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Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises Inc

EIN 31-0986871 · Berea, KY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 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.

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

What it says it does

FAHE MAKES A DIFFERENCE BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO THE APPALACHIAN REGION, WHICH HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN ONE OF THE MOST IMPOVERISHED IN THE NATION. THESE OPPORTUNITIES POSITIVELY CHANGE THE LIVES OF OVER 80,000 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY BY CONNECTING OTHER NON-PROFITS, COMMUNITIES, AND INDIVIDUALS WITH THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO CREATE BETTER LIVES. THESE RESOURCES INCLUDE FUNDING, PARTNERSHIP, EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, AND CONSULTING. OUR EFFORTS EMPOWER FAMILIES TO TAKE THE STEPS NEEDED TO BUY A HOME, START A BUSINESS, OR ACCESS ESSENTIAL SERVICES FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE PRIMARY WAY IN WHICH FAHE IS ABLE TO SERVE THE REGION SO EFFECTIVELY IS DUE TO ITS MEMBERSHIP NETWORK. WITH 50+ LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS 6 STATES SERVING AS BOOTS-ON-THE-GROUND COMMUNITY LIAISONS, FAHE IS ABLE TO LEVERAGE ITS EXPERTISE THROUGH LOCAL PARTNERS TO AFFECT CHANGE TO THOSE IN LOCATIONS WHERE TRADITIONAL MARKETS HAVE FAILED.

Income
$39.0 million
Spending
$23.5 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
17.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
0
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$301,110, ceo and president of board

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 63% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 40% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 74% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).

  • 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

    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 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 (5)
  1. $8.5 million spent. STRATEGIC PROGRAMS CONNECTS DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS TO SPECIALIZED RESOURCES THAT WILL HELP EXPAND THEIR PROJECTS AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THIS TEAM MANAGES GRANT FUNDED PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE KENTUCKY ACCESS TO RECOVERY PROGRAM AND PARTNERS FOR RURAL TRANSFORMATION.
  2. $3.7 million spent. COMMUNITY LENDING SERVICES - FAHE COUPLES A COMMUNITY LOAN FUND WITH OUTSTANDING LENDING EXPERTISE TO FACILITATE THE FLOW OF IMPACTFUL PRIVATE AND PUBLIC INVESTMENTS INTO HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ACROSS THE REGION.
  3. $2.4 million spent. HOME LENDING - JCL IS A FULL-SERVICE MORTGAGE LENDER THAT STRENGTHENS COMMUNITIES BY CREATING SUCCESSFUL HOMEOWNERS. JUSTCHOICE WAS THE FIRST NONPROFIT THIRD PARTY ORIGINATOR FOR FREEDOM AND HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN CREATING A NATIONAL NONPROFIT PACKAGING SYSTEM FOR USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT 502 DIRECT LOANS. JCL IS A FANNIE/FREDDIE SELLER/SERVICER AS WELL ALLOWING RURAL REGIONS TO ACCESS CAPITAL THAT COULD BE UNAVAILABLE FROM OTHER LENDERS.
  4. $1.4 million spent. LOAN SERVICING
  5. $5.6 million spent. MEMBERSHIP

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 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 June 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 November 1980.

    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.