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Onward Hope Incorporated

EIN 46-5002929 · Phoenix, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak30 out of 100GovernanceFair54 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.
  • It owes more than it owns.
  • Only 31% of its spending went to programs.

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

What it says it does

WE ARE COMMITTED TO IMPROVING AND ASSISTING THE SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION OF AT-RISK YOUNG PEOPLE TO INDEPENDENT ADULTHOOD AND SUPPORTING RESILIENT FAMILIES, BY CONNECTING THEM TO RESOURCES.

Income
$458,829
Spending
$395,290
Spent on programs
31%
Reserves
-1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 83%
Employees
8

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

Weak: 30 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 172% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 43% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    31% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    0 of 25

    0 of 2 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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)
  1. $121,526 spent. IN THE YEAR 2025, OUR FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION SERVICES PROGRAM CONTINUED ITS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF VULNERABLE YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN ARIZONA. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WE EXTENDED OUR REACH AND IMPACT THROUGH A RANGE OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND HEARTFELT ENGAGEMENTS. 1. COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING AND SUPPORT: SERVING MULTIPLE FAMILIES OVER SEVERAL TRAINING SESSIONS, OUR OBJECTIVE WAS TO EQUIP FAMILIES WITH THE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS NEEDED TO PROVIDE A NURTURING AND STABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR ARIZONA'S MOST VULNERABLE YOUTH. BY OFFERING SPECIALIZED TRAINING AND ONGOING SUPPORT, WE AIMED TO STRENGTHEN FAMILY BONDS AND PROMOTE HEALTHIER OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. LONG TERM GOALS: OUR LONG-TERM GOAL REVOLVES AROUND BUILDING A ROBUST COMMUNITY OF EMPOWERED CAREGIVERS WHO ARE CAPABLE OF FOSTERING POSITIVE CHANGE IN THE LIVES OF CHILDREN. BY ENSURING THAT FAMILIES RECIEVE THE GUIDANCE THEY NEED, WE AIM TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE SUPPORT NETWORK THAT EXTENDS FAR BEYOND THEIR IMMEDIATE ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR ORGANIZATION. 2. SUCCESSFUL REUNIFICATIONS AND ADOPTIONS: WITH HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS SERVED, DOZENS OF FOSTERED CHILDREN, AND SEVERAL FAMILIES REUNIFIED AND CHILDREN ADOPTED, WE HAVE REMAINED DEDICATED TO ACHIEVING STABLE AND LOVING HOMES FOR CHILDREN BY FACILITATING REUNIFICATIONS AND ADOPTIONS. OUR SPECIALIZED APPROACH ALLOWED US TO SUCCESSFULLY REUNIFY MULTIPLE FAMILIES, REUNITING CHILDREN WITH THEIR BIOLOGICAL FAMILY WHENEVER POSSIBLE. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL SUCCESSFUL ADOPTIONS COMPLETED, PROVIDING PERMANENT AND SECURE FAMILIES FOR CHILDREN WHO HAD EXPERIENCED UNCERTAINTY. LONG TERM GOAL: OUR OVERARCHING GOAL IS TO SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTE TO REDUCING THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM BY FACILITATING SUCCESSFUL REUNIFICATIONS AND ADOPTIONS. BY FOCUSING ON INDIVIDUALIZED PLANS WITH EXTENSIVE SUPPORT, WE STRIVE TO MINIMIZE THE TIME CHILDREN SPEND IN FOSTER CARE AND MAXIMIZE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LIFELONG STABILITY. 3. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS. OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL EVENTS WITH HUNDREDS OF YOUTH BENEFICIARIES, WE AIMED TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION WHILE CELEBRATING THE RESILIENCE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN OUR PROGRAM. OUR LONG TERM GOAL IS TO FOSTER A CULTURE OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES INVOLVED IN THE FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION JOURNEY. BY HOSTING ANNUAL EVENTS, WE SEEK TO INCREASE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHALLENGES FACED BY THESE FAMILIES AND GENERATE GREATER EMPATHY AND INVOLVEMENT FROM THE BROADER COMMUNITY. IN 2026, WE PROUDLY CONTINUE OUR COMMITMENT TO BEING A BEACON OF HOPE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. THROUGH OUR FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION SERVICES, COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING, FAMILY-CENTERED SUPPORT, SUCCESSFUL REUNIFICATIONS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, WE ARE HELPING BUILD STRONGER FAMILIES AND BRIGHTER FUTURES. EVERY CHILD DESERVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW UP IN A SAFE, LOVING, AND NURTURING HOME, AND TOGETHER WITH OUR COMMUNITY, WE ARE MAKING THAT VISION A REALITY. IN THE YEAR 2025, OUR FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION SERVICES PROGRAM CONTINUED ITS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF VULNERABLE YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN ARIZONA. