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Forbes House

EIN 34-1291205 · Painesville, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF FORBES HOUSE IS EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO END THE CYCLE OF DOMESTIC ABUSE. THE VISION OF FORBES HOUSE IS TO HELP VICTIMS THRIVE AND TO FOSTER AN END TO DOMESTIC ABUSE THROUGH EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
14.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 67%
Employees
38
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$80,534, 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

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% 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

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

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 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 (1)
  1. $959,440 spent. THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES FORBES HOUSE, A TEMPORARY RESIDENTIAL SHELTER FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. FORBES HOUSE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS INCLUDE: SHELTER - FORBES HOUSE PROVIDES SAFE, SUPPORTIVE SHELTER 24/7 AND CAN HOUSE 30 VICTIMS, INCLUDING CHILDREN. HELPLINE - AVAILABLE 24 HOURS, 7 DAYS A WEEK FOR CRISIS INTERVENTION AND TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND REFERRALS. ADVOCACY - OUR LEGAL AND FAMILY ADVOCATES ASSIST ABUSED ADULTS AND THEIR CHILDREN BY ACTING AS LIAISONS WITH THE BUREAUCRACIES THEY ENCOUNTER. CHILDREN'S PROGRAM - THE CHILDREN'S COUNSELOR ASSESSES THE NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN, ASSISTS IN THEIR RECOVERY AND HELPS PARENTS ENHANCE THEIR PARENTING SKILLS. COMMUNITY EDUCATION - SPEAKERS ADDRESS VICTIMS, SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, EMOTIONAL AND DATE ABUSE. AFTERCARE - OUR GOAL IS TO HELP THOSE WHO HAVE LEFT THE SHELTER REMAIN IN HEALTHY, NONVIOLENT RELATIONSHIPS. COUNSELING - PEER COUNSELING IS AVAILABLE FOR VICTIMS AS NEEDED WITH SHELTER ADVOCATES. LONG-TERM PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING SERVICES ARE FACILITATED BY SHELTER ADVOCATES TO PARTNER VICTIMS WITH THE LOCAL AGENCY OF THEIR CHOICE. 2025 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: - 1,109 CRISIS CALLS - 174 SURVIVORS - 11,186 BED NIGHTS - 6,600+ SERVICES TO 546 INDIVIDUALS - 398 COURT ADVOCACY THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES FORBES HOUSE, A TEMPORARY RESIDENTIAL SHELTER FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. FORBES HOUSE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS INCLUDE: SHELTER - FORBES HOUSE PROVIDES SAFE, SUPPORTIVE SHELTER 24/7 AND CAN HOUSE 30 VICTIMS, INCLUDING CHILDREN. HELPLINE - AVAILABLE 24 HOURS, 7 DAYS A WEEK FOR CRISIS INTERVENTION AND TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND REFERRALS. ADVOCACY - OUR LEGAL AND FAMILY ADVOCATES ASSIST ABUSED ADULTS AND THEIR CHILDREN BY ACTING AS LIAISONS WITH THE BUREAUCRACIES THEY ENCOUNTER. CHILDREN'S PROGRAM - THE CHILDREN'S COUNSELOR ASSESSES THE NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN, ASSISTS IN THEIR RECOVERY AND HELPS PARENTS ENHANCE THEIR PARENTING SKILLS. COMMUNITY EDUCATION - SPEAKERS ADDRESS VICTIMS, SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, EMOTIONAL AND DATE ABUSE. AFTERCARE - OUR GOAL IS TO HELP THOSE WHO HAVE LEFT THE SHELTER REMAIN IN HEALTHY, NONVIOLENT RELATIONSHIPS. COUNSELING - PEER COUNSELING IS AVAILABLE FOR VICTIMS AS NEEDED WITH SHELTER ADVOCATES. LONG-TERM PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING SERVICES ARE FACILITATED BY SHELTER ADVOCATES TO PARTNER VICTIMS WITH THE LOCAL AGENCY OF THEIR CHOICE. 2025 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: - 1,109 CRISIS CALLS - 174 SURVIVORS - 11,186 BED NIGHTS - 6,600+ SERVICES TO 546 INDIVIDUALS - 398 COURT ADVOCACY

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 December 1979.

    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.

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.