Health Story Collaborative Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
By collecting, honoring and sharing stories of illness and healing, we strive to make the process of navigating illness less isolating and to empower individuals and families facing health challenges. Our belief, supported by research, is that storytelling is healing for both story sharers and listeners. Stories have the power to transform individuals as well as the healthcare system.
- Income
- $189,319
- Spending
- $117,725
- Reserves
- 26.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 83%
- Highest pay
- $30,000, president
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 26.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 38% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 (4)
- $20,142 spent. Healing Story Sessions: Healing Story Sessions are live story telling events founded on the belief that story sharing is healing. In preparation for these sessions, we work closely with participants to construct their stories of illness and healing, and to become confortable sharing their stories in spoken word. Participants then invite a group of supportive community members to attend their session and to witness their stories. HSC facilitated four Healing Story Sessions in 2025 with an audience of over 180 individuals.
- $20,799 spent. The Opiod Project consists of 4-hour art and audio storytelling workshops where participants find a safe space to process their personal experiences through creating collages and sharing stories. These stories are audio recorded, and, together with the art, contextualize and bring to life the human costs of the epidemic. Finished work is hung in community multimedia art exhibitions where each art collage is paired with its recorded audio story. HSC faciliated four Opioid Project workshops in 2025 for 31 individuals, and their artwork was shared with hundreds of viewers.
- $9,000 spent. Training: This workshop explores how storytelling can help individuals navigate illness, trauma and loss and ultimately promote well-being. The participants learn about the social scientific research on narrative identity and its associations with health and techniques for marshaling this science in the service of individual and collective health. Particiapnts learn to apply Health Story Collaborative's well-established methods in their personal and professional lives. In 2025 HSC facilitated two trainings for a total of 33 individuals.
- $2,833 spent. Creative Meetups: These Creative Meetups are free monthly gatherings where participants have the opportunity to explore their creativity and self-expression. At Health Story Collaborative, we believe that artistic expression of personal stories can help individuals find hope and healing. During the year, we facilitated 24 Creative Meetups serving approximately 40 individuals. Public Presentations: We raise awareness about the therapeutic and healing benefits of storytelling for those facing health challenges. During the year, we reached nearly 1,000 individuals through 10 public presentations and engagements with various organizations and media outlets. Story Library: We maintain a publicly accessible online story library. The library contains more than 250 written stories and 119 audio stories and is accessed by more than 3,000 individuals annually.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 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 October 13, 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 2025.
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 August 2014.
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 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.