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Justine Petersen Housing and Reinvestment Corporation

EIN 43-1769074 · St Louis, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

JUSTINE PETERSEN'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE HOUSING, SAVINGS, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF LOW AND MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES TO BUILD ASSETS AND CREATE ENDURING CHANGE.

Income
$14.0 million
Spending
$12.9 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
10.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 43%
Employees
60
Volunteers
23
Highest pay
$247,053, chief operating officer

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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 75% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
  1. $9.9 million spent. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND LENDING TO SMALL BUSINESSES AND MICRO-ENTERPRISES. AS THE NATION'S LARGEST SBA MICRO-LOAN INTERMEDIARY, JUSTINE PETERSEN BORROWS MONEY DIRECTLY FROM THE SBA AND ORIGINATES MICRO-ENTERPRISE LOANS UNDER $50,000 IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS OWN UNDERWRITING GUIDELINES TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SECURE CAPITAL ELSEWHERE. JUSTINE PETERSEN PARTICIPATES IN THE USDA INTERMEDIARY RELENDING PROGRAM FOR ITS RURAL LENDING. JUSTINE PETERSEN AND ITS SUBSIDIARY, GREAT RIVERS COMMUNITY CAPITAL, ARE BOTH TREASURY-CERTIFIED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS (CDFI) AND ORIGINATE MICRO-ENTERPRISE AND SMALL BUSINESS LOANS. GEOGRAPHICALLY, JUSTINE PETERSEN/GREAT RIVERS CURRENTLY OFFER MICROENTERPRISE/SMALL BUSINESS LOANS IN 73 ILLINOIS AND 28 KANSAS COUNTIES AND THE ENTIRE STATE OF MISSOURI. IN 2024, JUSTINE PETERSEN AND ITS SUBSIDARY PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND ORIGINATED OVER $31.7 MILLION IN 857 MICRO-ENTERPRISE AND SMALL BUSINESS LOANS AND ORIGINATED OVER $1.2 MILLION IN 465 CONSUMER LOANS.
  2. $1.8 million spent. HOUSING - AS A HUD CERTIFIED HOUSING COUNSELING AGENCY, COUNSELORS ASSIST LOW TO MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS TO ADDRESS CREDIT AND OTHER BARRIERS TO PURCHASING OR REFINANCING A HOME. JUSTINE PETERSEN IMPLEMENTS FINANCIAL COUNSELING, STRATEGIES AND PRODUCTS INCLUDING BUDGETING, FINANCIAL EDUCATION, LOAN COUNSELING AND HOMEBUYER EDUCATION TO ASSIST HOMEOWNERS STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR MORTGAGES AND NEGOTIATING WITH THEIR LENDER.
  3. $381,870 spent. SAVINGS - JUSTINE PETERSEN BELIEVES THAT A STRONG CREDIT PROFILE IS ONE'S MOST IMPORTANT FINANCIAL ASSET AND OUR COUNSELORS TEACH HOW TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN A STRONG CREDIT PROFILE. IN 2024, 1,062 LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN JUSTINE PETERSEN'S CREDIT BUILDING SERVICES. AS A LEADER IN THE CREDIT BUILDING AND FINANCIAL CAPABILITY FIELD, JUSTINE PETERSEN TEACHES FINANCIAL COUNSELORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HOW TO OFFER CREDIT BUILDING SERVICES THROUGH OUT CREDIT BUILDING NATION 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

  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 October 13, 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 2024.

    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 March 1998.

    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 October 21, 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.