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Houston Health Foundation

EIN 27-2920745 · Houston, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HOUSTON HEALTH FOUNDATION (HHF) HAS THE MISSION OF CREATING PRIVATE/PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS FOR SUSTAINABLE HEALTH AND WELLNESS INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
3.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
9
Volunteers
275
Highest pay
$153,061, president & ceo

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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $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

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 (4)
  1. $296,526 spent. THE REACHING FOR SUCCESS AND INDEPENDENCE THROUGH EDUCATION (RISE) COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM SUPPORTS HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS IN PURSUING POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION, MANY OF WHOM ARE THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILIES TO ATTEND COLLEGE. PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS HELP IDENTIFY QUALIFIED APPLICANTS AND ASSIST WITH THE APPLICATION PROCESS.THE FOUNDATION ADMINISTERS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS ATTENDING 2- AND 4-YEAR COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, AND TECHNICAL INSTITUTES. IN ADDITION TO FINANCIAL SUPPORT, THE PROGRAM PROVIDES ONGOING GUIDANCE THROUGH ITS COLLEGE SUPPORT COMPONENT, CONNECTING STUDENTS WITH MENTORS WHO OFFER RESOURCES AND PRESENTATIONS ON TOPICS SUCH AS TIME MANAGEMENT, ACADEMIC SUCCESS, AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT. THIS HOLISTIC APPROACH HELPS STUDENTS SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION INTO AND PERSIST THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION.
  2. $201,263 spent. THE SEE TO SUCCEED PROGRAM PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE VISION SERVICES TO STUDENTS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, HELPING REMOVE VISION-RELATED BARRIERS TO LEARNING. THE PROGRAM DELIVERS FREE EYE EXAMS AND PROVIDES HIGH-QUALITY PRESCRIPTION GLASSES TO STUDENTS IN NEED THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY SITES.SERVICES ARE PROVIDED THROUGH ON-SITE CLINICS AND COORDINATED SCHOOL-BASED INITIATIVES, ENSURING ACCESSIBILITY FOR STUDENTS WHO MAY NOT OTHERWISE RECEIVE VISION CARE. IN ADDITION TO IMPROVING VISION, THE PROGRAM HELPS IDENTIFY POTENTIAL HEALTH CONCERNS THAT MAY IMPACT STUDENT WELL-BEING AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. BY ADDRESSING UNMET VISION NEEDS, THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS STUDENT SUCCESS BOTH IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM.
  3. $139,473 spent. HHF CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE BASICS HOUSTON, A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED INITIATIVE THAT EQUIPS FAMILIES WITH TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO PROMOTE HEALTHY EARLY CHILDHOOD BRAIN DEVELOPMENT AND EARLY RELATIONAL HEALTH. IN FY 2025, HHF EXPANDED IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BRAINY CLINICS FRAMEWORK THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, WIC CLINICS, AND FAMILY-SERVING AGENCIES TO INTEGRATE BASICS STRATEGIES INTO CAREGIVER ENGAGEMENT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION EFFORTS. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED DISTRIBUTION OF KEEP IT KITS AND BACKPACKS, EXPANSION OF BASICS INSIGHTS TEXT MESSAGING ENROLLMENT, FAMILY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES, AND INTERACTIVE FUN*SHOPS AND WORKSHOPS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT CAREGIVER-CHILD INTERACTION AND EARLY LEARNING. HHF ALSO CONTINUED WORK THROUGH THE TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL GRANT TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY OUTREACH, PARTNER TRAINING, AND CROSS-SECTOR COLLABORATION FOCUSED ON IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ACROSS GREATER HOUSTON.
  4. $610,489 spent. HOUSTON HEALTH FOUNDATION (HHF) SUPPORTS A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVES THAT IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS ACROSS THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA.HHF COLLABORATES WITH LOCAL AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY COALITIONS TO ADDRESS THE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND SOCIAL NEEDS OF UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS THROUGHOUT THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA. THESE COLLABORATIONS INCLUDE:AREA AGENCY ON AGING - CONNECTS APPROXIMATELY 65,000 SENIOR CITIZENS IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA TO ESSENTIAL RESOURCES AND SERVICES THAT SUPPORT HEALTHY AGING AND INDEPENDENT LIVING. HIRE HOUSTON YOUTH - CONNECTS YOUTH AGES 16-24 WITH PAID SUMMER JOBS AND INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND PHILANTHROPIC SECTORS THROUGHOUT HOUSTON. NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP - SUPPORTS AN EVIDENCE-BASED MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH PROGRAM SERVING FIRST-TIME MOTHERS LIVING IN POVERTY. SPECIALLY TRAINED NURSES PROVIDE ONGOING HOME VISITATION SERVICES BEGINNING DURING PREGNANCY AND CONTINUING THROUGH THE CHILD'S SECOND BIRTHDAY. THE PROGRAM PRIMARILY SERVES MOTHERS IN THE SUNNYSIDE AND ACRES HOMES COMMUNITIES AND THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY. PROJECT SAVING SMILES - PROVIDES FREE DENTAL SCREENINGS, DENTAL SEALANTS, FLUORIDE VARNISH TREATMENTS, AND ORAL HEALTH EDUCATION TO AT-RISK SECOND-GRADE STUDENTS. HHF ALSO PROVIDES FISCAL MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH INITIATIVES, INCLUDING:ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING (AHT) - SUPPORTS EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, SERVICES FOR VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND RESEARCH EFFORTS TO IMPROVE CLINICAL CARE AND INFORM PUBLIC POLICY. HOUSTON RECOVERY INITIATIVE (HRI) - HHF SERVES AS FISCAL AGENT FOR MULTIPLE FUNDING SOURCES SUPPORTING THIS COMMUNITY-BASED CONSORTIUM OF MORE THAN 50 RECOVERY-FOCUSED ORGANIZATIONS WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO RECOVERY RESOURCES AND OUTCOMES FOR INDIVIDUALS OVERCOMING ADDICTION.

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 October 13, 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 September 2010.

    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 October 21, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Foundation Health LLC (Fairbanks, AK), EIN 81-3021580. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.