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The Hope Project Inc

EIN 35-2270341 · Muskegon, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceFair62 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO SUPPORT THE HEALING OF GIRLS AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SURVIVED SEX TRAFFICKING AND PREVENT FURTHER CASES THROUGH MENTORING AND EDUCATION.

Income
$677,408
Spending
$540,382
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
6.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
9
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$58,520, 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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 62 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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. $364,001 spent. THE HOPE PROJECT PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT, COUNSELING, THERAPY GROUPS, RECOVERY GROUPS, SUPPORT GROUPS, RECOVERY COACHING, HYGIENE PRODUCTS, HOUSING, AND REFER APPROPRIATELY. WE ALSO HAVE A MENTORING PROGRAM FOR FEMALE SEX TRAFICKING SURVIVORS AND GIRLS, 11 TO 25 YEARS OLD, MORE VULNERABLE TO SEX TRAFFICKING. OUR MAIN OFFICE IS IN MUSKEGON COUNTY AND WE HAVE A SATELLITE OFFICE IN NEWAYGO COUNTY. HOUSING: THE HOPE PROJECT HAS A HEALING HOME CALLED, "RAYS OF HOPE", FOR WOMEN WHO HAVE SURVIVED SEX TRAFFICKING. THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF OPENING A REHABILITATION HOME FOR YOUTH FEMALE SURVIVORS OF SEX TRAFFICKING. AWARENESS: THE HOPE PROJECT PROVIDES EDUCATION ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING THROUGH AWARENESS EVENTS, PANEL VIDEOS, AND FORUMS AT HIGH SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, UNIVERSITIES, RADIO AND TELEVISION, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. THE HOPE PROJECT ALSO CO-CHAIRS THE LAKESHORE HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE - LOCAL AGENCIES PROVIDING A COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING. THEY BELONG TO THE MICHIGAN HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE, NEWAYGO COUNTY HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE, MUSKEGON LAKESHORE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, MUSKEGON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT TASK FORCE, AND ARE INVOLVED IN OTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. THEY ARE A RESOURCE TO WEST MICHIGAN AGENCIES AND LOCAL RESIDENTS FOR STATISTICS, TRAINING, AND REFERRALS ON THE ISSUE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. THE HOPE PROJECT PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT, COUNSELING, THERAPY GROUPS, RECOVERY GROUPS, SUPPORT GROUPS, RECOVERY COACHING, HYGIENE PRODUCTS, HOUSING, AND REFER APPROPRIATELY. WE ALSO HAVE A MENTORING PROGRAM FOR FEMALE SEX TRAFICKING SURVIVORS AND GIRLS, 11 TO 25 YEARS OLD, MORE VULNERABLE TO SEX TRAFFICKING. OUR MAIN OFFICE IS IN MUSKEGON COUNTY AND WE HAVE A SATELLITE OFFICE IN NEWAYGO COUNTY. HOUSING: THE HOPE PROJECT HAS A HEALING HOME CALLED, "RAYS OF HOPE", FOR WOMEN WHO HAVE SURVIVED SEX TRAFFICKING. THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF OPENING A REHABILITATION HOME FOR YOUTH FEMALE SURVIVORS OF SEX TRAFFICKING. AWARENESS: THE HOPE PROJECT PROVIDES EDUCATION ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING THROUGH AWARENESS EVENTS, PANEL VIDEOS, AND FORUMS AT HIGH SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, UNIVERSITIES, RADIO AND TELEVISION, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. THE HOPE PROJECT ALSO CO-CHAIRS THE LAKESHORE HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE - LOCAL AGENCIES PROVIDING A COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING. THEY BELONG TO THE MICHIGAN HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE, NEWAYGO COUNTY HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE, MUSKEGON LAKESHORE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, MUSKEGON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT TASK FORCE, AND ARE INVOLVED IN OTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. THEY ARE A RESOURCE TO WEST MICHIGAN AGENCIES AND LOCAL RESIDENTS FOR STATISTICS, TRAINING, AND REFERRALS ON THE ISSUE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

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 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 December 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 June 2007.

    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.