Bighouse Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Meeting the needs and improving the lives of children in foster care by supporint foster and adoptive families with resources and encouraging relationships.
- Income
- $438,447
- Spending
- $401,900
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- -10.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 200
- Highest pay
- $44,000, executive director
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
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 45% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 56 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (3)
- $75,410 spent. Foster and adoptive family events. Glitz Glam and Gowns - prom dress event for teen girls in foster care. Swimsuit and Towel Drive - a collection and embroidery of beach towels and swimsuits for children who have entered foster care this year. Back to School Bash - a school supply drive for children in foster adoptive families. Family Beach Retreat for foster and adoptive families. Santas Workshop - a Christmas toy drive for foster and adoptive families.
- $59,826 spent. Foster and adoptive family programs. Kids Night Out - a time of respite and fun once a month for foster and adoptive families. Clothes closet - providing gently used closed. New-to-Care Closet - providing new toiletries and necessities for kids entering foster care. Moms Meet Up - a monthly foster and adoptive mom support group and dinner meeting. Dads Dinner - a monthly dinner for foster and adoptive dads.
- $147,448 spent. Other miscellaneous programming expenses: One-time expenses for special events and wishes for children in foster care and their families. Utilities for clothes closet not included in program expenses above. Salaries for programs and events which are not included in events and programs above. Supplies and payments building which fall under programming expenses
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
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 2024.
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 May 2009.
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.