Hope of Life International
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO BE A HUMANITARIAN RELIEF ORGANIZATION WHICH BENEFITS CHILDREN, THE ELDERLY, DISADVANTAGED, AND POOR THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. EVIDENCED BY THE DEPTH OF THEIR POVERTY, THE PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION EXPERIENCING MALNUTRITION, AND THE ILLNESS AND DISEASES THAT ACCOMPANY THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST TO ALL NATIONS.
- Income
- $18.6 million
- Spending
- $22.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- 3.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 21
- Volunteers
- 1,130
- Highest pay
- $152,172, president
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
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 20% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 47% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1596% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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 35% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 258 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 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 (2)
- $1.3 million spent. MISSION TRIPS AND EVANGELISM - THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION ARE INITIATED, COORDINATED AND FULFILLED NUMEROUS TIMES DURING THE YEAR. MISSION TEAMS ARE SENT TO VOLUNTEER SITES, CURRENTLY PRIMARILY IN GUATEMALA. THESE MISSION TRIPS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES: DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD AND CLOTHING TO DESIGNATED RECIPIENTS; BUILDING OF SHELTERS AND BUILDINGS, INCLUDING SCHOOLS, ORPHANAGES, HOSPITALS AND HOMES; PAINTING EXISTING STRUCTURES; AS WELL AS CONDUCTING BIBLE CLASSES AND WORSHIP SERVICES.
- $20.0 million spent. CRISIS INTERVENTION AND EVANGELISM - WORKING WITH ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES THAT HAVE THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE DONATED AND PURCHASED GIFT-IN-KIND ITEMS TO BE SHIPPED TO AFFECTED AREAS OF POVERTY IDENTIFIED BY HOPE OF LIFE INTERNATIONAL AS AREAS MOST IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE. HOPE OF LIFE INTERNATIONAL THEN SHIPS THE ITEMS TO THOSE AREAS AND DISTRIBUTES THEM TO DESIGNATED RECIPIENTS.
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 November 6, 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 July 2010.
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 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.