Quick charity verification for Helens Hope Foundation (EIN: 207410435)
Verdict: Helens Hope Foundation appears trustworthy
70/100Mission Score
$6.5MRevenue
$11.5MAssets
4Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Highly volatile revenue streams, making financial planning challenging.
Consistent reporting of $1 in liabilities, which is an unusual accounting anomaly.
Expenses exceeding revenue in multiple periods (e.g., 2022, 2019) indicating reliance on reserves.
Zero reported officer compensation for an organization with over $11 million in assets, raising questions about leadership structure and transparency.
Strengths
Strong and consistent asset base, growing from $9.9 million in 2011 to $11.5 million currently.
No reported officer compensation, potentially indicating a highly dedicated volunteer leadership or efficient use of funds if compensation is truly absent.
Long operational history with 10 years of IRS 990 filings available, indicating stability and continuity.
Spending Breakdown
How Helens Hope Foundation allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
80%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
15%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
5%
Fundraising
Within typical range
How to read this: Well-run charities typically spend 75% or more on programs, keep admin under 25%, and fundraising under 15%. A high program ratio means more of every dollar goes directly to the mission.
How to Interpret This Report
What Red Flags Mean
Red flags are potential warning signs identified by AI analysis of IRS 990 filings. They may indicate issues like declining revenue, high executive pay relative to program spending, lack of transparency, or governance concerns. A single red flag does not necessarily mean an organization is untrustworthy, but multiple flags warrant further investigation before donating.
What Mission Score Measures
The Mission Score (0-100) evaluates how effectively a nonprofit fulfills its stated purpose. It combines multiple factors: program spending efficiency (how much goes to programs vs. overhead), financial health and sustainability, governance quality, transparency in reporting, and consistency of operations over time. A score of 70+ indicates strong alignment with the organization’s mission.
Using This Data for Donation Decisions
Use this report as one input in your decision. Look at the overall Mission Score for a quick assessment, review red flags and strengths for specific concerns, check the spending breakdown to see where money goes, and compare executive compensation to the organization’s size. Consider viewing the full transparency report for deeper analysis, and always verify tax-exempt status with the IRS before making large donations.
Frequently Asked Questions about Helens Hope Foundation
Is Helens Hope Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Helens Hope Foundation (EIN: 207410435) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 70/100. 4 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is Helens Hope Foundation a good charity to donate to?
Helens Hope Foundation has a Mission Score of 70/100. Revenue: $6.5M. Assets: $11.5M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Helens Hope Foundation?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Helens Hope Foundation is 207410435. This is the unique tax ID assigned by the IRS.
What is a Mission Score?
The Mission Score is a 0-100 rating that measures how effectively a nonprofit fulfills its stated mission. It factors in program spending efficiency, financial transparency, governance practices, and outcome reporting. Scores above 70 indicate strong mission alignment, 40-69 suggest mixed performance, and below 40 signals potential concerns.
How does Helens Hope Foundation spend its money?
Helens Hope Foundation allocates 80% to programs, 15% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Helens Hope Foundation's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Helens Hope Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 207410435 on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) at apps.irs.gov/app/eos. You can also request copies of their Form 990 directly from the organization, as they are required by law to provide them upon request.
AI Transparency Report
Helens Hope Foundation demonstrates a consistent financial base with assets steadily above $9 million, reaching $11,506,099 in the latest period. However, its revenue generation has been highly volatile, fluctuating significantly year-over-year, from a low of $480,099 in 2011 to a high of $1,933,552 in 2020, and most recently $1,051,987 in 2023. This volatility makes long-term financial planning and program stability potentially challenging. The organization consistently reports zero officer compensation, which is unusual for an organization of its size and asset base, and could indicate reliance on volunteer leadership or a different compensation structure not captured as 'officer compensation' in the 990, warranting further investigation for full transparency.
The organization's spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses. However, looking at the overall expenses relative to revenue, there are periods where expenses exceeded revenue, such as in 2022 ($891,219 expenses vs. $703,980 revenue) and 2019 ($918,151 expenses vs. $672,256 revenue), indicating reliance on reserves or prior year surpluses. The consistent reporting of $1 in liabilities across multiple recent years is also an unusual data point that might suggest a reporting anomaly or a very specific financial structure. The lack of reported officer compensation, while potentially positive for donor perception, also raises questions about the operational structure and leadership commitment without further context.