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COMMUNITY AID OF ELK RIVER

EIN 41-1415484 ELK RIVER, MN

Revenue 2024
$2,863,844
Expenses 2024
$2,774,238

Program services were 97.1% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
P600
Classification
1000
Street
12621 ELK LAKE RD NW

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

PROVIDE SUPPORT AND RELIEVE HUNGER TOGETHER.

Activities or mission (Part I)

THE MISSION OF CAER IS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND RELIEVE HUNGER, TOGETHER.

  • CAER HAS BEEN SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ELK RIVER, ZIMMERMAN AND OTSEGO SINCE 1979 THROUGH THE COLLECTION OF FOOD AND PERSONAL CARE ITEM DONATIONS. ADDITIONAL ITEMS ARE PURCHASED BY CAER WITH CASH DONATIONS RECEIVED. EACH DONATION DOLLAR PROVIDES THE PURCHASING POWER TO PROVIDE THREE MEALS TO CLIENTS. TO ASSIST OUR CLIENTS IN STRETCHING THEIR FOOD BUDGETS TO INCLUDE FRESH PRODUCE, CAER FORGED ALLIANCES WITH SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND, THE FOOD GROUP FOOD BANKS, AS WELL AS LOCAL GROWERS AND GROCERS TO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF FRESH PRODUCE OFFERED. IN TOTAL FOR ALL PROGRAMS IN 2023, CAER PROVIDED 1,060,305 POUNDS OF FOOD TO THE COMMUNITIES OF ELK RIVER, ZIMMERMAN, OTSEGO AND SURROUNDING AREAS. IN 2010, CAER IMPLEMENTED A SUMMER PROGRAM CALLED "KIDZ KITZ". THE PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO HELP FAMILIES WITH SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN BY PROVIDING ADDITIONAL KID-FRIENDLY FOOD, PRODUCE, MILK AND BAKERY ITEMS AS WEEKLY SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PACKAGES DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. IN 2020, WITH THE SUDDEN SHIFT TO DISTANCE LEARNING, THE KIDZ KITZ PROGRAM WAS IMMEDIATELY IMPLEMENTED FROM MARCH TO AUGUST. CAER RENAMED THE KIDZ KITZ PROGRAM TO THE KIDS WEEKEND CAER PACKAGE IN APRIL 2021. IT WAS RESTRUCTURED TO PROVIDE WEEKEND FOOD ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES YEAR-ROUND. IN 2023, 8,243 CHILDREN (DUPLICATED) RECEIVED A KIDS WEEKEND CAER PACKAGE. ADDITIONAL FOOD OUTREACH PROGRAMS IN 2023 INCLUDED PROVIDING NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS TO OPEN DOORS FOR YOUTH, (A DROP-IN CENTER FOR HOMELESS AND AT- RISK YOUTH) AND THUMBS UP YOUTH AFTER SCHOOL/SUMMER PROGRAM TOTALLING OVER 2,859 POUNDS. WE ALSO PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY 80 EMERGENCY FOOD BAGS (1,051 POUNDS)TO SHERBURNE COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. CAER SERVES LOW-INCOME SENIORS IN ZIMMERMAN AND ELK RIVER BY DELIVERING BOTH PERISHABLE AND NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS TO SENIOR HOUSING UNITS. IN 2023, WE PROVIDED 25,997 POUNDS OF FOOD THROUGH 753 DELIVERIES. THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHURCH OF SAINT ANDREW, IN 2023 WE PROVIDED PRODUCE DISTRIBUTIONS TOTALLING 27,606 POUNDS OF FOOD. THE VISION OF CAER IS THAT HUNGER IS NO LONGER A BARRIER TO THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

    Expenses $2,199,457 · Grants $2,199,457

  • CAER PROVIDES EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP PEOPLE MAINTAIN OR OBTAIN HOUSING, GAS AND ELECTRIC UTILITIES. WE SEEK TO PREVENT EVICTION AND UTILITY SHUT OFF ON BEHALF OF OUR CLIENTS. OUR SERVICE AREA IS EXTENDED FOR THIS ASSISTANCE TO RESIDENTS IN THE CITIES OF ELK RIVER, BIG LAKE, BECKER, OTSEGO AND ZIMMERMAN. IN 2023, 122 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED HOUSING OR UTILITY ASSISTANCE.

    Expenses $125,490 · Grants $125,490

  • CAER INITIATED OUR "CAR CAER" PROGRAM MORE THAN 15 YEARS AGO AS PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO HELP CLIENTS REMAIN MOBILE SO THEY CAN WORK OR LOOK FOR WORK. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE BY HELPING INDIVIDUALS WITH VEHICLE MAINTENANCE. WE PARTNER WITH A LOCAL BUSINESS THAT PROVIDES FACILITIES AND VOLUNTEER MECHANICS WHO PROVIDE THE EXPERTISE AND LABOR TO FIX OR MAINTAIN A VEHICLE. CAER PAYS FOR THE NECESSARY PARTS OR SUPPLIES. THESE PARTS AND SUPPLIES ARE PURCHASED THROUGH THE SHOP OWNER AT WHOLESALE PRICES. IN 2023, 16 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED HELP THROUGH CAR CAER.

    Expenses $11,227 · Grants $11,227

  • IN 2023, CAER HELPED OVER 400 HOUSEHOLDS WITH MISCELLANEOUS NEEDS INCLUDING SCHOOL SUPPLIES, WINTER OUTERWEAR AND GAS CARDS.

    Expenses $356,804 · Grants $817

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • HEATHER KLIEWER

    EXECUTIVE DI

    Total calculated
    $79,764
    From this org
    $79,764
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

  • PAT HACKMAN

    BOARD VICE C

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JOHN JORDAN

    BOARD CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • TRACY REDEPENNING

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0

  • LOREN VOLK

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • DIRK BARRETT

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0

  • PAM BLACK

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0

  • BARB BURANDT

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0

  • JBRIAN CALVA

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0

  • JENNIFER CASTLE

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0

  • DON HORVATH

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0

  • DERRICK MONTPLAISIR

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0

  • JULIA SCHREIFELS

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2024
    Revenue
    $2,863,844
    Expenses
    $2,774,238
    Contributions
    $2,628,540
    Grants paid
    $2,336,991
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $2,626,115
    Expenses
    $2,571,668
    Contributions
    $2,367,351
    Grants paid
    $2,099,205
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $2,382,540
    Expenses
    $2,306,068
    Contributions
    $2,158,180
    Grants paid
    $1,881,029

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $2,039,193
    Expenses
    $1,749,655
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,344,447

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $2,161,573
    Expenses
    $1,596,300
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,069,459

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,416,575
    Expenses
    $1,429,982
    Assets (EOY)
    $485,825

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all.

Grants made

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

Grants received

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 26 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.