Hope School Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 29% of its spending went to programs.
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 149 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE HOPE SCHOOL FOUNDATION IS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE HOPE SCHOOL, VISION FOR HOPE, AND HOPE CLINICAL CARE AND ALL OF ITS PROGRAMS, INCLUDING: THE HOPE LEARNING ACADEMY SPRINGFIELD, THE HOPE LEARNING ACADEMY OF CHICAGO, THE AUTISM CLINIC AT HOPE, THE RESIDENTIAL ACADEMY AND THE VOCATIONAL ACADEMY.
- Income
- $925,430
- Spending
- $1.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 29%
- Reserves
- 82 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 48%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $447,963, president/ceo
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
Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 82.0 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 24% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 71% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1529% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 149 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 10 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 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 (2)
- $456,128 spent. THE HOPE SCHOOL FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE ACTIVITIES OF THE HOPE SCHOOL, VISION FOR HOPE, AND HOPE CLINICAL CARE THROUGH GRANTMAKING, FUNDRAISING AND DEVELOPMENT EVENTS, DIRECT MAIL SOLICITATIONS, AND GRANT SEEKING ACTIVITIES. THE HOPE SCHOOL FOUNDATION SUPPORTS HOPE PROGRAMS ACROSS THE ENTIRE HOPE BUSINESS STRUCTURE THROUGH DISCRETIONARY GRANTS AWARDED FOR SPECIFIC ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE FOUNDATION HAS PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF HOPE STAFF, INDOOR SENSORY PLAY AREA FOR THE AUTISM CLINIC, AND REFURBISHING THE HOPE LEARNING ACADEMY GYM. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOUNDATION'S GRANTMAKING PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE PARTIAL TUITION REIMBURSEMENT FOR HOPE EMPLOYEES' CONTINUING EDUCATION. SEPARATELY, THE HOPE DEVELOPMENT TEAM HOSTS SEVERAL EVENTS THAT SUPPORTS HOPE'S PROGRAM, INCLUDING STYLE OF HOPE, THE HOPEFUL FUTURES GALA, GLO BINGO, AND BLUES AND BREWS. THE FOUNDATION ALSO PARTNERS WITH LOCAL DEALERSHIPS TO RUN AN ANNUAL DREAM CAR RAFFLE TO BENEFIT THE CHILDREN OF HOPE. THESE FUNDRAISERS, COUPLED WITH FOUR ANNUAL DIRECT MAILINGS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, SOLICIT FUNDS TO SUPPORT HOPE PROGRAMMING AND FOUNDATION GRANT MAKING. FINALLY, THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS GRANT SEEKING AND FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR GROWING ORGANIZATION.
- HOPE PAVILION SUPPORTS THE ACTIVITIES OF HOPE CLINICAL CARE AND THE HOPE SCHOOL THROUGH THE PROVISION OF CLINICAL, TRAINING, AND OFFICE SPACE.
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
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 June 2025.
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 October 1999.
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.