Homebase Cincinnati
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WE STRENGTHEN ORGANIZATIONS THAT ENHANCE NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH COMMUNITY BUILDING, HOUSING, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
- Income
- $1.9 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- 0.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 78%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 8
- Highest pay
- $103,317, executive dir
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
Weak: 33 out of 100.
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 98% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 42% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% 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
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 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, 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 (5)
- $1.4 million spent. HomeBase is the administrator of the Operating Support Program which is supported by Federal Community Development Block Grant, City of Cincinnati General Funds, and Federal HOME dollars. The program is designed to provide operational support to member CDCs with the intention of capacity building.
- $379,061 spent. The Neighborhood Voluntary Tax Incentive Contribution Agreement (VTICA) is part of the City of Cincinnatis Community Reinvestment Area CRA) Program in which commercial tax abatement recipients contribute 15% of the value of a development tax incentive back to affordable housing (7.5%) and neighborhood quality of life projects (7.5%). The purpose of Neighborhood VTICA funds are to improve the quality of life within a neighborhood. HomeBase Cincinnati administers the Neighborhood VTICA program and the portion of funding allocated to neighborhood quality of life projects. The amount of money individual neighborhoods have available is based on how many new developments, with a CRA that includes a VTICA, come to that neighborhood. Under the current ordinance, the Neighborhood VTICA funding must be used within the neighborhood for which the funding was collected and cannot be combined and shared with other neighborhoods. (See Section 8 of City Ordinance 275 - 2017). For downtown and Over-the-Rhine projects, VTICA payments fund the Streetcar. Therefore, the neighborhood funds are to be used for community improvements in neighborhoods outside of downtown and Over-the-Rhine.
- $21,920 spent. The Quick Strike Fund provides financial assistance for real property acquisition and acquisition related costs in Cincinnati neighborhoods. The program is designed to support non-profit CDC organizations in securing critical sites in Cincinnati neighborhoods to maintain housing supply and/or cause a redevelopment project that will have a significant impact on the neighborhood.The City of Cincinnati provided the initial funding for the program in December 2023.
- $27,000 spent. DAP, Backoffice and Training Grants
- DAP, Backoffice and Training Grants 27000. 22825. 0.
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 February 1980.
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.