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Passes our checks

National Low Income Housing Coalition and Low Income Housing

EIN 52-1089824 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE NATIONAL LOW INCOME HOUSING COALITION (NLIHC) IS DEDICATED TO ACHIEVING RACIALLY AND SOCIALLY EQUITABLE PUBLIC POLICY TO ENSURE THE LOWEST-INCOME PEOPLE HAVE QUALITY HOMES THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE IN COMMUNITIES OF THEIR CHOICE.

Income
$8.7 million
Spending
$10.2 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
24.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 81%
Employees
47
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$418,741, president and ceo

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 57% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 24.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 63% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (1)
  1. $8.7 million spent. STATE AND LOCAL INNOVATION:IN APRIL 2024, NLIHC ANNOUNCED THE LAUNCH OF OUR NEW STATE AND LOCAL INNOVATION (SLI) PROJECT. BUILDING ON THE SUCCESS OF OUR END RENTAL ARREARS TO STOP EVICTIONS (ERASE) PROJECT, THE SLI PROJECT SUPPORTS STATE AND LOCAL PARTNERS IN ADVANCING, IMPLEMENTING, AND ENFORCING STATE AND LOCAL TENANT PROTECTIONS, SUSTAINING ERA PROGRAMS, PREVENTING THE CRIMINALIZATION OF HOMELESSNESS, AND SUPPORTING THE ADVANCEMENT OF OTHER INNOVATIONS THAT KEEP EVICTION RATES DOWN AND PREVENT HOMELESSNESS. THE ERASE PROJECT CONCLUDED IN DECEMBER 2023, SUCCESSFULLY ENSURING THAT $39.9 BILLION IN EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE (ERA) WAS ISSUED TO OVER 11 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS IN NEED TWO-THIRDS OF WHICH BEING EXTREMELY LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.THE GOAL OF THE SLI PROJECT IS TO STRENGTHEN TENANTS' RIGHTS, PREVENT EVICTIONS, AND PROMOTE HOUSING STABILITY FOR RENTER HOUSEHOLDS WITH THE LOWEST INCOMES. THE SLI PROJECT ALSO AIMS TO SHAPE AND INFORM FEDERAL POLICIES THAT ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE LOWEST-INCOME AND MOST MARGINALIZED RENTERS IN THE U.S.ON AUGUST 15, 2024, NLIHC'S SLI PROJECT RELEASED A SET OF 4 STATE AND LOCAL TENANT PROTECTION TOOLKITS: JUST CAUSE EVICTION LAWS TOOLKIT RENT STABILIZATION TOOLKIT CODE ENFORCEMENT AND HABITABILITY STANDARDS TOOLKIT RENTAL JUNK FEES TOOLKITTHE TOOLKITS ENCOMPASS KEY TENANT PROTECTIONS THAT EXIST FOR RENTERS, INCLUDING "JUST CAUSE" EVICTION STANDARDS, RENT STABILIZATION POLICIES, LAWS THAT LIMIT EXCESSIVE RENTAL FEES, AND LAWS THAT STRENGTHEN CODE ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES AND HABITABILITY STANDARDS. THE TOOLKITS COVER THE DEFINITIONS OF EACH OF THESE PROTECTIONS, THE CORE COMPONENTS, INFORMATION ON STATES AND LOCALITIES THAT HAVE PASSED SUCH PROTECTIONS, WHAT RESEARCH TELLS US ABOUT EACH OF THESE PROTECTIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM TENANT ADVOCATES ON THE WAYS IN WHICH SUCH PROTECTIONS CAN BE STRENGTHENED TO COVER THE GREATEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND UNITS. THE INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ENCLOSED IN THE TOOLKITS WERE DEVELOPED THROUGH RESEARCH AND NLIHC'S PARTNERS WHO SHARED THEIR EXPERIENCES AND PERSONAL STORIES WITH THE SLI TEAM. NLIHC ENGAGED A TENANT PROTECTION WORKING GROUP FROM OCTOBER 2023 TO MARCH 2024 TO DEVELOP THE TOOLKITS AND MET WITH NLIHC'S TENANT LEADER GROUP (THE COLLECTIVE) TO DISCUSS THESE PROTECTIONS.IN 2024, NLIHC'S SLI PROJECT ALSO RELEASED A STATE AND LOCAL TENANT PROTECTIONS CASE STUDIES SERIES ENTITLED, "A PRIMER ON RENTERS' RIGHTS": HABITABILITY PROTECTIONS: TWO CASE STUDIES THIS PUBLICATION EXPLORES HABITABILITY PROTECTION MEASURES PASSED RECENTLY IN TWO JURISDICTIONS: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA AND CINCINNATI, OHIO. RENT STABILIZATION IN LOCAL JURISDICTIONS: TWO CASE STUDIES THIS PUBLICATION