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Athletes for Hope

EIN 20-4773044 · Glen Echo, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair68 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AFH UNITES AND EMPOWERS THE ATHLETIC COMMUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, THROUGH THEIR TIME, PASSION AND SUSTAINED EFFORT.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
20.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
9
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$184,040, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    27 of 27 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

    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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (8)
  1. $420,759 spent. AFH UNIVERSITY:AFH CREATED THE AFH UNIVERSITY PROGRAM IN 2013, BRINGING OUR UNIQUE CAUSEWAY EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM TO COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE AFH U PROGRAMS HELPS COLLEGE ATHLETES EXPLORE THEMES SUCH AS LEADERSHIP, LIFE SKILL DEVELOPMENT, THEIR ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND HOW TO DISCOVER THEIR PHILANTROPIC PASSIONS THROUGH A SERIES OF FACILITATED WORKSHOPS. THE AFH STAFF THEN WORKS CLOSELY WITH EACH TEAM TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL, IMPACTFUL COMMUNITY SERVICE WITH UNDERSERVED SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ALIGN WITH THE TEAMS PASSIONS.
  2. $287,369 spent. AFH CHAMPS:THIS PROGRAM WAS CREATED TO ADDRESS THE CRITICAL ISSUE OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY BY CONNECTING OUR POWERFUL NETWORK OF COLLEGE, PROFESSIONAL, OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC ATHLETES TO SCHOOLS, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, AND RUNNING CLUBS TO EMPOWER THEM TO BECOME MORE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE. INSPIRED BY OUR ICONIC FOUNDER MUHAMMAD ALI, WE DESIGNED C.H.A.M.P.S LEADERSHIP CURRICULUM FOR ATHLETES, COACHES, AND TEACHERS INTERESTED IN SPORT-BASED CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING. ROOTED IN RESEARCH AND 21ST CENTURY SKILL-BUILDING, OUR SIX CORE PILLARS ARE DESIGNED TO PROMOTE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE WHILE INSPIRING YOUTH TO LEAD IN SPORT, IN THE CLASSROOM AND IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
  3. $249,976 spent. WHOLE BEING ATHLETE: GIVEN THE WELL-DOCUMENTED NEED FOR INCREASED MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND ADVOCACY, AND THE GROWING DEMAND FROM ATHLETES WHO WANT TO ENGAGE IN THIS SPACE, AFH LAUNCHED THE WHOLE BEING ATHLETE PROGRAM (WBAP) IN 2021. WBAP EMPOWERS ATHLETES OF ALL LEVELS TO SHARE THEIR STORIES IN AN EFFORT TO RAISE AWARENESS, ACCESS AND ACCEPTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES. THE CORE PILLARS OF THE PROGRAM FOCUS UPON HEALTH EDUCATION AND RESOURCES, STORYTELLING, CONVENING, AND ADVOCACY.
  4. $3,707 spent. ATHLETES FOR ARIZONA: DELIVERED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PROGRAMMING, EDUCATION ON HEALTHY LIVING, MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION, AND INCREASED SPORTS PARTICIPATION IN ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS ACROSS ARIZONA.
  5. $133,154 spent. HOSPITAL HEROES: BRINGS PROFESSIONAL, OLYMPIC, PARALYMPIC, AND COLLEGE ATHLETES TO CHILDRENS HOSPITALS ACROSS THE U.S. TO BRING PATIENTS JOY THROUGH FUN, INTERACTIVE VISITS.
  6. $136,524 spent. COVID 19: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HHS, ATHLETES FOR HOPE AND ITS NETWORK OF ATHLETES SHARE EDUCATION AND RAISE AWARENESS AROUND COVID-19 VACCINATIONS.
  7. $55,785 spent. MLK DAY:THIS IS A SPECIAL VOLUNTEER EVENT THAT BROUGHT TOGETHER PEOPLE FROM SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS TO GATHER AND PACKAGE FOOD SERVICING THE PEOPLE OF WASHINGTON DC. INCLUDED WERE STUDENT ATHLETES FROM GEORGETOWN, HOWARD AND AMERICAN UNIVERSITY. OUR VOLUNTEERS FROM HOWARD AND GEORGETOWN WERE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO APPROXIMATELY 1200 MEALS BEING PACKED. OUR VOLUNTEERS FROM AMERICAN AND GEORGETOWN MADE A COLLECTIVE 450 SANDWICHES AND THEN DISTRIBUTED THEM TO THE HARRIET TUBMAN WOMENS SHELTER AND THE SHEPHERDS TABLE.
  8. MLK DAY:THIS IS A SPECIAL VOLUNTEER EVENT THAT BROUGHT 55785. 0. 0.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 August 2006.

    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.