Self Help Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO REDUCE POVERTY, INCREASE SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND IMPROVE THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE TO CREATE HEALTHIER, BETTER LIVES AND ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
- Income
- $49.6 million
- Spending
- $48.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 97%
- Reserves
- 0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 57%
- Employees
- 259
- Volunteers
- 512
- Highest pay
- $184,738, head start director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 44% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1597% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $33.6 million spent. ENERGY PROGRAMS ASSIST ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS TO PAY THEIR HEATING BILLS; PROVIDE REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENT OF HEATERS TO HOMEOWNERS AND TENANTS; AND PROVIDE INSULATION, AIR SEALING AND PERFORM HEALTH AND SAFETY TESTING AT NO COST TO HOMEOWNERS OR TENANTS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN AREA OF MASSACHUSETTS.
- $12.6 million spent. HEAD START PROGRAM PROVIDES EDUCATION, HEALTH, NUTRITION AND SOCIAL SERVICES TO PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN AGES 2 YEARS AND 9 MONTHS THROUGH 5 YEARS OF AGE FROM INCOME ELIGIBLE FAMILIES. OTHER CHILDCARE SERVICES INCLUDE PROGRAMS FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS THAT PROVIDE A PRESCHOOL CURRICULUM SIMILAR TO HEAD START AND RECEIVE NUTRITIOUS MEALS AS WELL.
- $915,223 spent. FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROVIDES FREE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES, WORKSHOPS, INFORMATION, AND RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SO THEY CAN REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1966.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.