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Common Hope Inc

EIN 41-1560297 · Saint Paul, MN

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

COMMON HOPE AND ITS AFFILIATE, FUNDACION FAMILIAS DE ESPERANZA, PROMOTE HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY IN GUATEMALA, PARTNERING WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN A PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE AND HOUSING.

Income
$5.7 million
Spending
$4.8 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
11.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
13
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$174,383, executive director

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. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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 (4)
  1. $1.7 million spent. EDUCATION: COMMON HOPE HELPED PROVIDE PRE-PRIMARY, PRIMARY, SECONDARY, AND UNIVERSITY EDUCATION FOR 3,192 STUDENTS IN 2025, SUPPORTING TUITION AND FEES, BOOKS AND SUPPLIES, SHOES, AND UNIFORMS. WE CELEBRATED 194 YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO EARNED THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, MOST OF THEM FIRST GENERATION GRADUATES. OVER 3,000 GUATEMALANS HAVE NOW GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL THROUGH COMMON HOPE! IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, WE IMPLEMENTED VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND CAREER READINESS PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS AFFILIATED WITH COMMON HOPE. OTHER SUPPORT INCLUDED CONNECTIVITY OR ACCESS TO COMPUTER LABS AND LIBRARY RESOURCES FOR ALL STUDENTS, INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP HOMEWORK/TUTORING SUPPORT FOR OVER 4,800 STUDENTS, AND DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENTS FOR ALL 6-, 9-, 12, AND 15-YEAR-OLD STUDENTS.
  2. $872,451 spent. FAMILY AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: IN 2025, COMMON HOPE PARTNERED WITH 2,000 FAMILIES TO PROVIDE RESOURCES AND TOOLS TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES IN GUATEMALA. THROUGH A LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP WITH A COMMON HOPE SOCIAL WORKER, FAMILIES IDENTIFIED GOALS, OBSTACLES AND CREATED THEIR OWN FAMILY DEVELOPMENT PLAN. IN PERSON VISITS AND TELE-SUPPORT SERVICES WERE AVAILABLE TO ALL FAMILIES. FOOD SECURITY, HEALTH & SAFETY, AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES WERE PROVIDED AS A DIRECT RESULT OF IDENTIFIED NEEDS.
  3. $508,933 spent. HEALTH CARE: COMMON HOPE'S MEDICAL STAFF CONDUCTED A TOTAL OF 20,073 CONSULTATIONS WITH PATIENTS AT OUR CLINIC AND THROUGH TELE-HEALTH SERVICES IN 2025. HEALTH CARE SERVICES INCLUDED EXAMINATIONS, LAB TESTS, X-RAYS, MEDICATIONS, SURGERIES, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND DENTAL CARE. CLINIC STAFF PROVIDED REGULAR TREATMENT AND EDUCATION FOR PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEALTH ISSUES, INCLUDING DIABETES AND HYPERTENSION, ENSURING ONGOING LAB MONITORING. WE PARTNER WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE HEALTH AND DENTAL CARE AT OUR SAN RAFAEL EL ARADO, SAN MIGUEL MILPAS ALTAS, AND NEW HOPE SITES.
  4. $279,692 spent. HOUSING: IN 2025 COMMON HOPE PROVIDED 27 HOUSES THAT ARE CLEAN, DRY, AND SAFE TO FAMILIES IN OUR PROGRAMS, 8 OF WHICH WERE BLOCK HOMES BUILT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A LOCAL GUATEMALAN NON-PROFIT. 34 DESKS AND 13 BUNK BEDS WERE BUILT. THESE HOUSING INITIATIVES NOT ONLY PROVIDE FAMILIES WITH A SAFE AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT BUT ALSO EMPOWER THEM TO FOCUS ON THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.

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 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 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 October 1987.

    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.