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Focus Hope

EIN 38-1948285 · Detroit, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOCUS: HOPE IS A NON-PROFIT CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION. FOUNDED IN 1968, ITS MISSION IS TO PROMOTE INTELLIGENT AND PRACTICAL ACTION TO OVERCOME RACISM, POVERTY AND INJUSTICE IN METROPOLITAN DETROIT. THE ORGANIZATION FOCUSES ON FOUR MAIN AREAS: A FOOD PROGRAM FOR SENIORS, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND AN EARLY LEARNING/YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ALL LOOKED AT THROUGH AN ADVOCACY, EQUITY AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT (AECE) LENS.

Income
$37.6 million
Spending
$37.8 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 84%
Employees
256
Volunteers
6,679
Highest pay
$274,197, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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

    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 September 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 (5)
  1. $23.4 million spent. THE FOCUS: HOPE FOOD PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE NATIONS LARGEST COMMODITY SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PROGRAMS FOR LIMITED INCOME SENIOR CITIZENS. EACH MONTH, IT DISTRIBUTES FOOD TO APPROXIMATELY 42,000 SENIOR CITIZENS WITH A MINIMAL NUMBER OF WOMEN & CHILDREN THROUGH ITS THREE DISTRIBUTION CENTERS AND ONE CENTRAL WAREHOUSE. THE PROGRAM ASSISTS RESIDENTS OF WAYNE, OAKLAND, MACOMB WASHTENAW, HURON, SANILAC, TUSCOLA, LAPEER AND ST. CLAIR COUNTIES AND IS ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
  2. $3.5 million spent. SINCE 1981, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION JOB TRAINING FOCUS: HOPE HAS GRADUATED 15,000 STUDENTS TO DATE FROM OUR CAREER PROGRAMS. OUR EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS PREPARE INDIVIDUALS FOR SUCCESS WITH A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO INDIVIDUALS LOOKING TO JUMP START THEIR CAREERS.
  3. $6.2 million spent. FOCUS: HOPES EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS OPERATING AT THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN AND NEW PARADIGM GLAZER ACADEMY AND DURFEE INNOVATION SOCIETY,OFFERS QUALITY CHILDCARE IN AN EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT FOR INFANTS AND CHILDREN UP TO AGE FIVE. FOCUS: HOPE OFFERS EARLY HEAD START/ HEAD START (BIRTH TO FIVE) ALONG WITH THE GREAT START READINESS PROGRAM AND OTHER EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. THE PROGRAMS SERVE THE CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY WHO MEET HEAD START OR GREAT START READINESS PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS. ADDITIONALLY, THROUGH A COMMUNITY-BASED DOULA PROGRAM, IT PROVIDES NON-MEDICAL PEER SUPPORT FOR LOW INCOME PREGNANT MOTHERS.
  4. $168,922 spent. EACH OF FOCUS: HOPES CORE PROGRAM AREAS ARE TIED TOGETHER BY A RANGE OF EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO DEVELOP COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND PROMOTE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AS FOCUS: HOPE ENGAGES IN ADVOCACY TOWARD EQUITABLE SYSTEMS CHANGE. THESE INITIATIVES CONSISTS ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OFFERINGS, YOUTH LEADERSHIP AS ACTIVISM AND OF A MIX OF ANTI-RACISM DISCUSSIONS AND ACTIVITIES ENGAGING COLLEAGUES ALONG WITH THE PUBLIC.
  5. EACH OF FOCUS: HOPES CORE PROGRAM AREAS ARE TIED TOGETHER BY A RANGE OF EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO DEVELOP COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND PROMOTE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AS FOCUS: HOPE ENGAGES IN ADVOCACY TOWARD EQUITABLE SYSTEMS CHANGE. THESE INITIATIVES CONSISTS ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OFFERINGS, YOUTH LEADERSHIP AS ACTIVISM AND OF A MIX OF ANTI-RACISM DISCUSSIONS AND ACTIVITIES ENGAGING COLLEAGUES ALONG WITH THE PUBLIC.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 November 6, 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 September 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 November 1971.

    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 November 4, 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.