EXPLORES RENT STABILIZATION LAWS PASSED RECENTLY IN TWO JURISDICTIONS: PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MARYLAND AND PORTLAND, OREGON. LAWS LIMITING RENTAL JUNK FEES: TWO CASE STUDIES THIS PUBLICATION PRESENTS TWO CASE STUDIES FOCUSED ON LAWS LIMITING RENTAL JUNK FEES IN CONNECTICUT AND RHODE ISLAND.ADVANCING HOMELESSNESS SOLUTIONS:IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE TO END HOMELESSNESS (NAEH) AND THE CENTER ON BUDGET AND POLICY PRIORITIES (CBPP), NLIHC CONTINUES TO HOST A WEBINAR SERIES FOCUSED ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING FIRST THAT RECEIVED NEARLY 3,500 REGISTRANTS PER WEBINAR INCLUDING A WEBINAR ON APRIL 9TH, IN RESPONSE TO THE DECISION IN GRANTS PASS V. JOHNSON DECISION.DURING THE COURSE OF THE GRANTS PASS V. JOHNSON COURT CASE, NLIHC CREATED ADVOCACY RESOURCES INCLUDING A TOOLKIT, FACTSHEET, MOBILIZATION OPPORTUNITIES, AND TALKING POINTS. IN JULY 2024, NLIHC, NAEH, AND CBPP HOSTED A JOINT PRESS CALL TO DISCUSS THE NATIONAL STATE OF HOMELESSNESS. THE CALL WAS IN RESPONSE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT'S (HUD) RELEASE OF TWO IMPORTANT REPORTS WITH NATIONWIDE HISTORIC ESTIMATES OF HOMELESSNESS. THE CALL PROVIDED INSIGHT ON HOW TO ANALYZE THE LATEST FIGURES AND OUTLINE THE STEPS LAWMAKERS CAN TAKE TO ADDRESS HOUSING INSECURITY. THE CALL ALSO FOCUSED ON COMMUNICATING THE FACTUAL NARRATIVE OF HOW FEDERAL DISINVESTMENT IN HOUSING PROGRAMS, RISING HOUSING COSTS, A SEVERE SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOMES, AND THE END OF MANY PANDEMIC-ERA BENEFIT PROGRAMS RESULTED IN AN INCREASE IN HOMELESSNESS. THE CALL RECEIVED 48 REGISTRANTS INCLUDING REPORTERS FROM LA TIMES, DISNEY, POLITICO, BLOOMBERG, ABC, WALL STREET JOURNAL, NEW YORK TIMES, NPR, VOX MEDIA, AXIOS, AND WASHINGTON POST.DISASTER HOUSING RECOVERY, RESEARCH, AND RESILIENCE:THE NLIHC-LED DISASTER HOUSING RECOVERY COALITION (DHRC) IS FOCUSED ON BUILDING ON RECENT KEY VICTORIES, INCLUDING THE IMPROVEMENT OF NEW RESOURCES FOR HOMELESS DISASTER SURVIVORS, AND CONTINUING TO EXPAND ACCESS TO FEMA ASSISTANCE FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITHOUT TITLE DOCUMENTS. MEMBERS FROM NLIHC'S TEAM HAVE TESTIFIED BEFORE CONGRESS AT SEVERAL HEARINGS ON DISASTER READINESS AND RECOVERY, SHARING THE DHRC'S RESEARCH AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING HOW BEST TO ASSIST THE LOWEST-INCOME AND MOST MARGINALIZED DISASTER SURVIVORS.IN EARLY 2024, THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA) MADE SIGNIFICANT MODIFICATIONS TO THE AGENCY'S INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE (IA) PROGRAM TO EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO DISASTER SURVIVORS AND ADDRESS LONG-STANDING BARRIERS THAT HAVE PREVENTED MILLIONS OF DISASTER SURVIVORS FROM RECEIVING THE ASSISTANCE THEY WERE OWED. THE CHANGES TO THE IA PROGRAM WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN MADE WITHOUT THE DETERMINED AND DECADES-SPANNING EFFORTS CONDUCTED BY THE MEMBERS AND PARTNERS OF THE DHRC. THE DHRC HAS SOUGHT TO ASSIST FEMA'S IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CHANGES. AFTER THE CHANGE, THE DHRC WORKED TO EDUCATE ADVOCATES ON THE NEW CHANGES AND CATALOGUED IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES AS THEY EMERGED DURING THE 2024 ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON. IN MAY 2024, NLIHC ANNOUNCED THE EXPANSION OF ITS DISASTER HOUSING RECOVERY, RESEARCH, AND RESILIENCE (DHR) INITIATIVE. BUILDING ON THE SUCCESSES OF DHRC, THE DHR INITIATIVE PROMOTES PRO-ACTIVE APPROACHES TO ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE-INFLUENCED DISASTERS AND CLIMATE RESILIE

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

  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 2024.

    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 May 1979.

    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.