Herndon-Reston Fish Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To provide short-term emergency financial assistance to low income and otherwise distressed persons primarily through payments for rent, utilities, medical prescriptions and devices, and other critical needs.
- Income
- $798,632
- Spending
- $840,588
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 51%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 147
- Highest pay
- $73,093, executive director until april 2025
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: 67 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 37% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 94% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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 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 (2)
- $638,654 spent. HRFISH Assistance programs distributed over $324k of assistance payments helping about 2,125 people in all demographics but in predominately very low-income levels in Herndon and Reston, Virginia. HRFISH responded to financial assistance requests for rent, utilities, prescriptions, grocery gift cards and other critical needs in order to stop destabilizing events. To address community needs effectively, HRFISH accepts referrals from social workers in Fairfax County agencies, local schools, hospitals, and other nonprofit organizations.HRFISH also distributed $175k of Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Bridge 2 funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), helping 84 individuals with rental assistance. The ERA program was developed to aid residents in financial distress resulting from the COVID pandemic. HRFISH has served as a safety net partner organization for distribution of federal direct assistance programs since 2020.
- $114,765 spent. The Bargain Loft thrift store, a program of HRFISH, provides affordable shopping to the local community. It collects and markets a wide variety of donated items in good condition. Gently used furniture, linens and household goods, women's clothing, and other high need items are sold. Store net profits help support emergency financial assistance programs for local residents in short-term crises.
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
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 June 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 November 1974.
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.