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WE EXTENDED OUR REACH AND IMPACT THROUGH A RANGE OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND HEARTFELT ENGAGEMENTS. 1. COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING AND SUPPORT: SERVING MULTIPLE FAMILIES OVER SEVERAL TRAINING SESSIONS, OUR OBJECTIVE WAS TO EQUIP FAMILIES WITH THE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS NEEDED TO PROVIDE A NURTURING AND STABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR ARIZONA'S MOST VULNERABLE YOUTH. BY OFFERING SPECIALIZED TRAINING AND ONGOING SUPPORT, WE AIMED TO STRENGTHEN FAMILY BONDS AND PROMOTE HEALTHIER OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. LONG TERM GOALS: OUR LONG-TERM GOAL REVOLVES AROUND BUILDING A ROBUST COMMUNITY OF EMPOWERED CAREGIVERS WHO ARE CAPABLE OF FOSTERING POSITIVE CHANGE IN THE LIVES OF CHILDREN. BY ENSURING THAT FAMILIES RECIEVE THE GUIDANCE THEY NEED, WE AIM TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE SUPPORT NETWORK THAT EXTENDS FAR BEYOND THEIR IMMEDIATE ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR ORGANIZATION. 2. SUCCESSFUL REUNIFICATIONS AND ADOPTIONS: WITH HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS SERVED, DOZENS OF FOSTERED CHILDREN, AND SEVERAL FAMILIES REUNIFIED AND CHILDREN ADOPTED, WE HAVE REMAINED DEDICATED TO ACHIEVING STABLE AND LOVING HOMES FOR CHILDREN BY FACILITATING REUNIFICATIONS AND ADOPTIONS. OUR SPECIALIZED APPROACH ALLOWED US TO SUCCESSFULLY REUNIFY MULTIPLE FAMILIES, REUNITING CHILDREN WITH THEIR BIOLOGICAL FAMILY WHENEVER POSSIBLE. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL SUCCESSFUL ADOPTIONS COMPLETED, PROVIDING PERMANENT AND SECURE FAMILIES FOR CHILDREN WHO HAD EXPERIENCED UNCERTAINTY. LONG TERM GOAL: OUR OVERARCHING GOAL IS TO SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTE TO REDUCING THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM BY FACILITATING SUCCESSFUL REUNIFICATIONS AND ADOPTIONS. BY FOCUSING ON INDIVIDUALIZED PLANS WITH EXTENSIVE SUPPORT, WE STRIVE TO MINIMIZE THE TIME CHILDREN SPEND IN FOSTER CARE AND MAXIMIZE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LIFELONG STABILITY. 3. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS. OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL EVENTS WITH HUNDREDS OF YOUTH BENEFICIARIES, WE AIMED TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION WHILE CELEBRATING THE RESILIENCE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN OUR PROGRAM. OUR LONG TERM GOAL IS TO FOSTER A CULTURE OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES INVOLVED IN THE FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION JOURNEY. BY HOSTING ANNUAL EVENTS, WE SEEK TO INCREASE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHALLENGES FACED BY THESE FAMILIES AND GENERATE GREATER EMPATHY AND INVOLVEMENT FROM THE BROADER COMMUNITY. IN 2026, WE PROUDLY CONTINUE OUR COMMITMENT TO BEING A BEACON OF HOPE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. THROUGH OUR FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION SERVICES, COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING, FAMILY-CENTERED SUPPORT, SUCCESSFUL REUNIFICATIONS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, WE ARE HELPING BUILD STRONGER FAMILIES AND BRIGHTER FUTURES. EVERY CHILD DESERVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW UP
  2. SINCE JANUARY 2024, ONWARD HOPE LAUNCHED A NEW PROGRAM, HEALTHY FAMILIES AZ, TO PROVIDE FAMILY SUPPORT AND RESOURCE COORDINATION SERVICES TO YOUNG PARENTS-TO-BE AND FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE PROGRAM HAS SERVED MORE THAN 150 FAMILIES THROUGH CASE MANAGEMENT, REFERRALS, AND EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS. THIS INITIATIVE EXPANDS THE ORGANIZATIONS REACH AND SUPPORTS ITS MISSION TO STRENGTHEN AND EMPOWER FAMILIES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

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 March 2015.

    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.