Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Open Hands Foundation

EIN 20-0456778 · Excelsior, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE OFFER LOVE, DIGNITY AND HOPE BY MEETING CRITICAL NEEDS OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. CURRENTLY OUR ONLY PROGRAM IS HOPE HOUSE, A YOUTH CRISIS AND COUNSELING SHELTER.

Income
$664,111
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
0
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$236,745, director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 116% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 55% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 July 31, 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 (1)
  1. $1.2 million spent. SEE SCH O.HOPE HOUSE IS A YOUTH CRISIS AND COUNSELING SHELTER PROVIDED BY THE ORGANIZATION THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH 180 DEGREES (PROGRAM SERVICE PROVIDER) AND WESTWOOD COMMUNITY CHURCH. THE SHELTER PROVIDES SAFE, STABLE AND SUPPORTIVE EMERGENCY HOUSING AND COUNSELING. SPECIFICALLY, IT PROVIDES: 6 BEDS FOR YOUTH IN CRISIS AGES 14-19; 24HR/ 7DAYS A WEEK CRISIS SHELTER; COUNSELING FOR YOUTH, PARENTS AND FAMILY; DEDICATED PROFESSIONAL STAFF; NO COST FOR SERVICES; AND A FIRST CALL FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, AND FAMILIES IN CRISIS. YOUTH/FAMILY IMPACT: SINCE OPENING IN 2015, 4,606 IMPACTED YOUTH: WITH 870 YOUTH MAKING OVERNIGHT STAYS, AND 3,736 INQUIRIES HAVE BEEN HANDLED THROUGH CALLS OR TEXTS FOR HELP. HOUSING STABILITY (OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE KIDS BACK IN A SAFE/STABLE ENVIRONMENT): IN AUGUST 2024 - JULY 2025, 92% OF THE YOUTH ACHIEVED THIS GOAL AT EXIT AFTER AN AVERAGE OF 22 DAYS IN THE SHELTER. IN AUG'24 - JUL'25, 731 YOUTH WERE IMPACTED, WITH 83 MAKING OVERNIGHT STAYS. HOPE HOUSE BENEFITS TEENS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AS WELL AS THE BROADER COMMUNITY, INCLUDING SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, BY PROVIDING EMERGENCY SHELTER SERVICES, CASE MANAGEMENT, ADVOCACY, RESOURCE, REFERRAL AND WRAP-AROUND SERVICES TO YOUTH. THROUGH POSITIVE, PRO-ACTIVE, PROGRAMMING AND MESSAGES, HOPE HOUSE BUILDS CONFIDENCE; TEACHES THEM THAT THEY HAVE MANY OPTIONS IN LIFE; AND FOSTERS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SKILLS, ATTITUDES, AND BEHAVIORS TO MAKE RESPONSIBLE CHOICES. HOPE HOUSE CASE MANAGERS HELP YOUTH IDENTIFY NEEDS, SET GOALS, AND DEVELOP PLANS. HOPE HOUSE TEENS ARE MEANINGFULLY CONNECTED WITH COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO HELP THEM MEET THEIR GOALS IN THREE KEY AREAS: HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, AND EDUCATION. YOUTH ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES IN THE COMMUNITY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.DURING THE YEAR, WE CONTINUED THE EXPANSION PROJECT FOR THE HOPE HOUSE PROGRAM. WE STARTED THE FISCAL YEAR WITH TEMPORARY RESTRICTED ASSETS FOR THE HOPE HOUSE PROGRAM OF $857,945. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR WE RECEIVED $421,695 IN DESIGNATED CONTRIBUTIONS TO HOPE HOUSE AND INCURRED $1,224,944 IN RELATED HOPE HOUSE PROGRAM EXPENSES, RESULTING IN $54,696 REMAINING IN TEMPORARILY RESTRICTED NET ASSETS AT YEAR END.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

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

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2005.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.