Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Hand to Hold

EIN 27-3802900 · Austin, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HAND TO HOLD IS A NATIONAL NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO PROVIDING EARLY INTERVENTION MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER A NICU STAY OR LOSS, ENSURING THAT ALL NICU FAMILIES THRIVE.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 51%
Employees
37
Volunteers
350
Highest pay
$119,813, founder & ceo

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: 59 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (7)
  1. $611,388 spent. IN HOSPITAL SUPPORT PROGRAM COMPREHENSIVE IN-HOSPITAL SUPPORT FOR NICU FAMILIES PROVIDED BY A CERTIFIED MENTAL HEALTH PEER SPECIALIST WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE AS A NICU PARENT CUSTOMIZED TO MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF THE NICU POPULATION OF EACH INDIVIDUAL HOSPITAL AND DESIGNED TO ENHANCE AND EXTEND THE HOSPITALS OWN FAMILY SUPPORT INITIATIVES. IN 2025, THE IN-HOSPITAL SUPPORT PROGRAM PROVIDED 22,553 SESSIONS OF SUPPORT.
  2. $225,248 spent. MOBILE APP & ONLINE COMMUNITIES HAND TO HOLDS MOBILE APP AND ONLINE COMMUNITIES EXPAND ACCESS TO FREE SUPPORT FOR NICU FAMILIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. PARENTS CAN CONNECT WITH FAMILY SUPPORT SPECIALISTS, ACCESS EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, AND FIND COMMUNITY THROUGH SECURE, MODERATED SPACES. THESE TOOLS HELP ENSURE FAMILIES CAN RECEIVE SUPPORT REGARDLESS OF LOCATION. IN 2025, THE MOBILE APP AND ONLINE COMMUNITIES PROVIDED 19,204 SESSIONS OF SUPPORT.
  3. $193,070 spent. COUNSELING HAND TO HOLD OFFERS NO-COST, SHORT-TERM COUNSELING SERVICES IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH FOR NICU PARENTS IN TEXAS AND FLORIDA. LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS PROVIDE SPECIALIZED SUPPORT TO HELP FAMILIES PROCESS THEIR BIRTH EXPERIENCE, NAVIGATE THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT OF A NICU STAY, AND ADDRESS PERINATAL MOOD AND ANXIETY DISORDERS. IN 2025, THE COUNSELING SUPPORT PROGRAM PROVIDED 833 SESSIONS OF SUPPORT.
  4. $144,803 spent. VIRTUAL SUPPORT GROUPS VIRTUAL SUPPORT GROUPS PROVIDE FAMILIES WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH HAND TO HOLDS BOARD-CERTIFIED FAMILY SUPPORT SPECIALISTS ALONGSIDE OTHER NICU PARENTS, ALLOWING FAMILIES TO ACCESS SUPPORT FROM ANYWHERE, INCLUDING FROM HOME OR THE BEDSIDE OF THEIR NICU BABY. GROUPS ARE OFFERED MULTIPLE TIMES EACH WEEK AND SERVE A VARIETY OF COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING CURRENT NICU CURRENT NICU PARENTS, NICU GRADUATES, BEREAVED FAMILIES, NICU DADS, AND SPANISH-SPEAKING FAMILIES.
  5. $128,713 spent. PEER MENTOR SUPPORT PROGRAM HAND TO HOLDS PEER MENTOR PROGRAM CAREFULLY MATCHES TRAINED NICU GRADUATE AND BEREAVED PARENT VOLUNTEERS WITH PARENTS CURRENTLY NAVIGATING THE NICU EXPERIENCE. MATCHES ARE BASED ON SHARED EXPERIENCES AND THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF EACH FAMILY. MENTORS PROVIDE COMPASSIONATE ONE-ON-ONE ENCOURAGEMENT AND SHARE INSIGHTS FROM THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES, HELPING PARENTS NAVIGATE UNCERTAINTY AND BUILD CONFIDENCE AS THEY CARE FOR THEIR HOSPITALIZED OR RECENTLY DISCHARGED BABY. PEER SUPPORT HAS BEEN SHOWN IN STUDIES TO ENHANCE FEELINGS OF SAFETY AND TRUST, STRENGTHEN COPING, AND HELP PARENTS FEEL LESS ALONE DURING THE NICU JOURNEY.
  6. $305,695 spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAMS
  7. PEER MENTOR SUPPORT PROGRAM 128713. 0. 0.

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

  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 November 6, 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 December 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 May 2011.

    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 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.