Home Empower
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 13271 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
Home Empower's (dba Nonprofit Home Inspections) mission is to broaden access to and improve the quality of information readily available to homeowners by training home inspectors to deliver a higher level and variety of inspection services, making sure quality home inspection services are available to every home owner, regardless of their ability to pay, and disseminating free information. We believe everyone is entitled to a healthy, safe, environmentally sound, and energy efficient place to live.
- Income
- $621,082
- Spending
- $695,727
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- 4.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 95%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 5
- Highest pay
- $232,258, president and ceo
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: 54 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (housing, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13271 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. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (housing, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 6 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 (3)
- $285,796 spent. Safety and Maintenance Inspections: Professional evaluations of homes on a sliding scale for 695 families. Each client educated on significant structural and safety problems for the home, including environmental issues (such as exposure to asbestos, lead and radon), and critical maintenance needs. Continued free radon testing program by partnering with Oregon Health Authority to offer free radon testing for low and moderate income families in Oregon. Continued partnership with state licensed engineers to conduct foundation certifications for mobile/manufactured homes in Oregon and Washington. Renewed certification as an EPA Lead Safe Certified Firm. Continued compiling and distributing data for research related to environmental and safety hazards in the home. A market analysis of similar services provided by similarly rated multi-inspector firms in the region indicated that Home Empower (dba Nonprofit Home Inspections) provided home inspections for approximately 34% less than similar for profit companies. This significantly reduced pricing helped to ensure training opportunities for our educational programs while providing the public with significantly reduced pricing compared to similar for profit companies providing similar services. During the 2025 calendar year, Home Empower (dba Nonprofit Home Inspections) distributed approximately 695 home maintenance manuals to individuals in the community worth an estimated $20,850 based on comparable manuals in the marketplace. These manuals help to better educate the public about potential hazards in the home and how to properly address those issues. In 2025, Home Empower (dba Nonprofit Home Inspections) partnered with numerous other nonprofit agencies and educational programs by providing reduced rate home inspection services or home inspection training for their clients. A few partners included the Oregon Community Foundation, Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives, New Narratives Residential Mental Health Services, Habitat for Humanity, Proud Ground Community Land Trust, Community Services, Inc., Sikh Society of Oregon, and many others. As part of its educational efforts, Home Empower (dba Nonprofit Home Inspections) has created a library of free instructional materials that empower consumers to identify and correct significant hazards in the home including hazards posed by radioactive radon gas, electrical hazards, fire safety, etc. Home Empower's efforts to provide free educational materials concerning health and safety hazards is rapidly gaining traction and is providing free valuable resources for the community. For example, Home Empower's instructional page on electrical hazards like "Zinsco Electric Panel" a dangerous and recalled electrical panel, and is providing homeowners across the United States with actionable information to increase safety in their homes. This distribution of free information empowers community members to protect their own health by researching and addressing safety issues, helps reduce the burden of government, and fulfills a critical need in the community. Home Empower partnered with the Oregon Health Authority to distribute 200 DIY radon testing kits per year for low and moderate income families all over the State of Oregon. Free testing kits were sent to all Oregon or Washington residents who applied and self-verified that they were at 80% or below of the median family income. Because radioactive radon gas is the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers, this partnership with the Oregon Health Authority is reducing the burden of government while helping to directly improve public health outcomes.
- $298,731 spent. Inspector Training: Continued educational training program and state licensed trade school designed to empower others to help identify significant hazards in housing. Opportunities included formal job training and an industry leading apprentice program. State licensed home inspector school taught 16 students through intensive instruction and field training. Continued as an educational provider for the International Association of Machinists (IAM) Union and The Boeing Company. As part of their employment, Home Empower dba Nonprofit Home Inspections employees/apprentices completed 530 credit hours of education at an accredited postsecondary school as additional inspector training and to increase instructional capabilities. Reduced Rate Home Inspector Training: A market analysis of similarly qualified home inspection schools in Washington and Oregon highlighted that Home Empower (dba Nonprofit Home Inspections) training programs were provided for government entities and individuals for up to 77% less than similar for profit schools with similar government approvals and training agreements. This reduction in pricing for comparable training had the potential to save government entities and individuals approximately $184,080 compared to other similar training programs. Training unemployed, displaced or injured individuals for a new profession at significantly lower rates helps reduce the burden of government while filling a critical need for underserved community members.
- $64,982 spent. Environmental Training: Analyzed energy defects and gave recommendations for potential improvements for more than 695 homes. Continued certification as an Energy Trust Trade Ally for energy efficiency projects. Continued developing training program for underground fuel oil tank sweeps and sewer scopes. Completed Lead Safe Renovation, Repair and Paint Training for DEQ Licensing. Completed EPA 608 type II certificaltion.
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 October 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.