Hearts United for Good Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Hearts United for Good (HUG) works to improve the lives of individuals and families facing food insecurity, homelessness, economic hardship, and other challenges throughout the greater Charlotte area. Through direct assistance and community partnerships, HUG provides food, essential supplies, homeless outreach, animal welfare assistance, educational support, and other resources designed to meet immediate needs while promoting dignity, stability, and stronger communities.
- Income
- $917,877
- Spending
- $876,066
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- 2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 552
- Highest pay
- $31,500, 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: 75 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 61% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% 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
Strong: 91 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 256 of 8 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (7)
- $788,311 spent. Food lnsecurity Pantry: Hearts United for Good operates a free, low-barrier Food Assistance Program providing groceries and essential household items to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity and economic hardship. In 2025, HUG distributed 26,068 bags of free groceries, representing a 704% increase in grocery distributions since 2021. At the same time, HUG decreased its cost per bag by 90% and cost per pound by 96%, allowing the organization to significantly expand its reach while using resources efficiently. Through its partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, HUG received more than 486,000 pounds of food and critical supplies in 2025 for less than $13,000. HUG also distributed more than 106,000 free diapers to local families and parents through its partnership with the Diaper Bank of North Carolina. HUG's pantry is designed to minimize barriers to receiving assistance and provide individuals and families with reliable access to nutritious food and other basic necessities. Through food-bank partnerships, individual donors, businesses, volunteers, and community organizations, HUG continued to expand the availability of food and essential resources to vulnerable households throughout the Charlotte area.
- $23,290 spent. Homelessness Outreach: Hearts United for Good provides year-round outreach and essential resources to individuals experiencing homelessness throughout the Charlotte area. During 2025, individuals experiencing homelessness sought assistance from HUG 1,755 times, and no individual seeking assistance was turned away. During the year, HUG provided the shelterless community with more than 350 sleeping bags, 200 pairs of new shoes, 2,400 cans of food, 8,800 snack packs, 450 pairs of socks, and 6,900 beverages, in addition to clothing, hygiene products, seasonal items, and other essential supplies. HUG also works collaboratively with community partners, including Mecklenburg County street-outreach resources, to reach individuals living unsheltered and provide food, essential supplies, and connections to additional assistance. Through both on-site services and direct outreach, the program provides consistent, low-barrier support to individuals experiencing homelessness and displacement.
- $11,351 spent. Animal Welfare Program: Hearts United for Good's Animal Welfare Program assists individuals and families experiencing financial hardship with the care and well-being of their companion animals. The program provides pet food, basic animal care, emergency veterinary assistance, rescue and rehoming support, fenced enclosures when needed for animal safety, and access to spay and neuter services through community partnerships. Through its animal welfare efforts and veterinary partnership, HUG rescued and rehomed 39 dogs during the most recent 36-month period, while helping provide basic care and free spay and neuter services. HUG also distributes pet food to individuals and families who may otherwise struggle to meet their animals' basic needs. By providing food, veterinary resources, rescue assistance, and other support, HUG works to promote animal welfare while helping vulnerable individuals and families remain together with their companion animals.
- $7,055 spent. General Fund
- $4,300 spent. Emerging Needs: Hearts United for Good responds to urgent and emerging needs affecting vulnerable individuals and families when circumstances fall outside the organization's primary programs. Assistance may include food, clothing, hygiene products, household necessities, seasonal supplies, emergency resources, and connections to other community services. The program also assists immigrants and refugees in the Charlotte area by helping individuals and families access essential resources and community support as they navigate new beginnings. HUG's relationships with donors, volunteers, businesses, schools, and nonprofit organizations allow the Foundation to mobilize resources quickly and respond to changing community needs. HUG's ability to respond to emerging needs has also enabled the organization to provide large-scale assistance during community emergencies and disasters when resources are available and needed.
- $1,301 spent. Community Support - Hearts United for Good extends its impact beyond individuals served directly at its facility by distributing food, essential supplies, and other resources through schools and community organizations throughout the Charlotte area. HUG's Community Support Program has served more than 120 Title I schools, assisted living facilities, recovery centers, and other community support organizations. During 2025, HUG provided breakfast, lunch, gift bags, flowers, and other appreciation resources to more than 1,700 teachers across 17 Charlotte-area schools during Teacher Appreciation Week. HUG also assembled and distributed 901 Easter baskets to children living in hotels, shelters, and other high-risk situations. Through partnerships with food banks, schools, businesses, nonprofit organizations, individual donors, and volunteers, HUG helps ensure that donated food and essential resources reach organizations already serving vulnerable populations, allowing the Foundation's impact to extend throughout the broader community.
- $381 spent. Education & Development: Hearts United for Good supports students, educators, and families in underserved communities through educational engagement, mentorship, academic support, meals, school supplies, and other essential resources. HUG volunteers have served as student mentors and End-of-Grade test proctors and have provided meals and other support to students and school programs. HUG also partners with schools and other community organizations to provide backpacks, school supplies, clothing, books, food, hygiene products, and other necessities to students and families in need. HUG provides direct support to teachers and staff at schools serving predominantly economically disadvantaged student populations. In 2025, this broader school-support effort included providing appreciation activities and resources to more than 1,700 teachers at 17 Charlotte-area schools. HUG's educational and family-support initiatives help schools strengthen parent engagement, support students and educators, and provide families with access to essential resources.
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 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 November 6, 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 November 4, 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.