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Opportunity House

EIN 23-2543677 · Reading, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OPPORTUNITY HOUSE EMPOWERS INDIVIDUALS TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES. WE PROVIDE SECURITY STABILITY, SAFETY, AND COMMUNITY TO OUR CLIENTS.

Income
$9.4 million
Spending
$9.2 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 37%
Employees
89
Volunteers
1,018
Highest pay
$195,955, president thru june '25

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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 70% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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 (5)
  1. $2.1 million spent. RESALE AND REUSE SERVICES: WITH THE AFFILIATIONS AND SUPPORT OF THE - ST. VINCENT DEPAUL SOCIETY OF LANE COUNTY, OREGON, AND THE CASCADE ALLIANCE, THE OPRGANIZATION OPENED ITS RESALE AND REUSE SERVICES. DONATIONS BINS WERE PLACED THROUGHOUT BERKS COUNTY AND A RETAIL BUSINESS WAS ESTABLISHED. IN JULY 2015, THE ORGANIZATION OPENED A RETAIL THRIFT STORE TO HELP SUSTAIN THE AGENCY AND PROVIDE JOBS.
  2. $2.5 million spent. SHELTER: SINCE 1984, THE SHELTER AT OUR MAIN CAMPUS HAS BEEN OPERATIONAL 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK TO MEET THE IMMEDIATE PHYSICAL NEEDS OF THE HOMELESS WHILE ALSO OFFERING INTENSIVE COUNSELING, GOAL-PLANNING, LIFE-SKILLS EDUCATION, COMMUNITY SERVICE, MONEY MANAGEMENT TRAINING, AFTER-CARE SERVICES, ADDICTION AWARENESS, PARENTING, SELF-ESTEEM, AND NUTRITION AND HEALTH EDUCATION. IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, THE SHELTER SERVED AN AVERAGE OF 90 HOMELESS MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN EACH EVENING. IN 2024, OPPORTUNITY HOUSE OPENED A SECOND HOMELESS SHELTER IN THE CITY OF POTTSTOWN, SERVING 120 HOMELESS MEN AND WOMEN DAILY.
  3. $1.6 million spent. LEARNING CENTERS: SINCE 1996, THE SECOND STREET LEARNING CENTER HAS PROVIDED PARENTS WHO WORK WITH THE FIRST CHILDCARE CENTER TO BE RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE. CARE IS PROVIDED ON-SITE FOR OVER 100 CHILDREN PER DAY WHO LIVE AT THE SHELTER AND IN THE COMMUNITY. THE CHILDREN RANGE FROM INFANCY THROUGH SCHOOL-AGE INCLUDING THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. THE LEARNING CENTER ALSO MEETS TRANSPORTATION NEEDS TO AND FROM ALL READING ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS. IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, THE CENTER SERVED 6 INFANTS, 23 TODDLERS, 65 PRESCHOOLERS/PRE-K AND 73 SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN EACH DAY. IN THE FALL OF 2025, OPPORTUNITY HOUSE OPENED A SECOND LOCATION, THE PATTON AVENUE LEARNING CENTER, WHICH SERVES THE SAME PURPOSE AND OFFERS CARE TO 64 CHILDREN DAILY, AGES 6 MONTH TO 5 YEARS OLD.
  4. $948,057 spent. HOUSING: SINCE 1998, THE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED PERMANENT HOUSING FOR DISABLED INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE SHELTER PROGRAMS, BUT ARE IN NEED OF ADDITIONAL SUPPORT BEFORE THEY CAN SUCCESFULLY MOVE BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY. OPPORTUNITY HOUSE'S PORTFOLIO OF HOUSING INCLUDES 71 UNITS (TRANSITIONAL AND PERMANENT) AND INCLUDES MORE THAN 100 RESIDENTS.
  5. $622,374 spent. PRE-K SECOND STREET LEARNING CENTER RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE PA - DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO OPERATE A PRE-K COUNT PROGRAM FOR UP TO 40 LOW INCOME CHILDREN. AGED 3 - 5 WITH THE GOAL OF ENHANCING THEIR ACADEMIC SKILLS IN PREPARATION OF ENTERING KINDERGARTEN. IN 2025, WE EXPANDED THE PROGRAM TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 20 CHILDREN, TOTALING 60 CURRENT PARTICIPANTS.

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 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 November 6, 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 June 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 1989.

    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 November 4, 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.