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Because of Hope

EIN 45-2706532 · Santa Barbara, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair57 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SUBSTAINABLY EMPOWER WIDOWS AND ORPHANS IN UGANDA.

Income
$180,360
Spending
$201,857
Spent on programs
62%
Reserves
4.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
2
Volunteers
3
Highest pay
$38,619, president/ex

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

Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (international, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    62% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (international, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    2 of 3 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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.

  • 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 (5)
  1. $65,377 spent. BOH STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: (BSSP) PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CHILDREN IN UGANDA TO GO TO SCHOOL. THERE WERE 24 STUDENTS IN THIS PROGRAM IN 2025.
  2. $36,101 spent. THE BEADS PROJECT PROGRAM: IN 2025, APPROXIMATELY 41 WOMEN IN UGANDA WERE INVOLVED IN THIS JEWELRY & CRAFT MAKING PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES THEM WITH A SOURCE OF INCOME TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES. THE ORGANIZATION USES THE NET INCOME FOR THE BEADS PROJECT EXPENSES AND OTHER PROGRAMS IN UGANDA.
  3. $11,117 spent. AGRICULTURE PROGRAM: PROVIDES WOMEN IN UGANDA WITH TRAINING AND MENTORSHIP TO LEARN IMPROVED FARMING METHODS. THE WOMEN ALSO LEARN HOW TO RAISE FARM ANIMALS. THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 47 WOMEN WHO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN 2025.
  4. $12,256 spent. GROUP DEVELOPMENT LOANS: THE ORGANIZATION WORKS WITH WOMEN FROM THREE VILLAGES IN UGANDA. OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FEW YEARS, THE ORGANIZATION HAS GIVEN EACH VILLAGE GROUP AN INTEREST-FREE LOAN TO DO A GROUP PROJECT. THE LOANS HAVE RANGED FROM 250-450. THIS FUNDING HAS FLOWED THROUGH WOCAP, THE UGANDAN ORGANIZATION BECAUSE OF HOPE WORKS WITH. EMERGENCY FUNDS: EMERGENCY SUPPORT IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THESE FUNDS HAVE ALSO BEEN USED TO PROVIDE FOOD AND OTHER SUPPORT DURING URGENT TIMES AND EMERGENCIES. THERE WERE NO EXPENSES FOR THE EMERGENCY FUND IN 2025. MEDICAL LOANS: THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED SEVERAL INTEREST FREE MEDICAL LOANS TO STAFF MEMBERS IN UGANDA OR WOMEN THE ORGANIZATION WORKS WITH. THIS HAS ALL FLOWED THROUGH WOCAP AND EACH LOAN WAS LESS THAN 150. STAFF SAVINGS PROGRAM: IN 2024, THE ORGANIZATION STARTED A STAFF SAVINGS PROGRAM FOR THE UGANDA STAFF TEAM TO ENCOURAGE SAVINGS WITH THE INCENTIVE THE ORGANIZATION WILL MATCH CONTRIBUTIONS UP TO 700. MISCELLANEOUS GRANTS: TO OPERATE THE VARIOUS PROGRAMMING IN UGANDA.
  5. GROUP DEVELOPMENT LOANS: THE ORGANIZATION WORKS WITH WOMEN FROM THREE VILLAGES IN UGANDA. OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FEW YEARS, THE ORGANIZATION HAS GIVEN EACH VILLAGE GROUP AN INTEREST-FREE LOAN TO DO A GROUP PROJECT. THE LOANS HAVE RANGED FROM 250-450. THIS FUNDING HAS FLOWED THROUGH WOCAP, THE UGANDAN ORGANIZATION BECAUSE OF HOPE WORKS WITH. EMERGENCY FUNDS: EMERGENCY SUPPORT IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THESE FUNDS HAVE ALSO BEEN USED TO PROVIDE FOOD AND OTHER SUPPORT DURING URGENT TIMES AND EMERGENCIES. THERE WERE NO EXPENSES FOR THE EMERGENCY FUND IN 2025. MEDICAL LOANS: THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED SEVERAL INTEREST FREE MEDICAL LOANS TO STAFF MEMBERS IN UGANDA OR WOMEN THE ORGANIZATION WORKS WITH. THIS HAS ALL FLOWED THROUGH WOCAP AND EACH LOAN WAS LESS THAN 150. STAFF SAVINGS PROGRAM: IN 2024, THE ORGANIZATION STARTED A STAFF SAVINGS PROGRAM FOR THE UGANDA STAFF TEAM TO ENCOURAGE SAVINGS WITH THE INCENTIVE THE ORGANIZATION WILL MATCH CONTRIBUTIONS UP TO 700. MISCELLANEOUS GRANTS: TO OPERATE THE VARIOUS PROGRAMMING IN UGANDA.

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 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 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 September 2012.

    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.