Island Housing Trust
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 47% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
ISLAND HOUSING TRUST PROMOTES VIABLE, YEAR-ROUND ISLAND COMMUNITIES BY ADVANCING PERMANENT WORKFORCE HOUSING ON MOUNT DESERT ISLAND, MAINE.
- Income
- $2.1 million
- Spending
- $617,656
- Spent on programs
- 47%
- Reserves
- 91.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 87%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 31
- Highest pay
- $87,476, ed thru 10/3
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 91.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 71% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1547% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 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 December 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)
- $287,414 spent. IN 2025, ISLAND HOUSING TRUST (IHT) BEGAN INFRASTRUCTURE WORK FOR A NEW NINE-HOME WORKFORCE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN THE TOWN OF MOUNT DESERT, REPRESENTING AN EXPANSION OF A PREVIOUSLY COMPLETED AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEIGHBORHOOD. IHT ALSO COMPLETED CONSTRUCTION OF TWO HOMES THAT HAD BEEN ACQUIRED AS UNFINISHED STRUCTURES. THESE HOMES ARE EXPECTED TO BE OFFERED FOR SALE IN 2026 AT BELOW-MARKET PRICES AFFORDABLE TO HOUSEHOLDS EARNING UP TO 140% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME. ADDITIONALLY, IHT RECEIVED A DONATED PARCEL OF LAND IN THE VILLAGE OF NORTHEAST HARBOR THAT IS BEING HELD FOR FUTURE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, IHT CONTINUED STEWARDSHIP OF ITS EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING PORTFOLIO, INCLUDING THE RESALE OF TWO HOMES UNDER COVENANT, AND PURSUED OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND THE SUPPLY OF PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE YEAR-ROUND HOUSING FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS. IN 2025, ISLAND HOUSING TRUST (IHT) BEGAN INFRASTRUCTURE WORK FOR A NEW NINE-HOME WORKFORCE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN THE TOWN OF MOUNT DESERT, REPRESENTING AN EXPANSION OF A PREVIOUSLY COMPLETED AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEIGHBORHOOD. IHT ALSO COMPLETED CONSTRUCTION OF TWO HOMES THAT HAD BEEN ACQUIRED AS UNFINISHED STRUCTURES. THESE HOMES ARE EXPECTED TO BE OFFERED FOR SALE IN 2026 AT BELOW-MARKET PRICES AFFORDABLE TO HOUSEHOLDS EARNING UP TO 140% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME. ADDITIONALLY, IHT RECEIVED A DONATED PARCEL OF LAND IN THE VILLAGE OF NORTHEAST HARBOR THAT IS BEING HELD FOR FUTURE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, IHT CONTINUED STEWARDSHIP OF ITS EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING PORTFOLIO, INCLUDING THE RESALE OF TWO HOMES UNDER COVENANT, AND PURSUED OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND THE SUPPLY OF PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE YEAR-ROUND HOUSING FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 September 1994.
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.