Hope Border Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE HOPE BORDER INSTITUTE IS TO APPLY THE PERSPECTIVE OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING TO ADVANCE HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE BORDERLANDS.
- Income
- $268,242
- Spending
- $537,969
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 12.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $53,074, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 101% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 11 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
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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, 2024, 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)
- $326,108 spent. PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS AT THE BORDERHOPE IS A UNIQUE STRATEGY CENTER DEDICATED TO THE PURSUIT OF THE COMMON GOOD AND WORKS COLLABORATIVELY TO BRING TOGETHER THE MORAL VOICE OF FAITH LEADERS, GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY LEADERS AND DIRECTLY AFFECTED PERSONS TO ENACT POSITIVE CHANGE AND MORE JUST POLICIES AT THE BORDER AND THROUGH THE AMERICAS THROUGH ADVOCACY, ACTION AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
- $99,929 spent. HUMANITARIAN ACTIONHOPE'S PROGRAM OF HUMANITARIAN ACTION DELIVERS HUMANITARIAN AID TO REFUGEES AT THE US-MEXICO BORDER. IN 2024, WE WORKED TO ENSURE THAT VULNERABLE MIGRANTS, ESPECIALLY FAMILIES, WOMEN AND CHILDREN, WERE ABLE TO ACCESS DIGNIFIED SHELTER AND COUNT ON QUALITY HEALTHCARE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES. WE MET THE CRITICAL NEEDS OF ARRIVING POPULATIONS AFFECTED BY EVOLVING ASYLUM-DENYING POLICIES.
- $63,471 spent. FORMATION AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENTHOPE PROVIDES TRAINING AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT TO FAITH AND COMMUNITY LEADERS AT THE US-MEXICO BORDER AS WELL AS AFFECTED PERSONS AND COMMUNITIES OVERCOME INJUSTICE AND POVERTY. IN 2024, WE BROUGHT TOGETHER UNIVERSITY GROUPS, STUDENT LEADERS AND INTERNS FROM THE BORDERLANDS AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AS WELL AS CLERGY, CLERGY IN TRAINING AND LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING ON CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING, IMMIGRATION AND STRUCTURAL INJUSTICE AT THE BORDER.
- OTHER PROGRAM SERVICESRESEARCHHOPE'S RESEARCH PROGRAM COMPREHENSIVELY DETAILS THE VIOLATIONS OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF ASYLUM SEEKERS AND VULNERABLE MIGRANTS AT THE US-MEXICO BORDER AND WORKS TO SHIFT THE NATIONAL DEBATE AWAY FROM MILITARIZATION AND THE SEALING OF BORDERS TOWARDS EFFECTIVE HUMANITARIAN SOLUTIONS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2015.
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.