Operation Helo Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported a significant diversion of its assets during the year.
- It reported an excess benefit transaction with an insider.
- 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
OPERATION HELO IS A VOLUNTEER-LED DISASTER RELIEF ORGANIZATION BRINGING HELP AND HOPE FROM THE SKIES. USING THE POWER OF AVIATION AND A COALITION OF SKILLED VOLUNTEERS, VETERANS, AND PILOTS, WE REACH THE UNREACHABLE IN THEIR DARKEST HOURS. WE DELIVER LIFE-SAVING SUPPORT, BRIDGE THE GAPS TRADITIONAL RELIEF CANNOT, AND STAY UNTIL RECOVERY IS COMPLETE. NO COMMUNITY SHOULD FACE DISASTER ALONE, AND WE MAKE SURE THEY NEVER DO.
- Income
- $5.3 million
- Spending
- $381,871
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- -1.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 600
- Highest pay
- $26,024, executive di
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
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 93% of income.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 253 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (2)
- $189,393 spent. OUR RESPONSE PROGRAM SUPPORTED RAPID MOBILIZATION FOLLOWING SEVERE WEATHER AND FLOODING IN NORTH CAROLINA. WORKING ALONGSIDE LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND FIRE/EMS, WE STAGED EQUIPMENT, ESTABLISHED SAFE ACCESS/LANDING ZONES, AND MOVED CRITICAL SUPPLIES INTO ISOLATED COMMUNITIES. VOLUNTEER TEAMS EXECUTED AIR AND GROUND LOGISTICS TO ACCELERATE RELIEF, REDUCE RESPONDER FATIGUE, AND SHORTEN THE TIME TO COMMUNITY STABILIZATION (SEE VOLUNTEER METRICS REPORTED IN SCHEDULE O).
- $95,532 spent. OUR RECOVERY PROGRAM SUSTAINED FAMILIES THROUGH TEMPORARY HOUSING SUPPORT (INCLUDING PURCHASED/DONATED CAMPER HOMES) AND ESSENTIAL HOUSEHOLD STABILIZATION WHERE DISASTERS CAUSED PROLONGED DISPLACEMENT. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS, WE COORDINATED PLACEMENTS AND PROVIDED SEASONAL ESSENTIALS WHERE NEEDED, PRIORITIZING THE MOST VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS. THESE ACTIVITIES COMPLEMENT RESPONSE OPERATIONS AND IMPROVE LONG TERM RESILIENCE.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.