Homeward Bound Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 85 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
PROVIDING INNOVATIVE AND LIFE-ENRICHING SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS, AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES.
- Income
- $20.5 million
- Spending
- $20.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- -1.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 99%
- Employees
- 394
- Volunteers
- 97
- Highest pay
- $196,745, program manager/rncm- nurse
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
Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 54% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 85 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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 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)
- $16.5 million spent. HOMEWARD BOUND WAS FOUNDED BY FAMILIES IN 1973. FOR OVER 50 YEARS HOMEWARD BOUND HAS PROVIDED QUALITY AND INNOVATIVE SERVICES TO SUPPORT CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES IN LEADING MORE FULFILLING LIVES. WHILE WE SERVE PEOPLE WITH A VARIETY OF DISABILITIES, WE HAVE THE UNIQUE CAPACITY OF MEETING THE NEEDS OF THOSE WITH THE MOST SEVERE AND PROFOUND DISABILITIES. WE PROVIDE 24 HOUR SPECIALIZED NURSING CARE, IN-HOME CARE AND GROUP LIVING ENVIRONMENTS. HOMEWARD BOUND IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SPIRITED INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND THE CARING PEOPLE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING AN INDIVIDUALIZED, CHALLENGING AND LIFE-AFFIRMING GROWTH EXPERIENCE. WE PROVIDE SUPPORT WHICH VALUES THE COMPETENCE, STRENGTHS AND DESIRES OF EACH INDIVIDUAL. EACH PERSON IS ENCOURAGED AND EMPOWERED TO DEVELOP SKILLS AND CAPABILITIES NEEDED TO INCREASE SELF-RELIANCE AND ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE.WE CURRENTLY OPERATE 22 RESIDENTIAL HOMES, AND AN IN-HOME PROGRAM. OUR HOMES SPAN THE COMMUNITIES OF: BROOKLYN PARK, CRYSTAL, GOLDEN VALLEY, HOPKINS, MAPLE GROVE, MINNETONKA, NEW HOPE, PLYMOUTH, ROBBINSDALE AND ST. LOUIS PARK. WE CURRENTLY SERVE 91 PEOPLE, AGES 18 AND UP, FROM A VARIETY OF RACES, RELIGIONS AND ETHNICITIES. OUR MISSION: TO BE THE LEADING PROVIDER OF LIFE-ENRICHING SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES.WE ACHIEVE THIS BY CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF SUPPORT SERVICES. THE STAFF WORKS HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT REGARDLESS OF A PERSON'S DISABILITIES, THERE ARE WAYS TO PARTICIPATE AND ENJOY LIFE'S PLEASURES. WE STRIVE TO EXCEED THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE PEOPLE WE SERVE AND THEIR FAMILIES BY FINDING BETTER WAYS OF DELIVERING CARE, HOUSING AND PROGRAMMATIC SERVICES.SERVICES WE PROVIDE: *RESIDENTIAL HOUSING SUPPORT: SPECIALLY DESIGNED HOMES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. OUR WELL-TRAINED SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS HELP CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES DEVELOP AND ACHIEVE GOALS IN ALL LIFE AREAS USING SOPHISTICATED PROGRAMMING. WE OFFER 24/7, 365 DAY SUPPORT IN ALL OUR HOMES. *EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: HOMEWARD BOUND REACHES OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE THROUGH INFORMATIONAL SPEAKING EVENTS, COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND PRESENTATIONS ABOUT DEVELOPMENT DISABILITIES TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT DISABILITIES AND AVAILABLE SUPPORT PROGRAMS.COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES WE OFFER:HOMEWARD BOUND STRIVES TO CONNECT CHILDREN AND ADULTS OF ALL MENTAL AND PHYSICAL ABILITIES TO THE ARTS, MUSIC, NATURE AND OTHER COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ACTIVITIES. *ART-ABILITIES: AN ART SHOW AT HENNEPIN COUNTY LIBRARY FEATURING ARTWORK REPRESENTING OVER 6,500 MINNESOTANS WITH DISABILITIES. THIS YEAR ARTWORK CREATED BY INDIVIDUALS AT HOMEWARD BOUND IS ON DISPLAY AT RIDGEDALE LIBRARY IN OCTOBER. *MADE IN THE SHADE: A NON-COMPETITIVE WALK, RUN OR ROLL EVENT AROUND LAKE CALHOUN. HOMEWARD BOUND COORDINATES THIS EVENT WITH SIX OTHER NONPROFITS WITH SIMILAR SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES. THIS IS A GREAT WAY FOR THE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR HOMES TO GET OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND ENJOY A DAY OUTSIDE. *HOMEWARD BOUND GOLF CLASSIC: 2025 WILL BE OUR 29TH ANNUAL GOLF EVENT, HELD AT MINNESOTA VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB IN BLOOMINGTON. MANY LARGE AREA CORPORATIONS SUPPORT THIS EVENT AND HAVE FORMED WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIPS WITH HOMEWARD BOUND.**COMPETITIVE CHILI COOK-OFF: A COMMUNITY STYLE EVENT INVOLVING SUPPORTERS, RESIDENTS, FAMILIES AND STAFF ALL COMPETING TO WIN THE GOLDEN CHILI POT PRIZE. ATTENDEES PAY AN ENTRY FEE TO TASTE A VARIETY OF CHILI, VOTE FOR THEIR FAVORITE CHILI AND BUY ADDITIONAL VOTES, DONATE AND BID ON SILENT AUTION ITEMS, AND MAKE OTHER ONSITE CONTRIBUTIONS. BUSINESS AND GROUPS SPONSOR THE EVENT. PROCEEDDS FROM THE EVENT BENEFIT AN HBI INITIATIVE
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
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.
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.
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.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1973.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.