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Homeward

EIN 05-0606153 · Richmond, VA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HOMEWARD'S MISSION IS TO PREVENT, REDUCE, AND END HOMELESSNESS THROUGH THE COOPERATION, COORDINATION, AND COLLABORATION OF REGIONAL RESOURCES AND SERVICES. FOUNDEDIN 1998, HOMEWARD IS THE PLANNING AGENCY THAT SUPPORTS THE GREATER RICHMOND CONTINUUM OF CARE, A NETWORK OF HOMELESS SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT DELIVER COORDINATED AND COMPASSIONATE SOLUTIONS TO HOMELESSNESS IN THE RICHMOND REGION. HOMEWARD FACILITATES THE PUBLIC COORDINATED FUNDING PROCESSES, ENSURES FUNDING COMPLIANCE, RESEARCHES AND COMPILES BEST PRACTICES FOR HOMELESS SOLUTIONS, AND PROVIDES RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON LIVED EXPERIENCE IN OUR REGION.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$2.9 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
5.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 57%
Employees
24
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$156,416, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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)
  1. $1.9 million spent. HOMEWARD'S AREAS OF EXPERTISE INCLUDE PERSON-CENTERED DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS OF THE CRISIS OF HOMELESSNESS; HOUSING-FOCUSED SERVICE COORDINATION TO SOLVE HOMELESSNESS IN THE RICHMOND REGION; SUPPORT FOR THE REGIONAL APPLICATION OF MORE THAN $10 MILLION ANNUALLY IN FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING TO MAXIMIZE THE IMPACT OF PROVEN PROGRAMS IN OUR REGIONAL SERVICE COALITION; DEVELOPING CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS TO FILL CRITICAL COMMUNITY GAPS; AND, POLICY AND REGULATORY KNOWLEDGE ON HOMELESSNESS TO MOVE OUR EFFORTS FORWARD.
  2. $198,651 spent. HOMEWARD SUPPORTS THE HOMELESS CONNECTION LINE, OUR REGION'S LARGEST TRIAGE AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAM FOR SERVICES. THE HOMELESS CONNECTION LINE (HCL) IS A MULTI-AGENCY COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP WHICH HAS BEEN DESIGNED BY LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS TO MAXIMIZE LIMITED RESOURCES TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS. THE HCL MEETS OR EXCEEDS FEDERAL REGULATIONS FOR COORDINATED ACCESS FOR COMMUNITY-BASED HOMELESS ASSISTANCE NETWORKS. THE TRAINED AND COMPASSIONATE STAFF AT THE HCL START BY LISTENING TO EACH CALLER'S UNIQUE SITUATION AND THEY RECORD DEMOGRAPHIC AND SERVICE USAGE DATA SO THAT OUR HOMELESS ASSISTANCE NETWORK CAN TARGET HOMELESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS TO MAKE THE BIGGEST IMPACT.
  3. $412,329 spent. HOMEWARD CONDUCTS PARTICIPATORY DATA ANALYSIS THROUGH INTERVIEWS WITH PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND THROUGH PROGRAM LEVEL DATA COLLECTING USING THE HOMEWARD COMMUNITY INFORMATION SYSTEM (HCIS.) HCIS IS A SECURE DATABASE USED BY HOMELESS SERVICE PROVIDERS TO COORDINATE HOMELESS ASSISTANCE AND TO MEASURE PROGRAM AND SYSTEM LEVEL EFFECTIVENESS. HOMEWARD USES REAL-TIME, COMMUNITY-LEVEL DATA TO TARGET AND ALIGN SERVICES, POLICIES, AND FUNDING WITH CLIENT AND COMMUNITY NEEDS AND TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS SO THAT OUR COMMUNITY CAN MAXIMIZE FUNDING TO FIGHT HOMELESSNESS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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 September 7, 2026.

  2. 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 September 30, 2026.

  3. 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2004.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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 7, 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.