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West Hennepin Affordable Housing Land Tr

EIN 41-2019107 · Minnetonka, 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

WEST HENNEPIN AFFORDABLE HOUSING LAND TRUST (WHAHLT) DBA HOMES WITHIN REACH (HWR) WAS CREATED IN MAY 2001; A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST WHOSE SERVICE AREA IS THE 44 COMMUNITIES OF SUBURBAN HENNEPIN COUNTY; AND CURRENTLY ACTIVE IN FOURTEEN (14) COMMUNITIES. WEST HENNEPIN AFFORDABLE HOUSING LAND TRUST VISION IS TO TRANSFORM PEOPLE'S LIVES THROUGH HOMEOWNERSHIP. THE MISSION IS TO USE THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST PRACTICE TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP FOR WORKING FAMILIES THAT WOULD BE OTHERWISE UNABLE TO PURCHASE A HOME IN SUBURBAN HENNEPIN COUNTY, OFFERING BOTH COMMUNITIES AND HOMEBUYERS THE ABILITY TO SUSTAIN PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP.

Income
$4.8 million
Spending
$454,022
Spent on programs
53%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 99%
Employees
5
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$118,413, 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 79% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 91% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 104% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    53% 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. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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 (1)
  1. $239,644 spent. HOUSING IS A MULTIPLIER, A FOUNDATIONAL NEED THAT SHAPES EDUCATION, HEALTH, AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY. HOMES WITHIN REACH (HWR) CONTINUES TO SEE HOW AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP STABILIZES WORKFORCE FAMILIES, STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION, AND BUILDS LONG-TERM ASSETS. THROUGH THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST (CLT) MODEL, HWR ACQUIRES AND REHABILITATES HOMES AND SELLS THE IMPROVEMENTS TO HOUSEHOLDS EARNING BELOW 80% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME (AMI). THIS SHARED-EQUITY STRUCTURE PRESERVES AFFORDABILITY IN PERPETUITY, ENSURING EACH HOME REMAINS ACCESSIBLE TO LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS AT EVERY RESALE.AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2025, WEST HENNEPIN AFFORDABLE HOUSING LAND TRUST (WHAHLT), DOING BUSINESS AS HOMES WITHIN REACH, HAS PLACED 243 PROPERTIES INTO TRUST AND ASSISTED 293 FAMILIES, WITH AN AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF 58.6% AMI, IN PURCHASING HOMES ACROSS 18 SUBURBAN HENNEPIN COUNTY COMMUNITIES: BLOOMINGTON, BROOKLYN PARK, CRYSTAL, DEEPHAVEN, EDINA, EDEN PRAIRIE, GOLDEN VALLEY, LONG LAKE, MAPLE GROVE, MAPLE PLAIN, MINNETONKA, NEW HOPE, ORONO, PLYMOUTH, RICHFIELD, ST. BONIFACIUS, ST. LOUIS PARK, AND WAYZATA. GROWTH CONTINUES TO BE DRIVEN BY STRONG CITY PARTNERSHIPS AND BUYER DEMAND FROM ESSENTIAL WORKERS SEEKING TO LIVE CLOSER TO THEIR JOBS, SCHOOLS, AND SUPPORT NETWORKS.THE CLT PROGRAM PROVIDES A STABLE PATH TO HOMEOWNERSHIP FOR TEACHERS, MUNICIPAL STAFF, RETAIL AND FOOD SERVICE WORKERS, OFFICE PERSONNEL, MEDICAL SUPPORT STAFF, AND MANY OTHERS WHO ARE INCREASINGLY PRICED OUT OF THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. BY STABILIZING FAMILIES, STRENGTHENING THE LOCAL LABOR POOL, PRESERVING EXISTING HOUSING STOCK, AND LINKING HOUSING WITH JOBS AND TRANSIT, HWR DELIVERS LONG-TERM COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS.2025 PROGRAM GROWTH AND HIGHLIGHTS23 NEW HOMES ADDED ACROSS 12 COMMUNITIES, EXPANDING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES SERVED TO 18.5 CLT RESALES COMPLETED, ENSURING LONG-TERM AFFORDABILITY FOR NEW GENERATIONS OF WORKFORCE BUYERS.CONTINUED EXPANSION IN MAPLE PLAIN AND ST. BONIFACIUS, SOLIDIFYING THEIR PLACE WITHIN THE CLT PORTFOLIO.INCREASED CITY INVESTMENT ENABLED ADDITIONAL ACQUISITIONS AND PRESERVATION EFFORTS:PLYMOUTH: THE HRA SOLD TWO LONG-VACANT FORMER RENTAL HOMES TO HWR. AFTER REHABILITATION AND RESALE THROUGH THE CLT, BOTH HOMES WERE RESTORED TO THEIR ORIGINAL PURPOSE, AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP.EDINA: FOUR HOMES ADDEDTWO THROUGH HWR'S ACQUISITION/REHAB/RESALE PROCESS AND TWO THROUGH THE ONGOING PARTNERSHIP WITH TWIN CITIES HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.ST. LOUIS PARK: HWR RESTORED A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME THAT HAD BEEN ILLEGALLY CONVERTED INTO THREE RENTAL UNITS, RETURNING IT TO ITS INTENDED USE WITH A MOTHER-IN-LAW SUITE IN THE LOWER LEVEL.THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS REFLECT HWR'S CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING AFFORDABILITY, STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES, AND ENSURING THAT ESSENTIAL WORKERS CAN LIVE IN THE PLACES THEY SUPPORT EVERY DAY.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2002.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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