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Lydias House Inc

EIN 43-1699278 · Saint Louis, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Providing domestic violence survivors and their children a safe place to heal, a voice for justice, and an opportunity for better and sustainable lives.

Income
$2.9 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
25 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 47%
Employees
28
Volunteers
546
Highest pay
$194,372, president/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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 25.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 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 (1)
  1. $1.7 million spent. For 30 years, Lydias House has been providing safe, confidentially located, Transitional Housing for abused adults and their children who are victims of domestic violence for a stay of up to two years. Lydias House continues to be the only stand-alone/confidentially located Transitional Housing Program in Missouri and is one of the largest in the country. Since inception in 1995, 1,392 adults and their children and pets have come into Lydias House for safety and resources. Lydias House serves 50 adults and up to 85 children at one time for up to 24 months. In this fiscal year the average stay was 24 months. In this fiscal year, Lydias Houses Transitional Housing Program provided 30,482 nights of safe housing and supportive services to a total of 125 survivors(61 adults and 64 children) as they made the transition from emergency shelter to safe independent living into homes of their own after receiving all the resources that they needed to overcome domestic violence. Of those leaving the program in the fiscal year, thirteen moved to their own permanent housing and thirteen moved in with friends and family. The program held 14,399 individual Case Management Sessions to help adults and their children heal and to provide resources to achieve their educational, health, employment, permanent housing, and other related goals. In addition, Lydias House provided 116 sessions of Individual Advocacy related to legal issues such as Orders of Protection and additional Civil/Criminal Advocacy. Thirty-three support groups provided the opportunity to share experiences, knowledge, and strength related to the violence they experienced. Advocates also provided 696 Follow-Up sessions to former residents of Lydias House. Periodic satisfaction surveys show that 98% of adult domestic violence victims reported having an increased knowledge of resources and 100% reported an increased sense of safety as a result of Individual Advocacy and attending Support Groups. Lydias House also has a job training and employment program - Lydias Ladle. The Ladle offers paid job training in the culinary field to both residential and non-residential DV survivors. This program provides participants with the opportunity to gain valuable job skills, build their resumes, create references for future employment, regain self-confidence, and improve their immediate financial situation. In 2025, Lydias House was issued the year three seal by CARF International proving that Lydias House is following its best practice policies and procedures. Lydias House relies on the generosity of friends and supporters to meet the enormous cost of providing programs and services year-round to adults and children escaping domestic violence. Abusive behavior and violence are never acceptable. Everyone deserves to feel valued, respected, and to live in a safe place they can call home.

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 May 1995.

    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.