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Filter of Hope Inc

EIN 37-1751688 · Tuscaloosa, AL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO BRING CLEAN DRINKING WATER AND THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST TO FAMILIES WORLDWIDE IN DESPERATE NEED OF BOTH. WE CARRY OUT THIS MISSION THROUGH SHORT-TERM TRIPS IN LATIN AMERICA AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH CHURCH PLANTERS REACHING UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUPS. FILTER OF HOPE EXISTS TO CREATE SOCIO-SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION FOR FAMILIES LIVING IN SEVERE POVERTY WORLDWIDE. THIS IS DONE BY PROVIDING CLEAN DRINKING WATER THROUGH THE DISTRIBUTION OF HOUSEHOLD WATER FILTERS AND SHARING THE "LIVING WATER" OF JESUS CHRIST IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL CHURCHES AND MINISTRIES AROUND THE GLOBE. THE FILTER OF HOPE MINISTRY MODEL ALLOWS FAMILIES IN DESPERATE NEED TO EXPERIENCE "HEALTH FOR TODAY AND HOPE FOR TOMORROW"

Income
$12.8 million
Spending
$10.5 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
6.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
43
Volunteers
3,500
Highest pay
$283,272, founder/boar

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 38% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 6 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

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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)
  1. $8.2 million spent. FILTER OF HOPE RELIES ON FUNDING FROM INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES, CHURCHES AND FOUNDATIONS TO FULFILL ITS MISSION. FILTER OF HOPE CARRIES OUT ITS MINISTRY THROUGH TWO PRIMARY STRATEGIES. FIRST, THE MINISTRY MOBILIZES THOUSANDS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS AND CHURCH MEMBERS EACH YEAR FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ON SHORT-TERM MISSION TRIPS THROUGHOUT LATIN AMERICA. WITH 30 ESTABLISHED MINISTRY BASES, FILTER OF HOPE PARTNERS WITH LOCAL CHURCHES TO ENSURE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY, FOLLOW-UP, AND DISCIPLESHIP FOR NEW BELIEVERS. SECOND, FILTER OF HOPE WORKS WITH INDIGENOUS MISSIONARIES AND CHURCH PLANTERS TO BRING CLEAN WATER AND THE GOSPEL TO UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUPS IN AFRICA, THE MIDDLE EAST, AND SOUTH ASIA, REACHING REMOTE COMMUNITIES WHERE MOST HAVE NEVER HEARD THE NAME OF JESUS. EVERY WATER FILTER DISTRIBUTION IS ACCOMPANIED BY A CLEAR PRESENTATION OF THE GOSPEL, WHICH IS CENTRAL TO THE FILTER OF HOPE'S EVANGELISM, DISCIPLESHIP AND CHURCH PLANTING STRATEGY. FILTER OF HOPE RELIES ON FUNDING FROM INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES, CHURCHES AND FOUNDATIONS TO FULFILL ITS MISSION. FILTER OF HOPE CARRIES OUT ITS MINISTRY THROUGH TWO PRIMARY STRATEGIES. FIRST, THE MINISTRY MOBILIZES THOUSANDS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS AND CHURCH MEMBERS EACH YEAR FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ON SHORT-TERM MISSION TRIPS THROUGHOUT LATIN AMERICA. WITH 30 ESTABLISHED MINISTRY BASES, FILTER OF HOPE PARTNERS WITH LOCAL CHURCHES TO ENSURE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY, FOLLOW-UP, AND DISCIPLESHIP FOR NEW BELIEVERS. SECOND, FILTER OF HOPE WORKS WITH INDIGENOUS MISSIONARIES AND CHURCH PLANTERS TO BRING CLEAN WATER AND THE GOSPEL TO UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUPS IN AFRICA, THE MIDDLE EAST, AND SOUTH ASIA, REACHING REMOTE COMMUNITIES WHERE MOST HAVE NEVER HEARD THE NAME OF JESUS. EVERY WATER FILTER DISTRIBUTION IS ACCOMPANIED BY A CLEAR PRESENTATION OF THE GOSPEL, WHICH IS CENTRAL TO THE FILTER OF HOPE'S EVANGELISM, DISCIPLESHIP AND CHURCH PLANTING STRATEGY.
  2. $1.8 million spent. STAFF ASSISTS WITH TEAM COORDINATION, TRIP PLANNING, LOGISTICS AND LEADING SHORT TERM MISSION TRIPS. STAFF ALSO WORKS ON ALL GLOBAL MINISTRY INITIATIVES AND PROJECTS OF FILTER OF HOPE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 2025.

    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 September 2014.

    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.