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Joppa

EIN 27-0216625 · Des Moines, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

HOMELESS SERVICES, HOUSING, EDUCATION, AND THRIFT STORES TO HELP HOMELESS PEOPLE SURVIVE AND FIND HOUSING, AND ULTIMATELY TO HELP END HOMELESSNESS. SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$2.4 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
-8.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 81%
Employees
20
Volunteers
2,162
Highest pay
$155,867, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 110% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 7 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 (4)
  1. $1.4 million spent. HOMELESS SERVICES: EACH WEEK, TRAINED JOPPA VOLUNTEERS VISIT FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS LIVING UNDER BRIDGES, IN TENTS, AND IN VEHICLES. WE BUILD RELATIONSHIPS; PROVIDE FOOD, WATER, AND OTHER ESSENTIAL SURVIVAL ITEMS; AND CONNECT PEOPLE WITH EXISTING RESOURCES. DURING WINTERS, JOPPA PROVIDES HEATER SYSTEMS, INSULATED BOOTS, WINTER GEAR, AND TENTS, AND OUR HEAT TEAMS MAKE WEEKLY FUEL DELIVERIES TO HELP PEOPLE SURVIVE THE BRUTALLY COLD WEATHER. JOPPA ALSO OFFERS USPS MAILING ADDRESSES AND MAIL DELIVERIES, A HOMELESS NUTRITION PROGRAM, TRANSPORTATION, JOB DEVELOPMENT, AND HOUSING ASSISTANCE.JOPPA OPERATES A HOMELESS RESOURCE CENTER, SERVING APPROX. 8,000 HOMELESS VISITORS ANNUALLY. THE CENTER OFFERS ESSENTIAL RESOURCES, SUPPLIES, AND REFERRALS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS SURVIVE, SECURE HOUSING, AND SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION INTO PERMANENT HOMES.JOPPA HAS HELPED MORE THAN 800 PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS, OVER 80% OF WHOM REMAIN OFF THE STREETS TODAY. WE DO THIS BY ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY TO GIVE THEIR TIME, TALENTS, AND RESOURCES. WE WORK TOGETHER TO HELP PEOPLE ACCESS RESOURCES, INCLUDING WORKING WITH EXISTING HOUSING AGENCIES, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, PRIVATE LANDLORDS, AND PROPERTY OWNERS TO CONNECT CLIENTS WITH HOUSING OPTIONS, AND WE FILL GAPS IN HOMELESSNESS SERVICES, HOUSING AND EDUCATIONWE MAINTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AFTER CLIENTS TRANSITION INTO PERMANENT HOUSING THROUGH OUR AFTERCARE PROGRAM. VOLUNTEERS MAKE WEEKLY VISITS TO CHECK IN AND DELIVER SUPPLIES NOT PROVIDED BY THE SNAP PROGRAM, SUCH AS PERSONAL HYGIENE ITEMS, TOILET PAPER, AND LAUNDRY DETERGENT. WE SURROUND EACH CLIENT WITH A "CIRCLE OF FRIENDS" TO SUPPORT THEM AS THEY RECOVER FROM HOMELESSNESS AND TAKE POSITIVE STEPS IN THEIR HEALTH, RELATIONSHIPS, AND PERSONAL FULFILLMENT.
  2. $503,014 spent. JOPPA HAS A NONPROFIT THRIFT STORE, DBA "THRIFTMART", TO HELP US ACHIEVE OUR MISSION BY PROVIDING A SUSTAINABLE SOURCE OF INCOME FOR CORE OPERATIONS. IT ALSO RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT HOMELESS ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS AND OFFERS JOB TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WORKING THEIR WAY OUT OF HOMELESSNESS.
  3. $249,167 spent. EDUCATION ADVOCACY: JOPPA EDUCATES THE COMMUNITY-FROM KIDS TO ADULTS-ABOUT THE ROOT CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS, WHICH HELPS BUILD UNDERSTANDING AND OVERCOME MISCONCEPTIONS AND STIGMAS. WHETHER THROUGH VIDEO PRODUCTIONS, NEWSLETTERS, SOCIAL MEDIA, GROUP PRESENTATIONS, CLASSES, OR A ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATION, WE ARE DEDICATED TO RAISING AWARENESS AND SOFTENING HEARTS TOWARDS OUR POOREST CITIZENS.JOPPA ORGANIZES THE FOLLOWING SIGNATURE EVENTS YEARLY TO ENGAGE AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC: IOWA HOMELESS MEMORIAL, HOMELESS CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION, AND JOPPA ANNUAL GALA. JOPPA ALSO ADVOCATES FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND CREATES AWARENESS FOR ISSUES AFFECTING THE LOCAL HOMELESS COMMUNITY.
  4. $110,861 spent. HOUSING DEVELOPMENT: AS PART OF OUR MISSION TO PREVENT AND END HOMELESSNESS, JOPPA IS WORKING WITH CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS TO BUILD IOWA'S FIRST "TINY HOME VILLAGE" OF COTTAGE HOMES TO PROVIDE A SAFE, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING COMMUNITY FOR CHRONICALLY HOMELESS PEOPLE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2010.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.