2.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.6M
Managementcol C$67K
Owns and owesPt X
$974K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$203K
Total assetsLn 16$2.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.1M
PeoplePt VI, VII
5
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a4
IndependentVI 1b4
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.6M
Government grantsLn 1e$2.0M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$59K
Investment incomeLn 3$7K
Other incomeLn 4–11$100
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$2.7M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$203K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$203K
Accounts receivableLn 4$340K
Notes and loans receivableLn 7$60K
Inventories for sale or useLn 8$23K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.5M
Total assetsLn 16$2.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.1M
Net assetsLn 32$974K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 533
VolunteersI 685
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$192K$203K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.4M$1.5M
Total assetsLn 16$2.2M$2.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.2M$1.1M
Net assetsLn 32$991K$974K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$81K$81K$43
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$889K$888K$475
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$18K$18K−$64
Other employee benefitsLn 9$234K$235K−$831
Payroll taxesLn 10$88K$88K−$312
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$20K$20K$576
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$86K$85K$810
Advertising and promotionLn 12$0
Office expensesLn 13$80K$80K$556
Information technologyLn 14$55K$54K$150
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$62K$62K$32
TravelLn 17$3K$2K$1K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$5K$5K$5
InterestLn 20$26K$4K$23K
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$43K$6K$36K
InsuranceLn 23$39K$36K$4K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$926K$925K$516
All other expensesLn 24e$15K$14K$2K
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.7M$2.6M$67K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 LatestFiled with the IRS Oct 17, 2025 $3.3M$3.3M−$48K$1.1M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Oct 11, 2024 $4.1M$4.0M$90K$1.1M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Aug 28, 2023 $3.7M$3.7M−$36K$1.0M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Oct 6, 2022 $2.9M$2.9M$78K$1.1M 990 PDF
FY2020 ViewingFiled with the IRS Oct 28, 2021 $2.7M$2.7M−$17K$974K 990 PDF

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 $2,653,405 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,550,823$2,587,479
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $66,058$59,017
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $101$6,809
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $15,312$100
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,632,294$2,653,405
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,329,566$1,309,541
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,517,699$1,361,126
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,847,265$2,670,667
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$214,971−$17,262
Part VI · Governance 4 of 4 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body4
VI-1b Independent voting members4
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
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
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $2,653,405 across 11 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$1,980,596
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$606,883
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,587,479
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $59,017$59,017
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $6,809$6,809
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assets$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $100$100
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $65,926$2,653,405
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,670,667 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $80,922 · Management $43$80,965
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $888,386 · Management $475$888,861
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $18,092 · Management −$64$18,028
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $234,723 · Management −$831$233,892
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $88,107 · Management −$312$87,795
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $19,778 · Management $576$20,354
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $85,358 · Management $810$86,168
IX-12 Advertising and promotion$0
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $79,811 · Management $556$80,367
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $54,495 · Management $150$54,645
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $61,746 · Management $32$61,778
IX-17 TravelPrograms $2,197 · Management $1,141$3,338
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $5,118 · Management $5$5,123
IX-20 InterestPrograms $3,639 · Management $22,522$26,161
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $6,437 · Management $36,067$42,504
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $35,642 · Management $3,806$39,448
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $925,394 · Management $516$925,910
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $13,613 · Management $1,717$15,330
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,603,458 · Management $67,209 · Fundraising $0$2,670,667
Part X · Balance sheet $2,087,549 assets, 23 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $191,721$202,836
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$0
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$0
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $444,670$340,378
X-5 Loans to officers and key people$0
X-6 Loans to other insiders$0
X-7 Notes and loans receivableStart of year $94,247$60,219
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $19,368$23,219
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred charges$0
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,414,888$1,460,897
X-11 Publicly traded securities$0
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $2,061$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,166,955$2,087,549
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $378,621$367,302
X-23 Secured mortgages and notes payableStart of year $743,063$698,061
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $54,484$48,661
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,176,168$1,114,024
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $990,787$973,525
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $990,787$973,525
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,166,955$2,087,549
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $973,525 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,653,405
XI-2 Total expenses$2,670,667
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$17,262
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$990,787
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$973,525

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

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