Houston Community Toolbank Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
HOUSTON TOOLBANK IS A CAPACITY BUILDER PROVIDING TAX EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS WITH A PHYSICAL RESOURCE INVENTORY FOR THEIR PROGRAMS. THE ORGANIZATION ENHANCES THE CAPACITY TO SERVE, SCALE, AND VOLUNTEER ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS THROUGH TOOL LENDING, DISASTER RELIEF, AND HANDS-ON TOOL TRAINING.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $894,025
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 11 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 62%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 842
- Highest pay
- $104,700, 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: 88 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 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, 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 (2)
- $615,386 spent. TOOL LENDING PROGRAM - THROUGH OUR TOOL LENDING PROGRAM, THE HOUSTON TOOLBANK PROVIDES NON PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS WITH AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO COMPLETE MISSION-DRIVEN PROJECTS AND VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES. BY ELIMINATING THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PURCHASING, MAINTAINING, AND STORING EQUIPMENT, THE PROGRAM INCREASES THE CAPACITY OF CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES. IN 2025, THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED 2,592 UNIQUE PROJECTS WITH TOOLS VALUED AT NEARLY $3.1 MILLION, EQUIPPING MORE THAN 51,000 VOLUNTEERS TO COMPLETE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT, DISASTER RECOVERY, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, HOUSING, AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THROUGHOUT SOUTHEAST TEXAS.
- $119,564 spent. TOOL TRAINING PROGRAM - THROUGH OUR TOOL TRAINING PROGRAM, THE HOUSTON TOOLBANK OFFERS HANDS-ON TRAINING THAT TEACHES THE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE USE OF HAND AND POWER TOOLS WHILE DEVELOPING PRACTICAL WORKFORCE AND LIFE SKILLS. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOLS, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, PARTICIPANTS GAIN TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE, CONFIDENCE, AND EXPERIENCE THROUGH INSTRUCTOR-LED TRAINING AND PROJECT-BASED LEARNING. THIS NEW PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED THROUGH A PILOT PROGRAM IN 2023-2024 AND IN 2025, THE ORGANIZATION CONDUCTED 62 TRAINING SESSIONS SERVING 558 PARTICIPANTS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Worth knowing.
Recognized by the IRS in July 2026. It is too new to have a track record.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.