Wings of Hope Incorporated
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO SAVE AND CHANGE LIVES THROUGH THE POWER OF AVIATION. THROUGHOUT ITS 60-YEAR HISTORY, WINGS OF HOPE HAS PROVIDED LIFESAVING CARE AND ACCESS TO RESOURCES IN MORE THAN 50 COUNTRIES. THE ORGANIZATION WAS NOMINATED TWICE FOR THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE IN RECOGNITION OF ITS WORK.
- Income
- $3.4 million
- Spending
- $3.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 54.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 54%
- Employees
- 19
- Volunteers
- 211
- Highest pay
- $155,554, president
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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 54.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 40% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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 65% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 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 (3)
- $2.4 million spent. MEDICAL AIR TRANSPORT: Wings of Hope provides medical air transport services, free of charge, to patients and their families seeking specialized healthcare not available to them locally. Volunteer pilots and medics fly patients and their caregivers to hospitals and treatment centers in twenty-nine states within 800-mile radius of the St. Louis-based headquarters. In 2024, Wings of Hope conducted 114 flights to accommodate patients and their caregivers.
- $157,391 spent. GLOBAL HUMANITARIAN NETWORK: Wings of Hope partners with local and national nongovernmental organizations partner in nine countries to build sustainable air service programs with community-focused development solutions. Globally, a total more than 60,000 individuals were served through access to resources to live healthy and dignified lives.
- $120,151 spent. SOAR INTO STEM: Wings of Hope encourages the next generation of humanitarians and aviation professionals by offering two four-week, dynamic hands-on learning experience to high school students. Students get a front-row seat to explore aviation and STEM-related career paths throughout the program as they explore principles of flight, aircraft maintenance, aviation engineering, and Unmanned Aerial Systems also known as drones.
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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1969.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.