Skip to the page content
Your donations
Check before you give

National Housing Trust

EIN 52-1477599 · Washington, DC

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair66 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE NATIONAL HOUSING TRUST'S MISSION IS TO CREATE AND PRESERVE AFFORDABLE HOMES TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY, ADVANCE RACIAL EQUITY, REDUCE ECONOMIC DISPARITIES, AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY RESILIENCE THROUGH PRACTICE AND POLICY.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$4.0 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
43.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
67
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$361,409, president

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

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 43.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 52% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 80% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
  1. $1.2 million spent. ENERGY EFFICIENCY: THE NATIONAL HOUSING TRUST IS COMMITTED TO PROMOTING ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY FOR LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. NHT'S UNIQUE APPROACH TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY INCLUDES POLICY ADVOCACY, GREEN LENDING, RENEWABLE ENERGY, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. IN COMBINATION, THESE STRATEGIES RESULT IN HEALTHIER PLACES FOR LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS TO LIVE, REDUCE OPERATIONAL COSTS, AND RESULT IN RESIDENT SAVINGS AND A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT.
  2. $1.2 million spent. ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY: THE NATIONAL HOUSING TRUST BELIEVES IN A BALANCED APPROACH TO FAIR HOUSING, WHICH PROMOTES ACCESS TO HIGH OPPORTUNITY COMMUNITIES THROUGH MOBILITY, WHILE ENSURING THAT RESIDENTS WHO REMAIN IN NEIGHBORHOODS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING DISTRESS AND CONCENTRATED POVERTY HAVE ACCESS TO HOUSING RESOURCES AND INVESTMENTS THAT IMPROVE THEIR HOUSING. THIS APPROACH ALLOWS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVATION IN A VARIETY OF AREAS, WHILE ENSURING THAT RESIDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHERE THEY LIVE. FOR NHT, OPPORTUNITY MEANS GIVING FAMILIES AND ELDERLY RESIDENTS A CHOICE THAT IS BEST FOR THEM. CHOICE MEANS BOTH IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS OF LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS SUPPORTING MOBILITY TO "HIGH OPPORTUNITY" NEIGHBORHOODS.
  3. $663,327 spent. THE TRUST PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES AND STAFF IN CONNECTION WITH FEDERAL LEGISLATION AFFECTING THE EXISTING SUPPLY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE TRUST PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON A PRO BONO BASIS TO NON-PROFITS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND TENANT ASSOCIATIONS SEEKING TO PRESERVE AFFORDABLE LOW-INCOME HOUSING IN A NUMBER OF STATES. IN 8 STATES, THE TRUST ENGAGED UTILITIES, HOUSING FINANCE AGENCIES AND NONPROFIT HOUSING DEVELOPERS TO RECOMMEND THAT UTILITIES PROVIDE A FAIR SHARE OF UTILITY PROGRAM ENERGY RETROFIT FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING OCCUPIED BY LOW INCOME RENTERS. FEDERAL & STATE POLICY WORK: THE NATIONAL HOUSING TRUST ADVANCES FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL POLICIES THAT CREATE EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES BY SAFEGUARDING OUR NATION'S AFFORDABLE HOMES. WE WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS TO PRESERVE AND IMPROVE AFFORDABLE MULTIFAMILY RENTAL HOUSING BY: PROVIDING RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS ON OUR NATION'S AT-RISK AFFORDABLE HOMES; SHAPING LEGISLATION AND POLICY IMPLEMENTATION TO PROTECT EXISTING HOUSING RESOURCES; DOCUMENTING SUCCESSFUL, COST EFFECTIVE AND REPLICABLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRESERVATION STATE AND LOCAL POLICY SOLUTIONS; EXPANDING AND IMPROVING UTILITY ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS TO DRIVE LARGE-SCALE EFFICIENCY INVESTMENTS IN AFFORDABLE MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS; LEADING A COALITION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRESERVATION ADVOCATES AND PRACTITIONERS KNOWN AS THE PRESERVATION WORKING GROUP; PROVIDING RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS ON OUR NATION'S AT-RISK AFFORDABLE HOMES; AND JOINTLY LEADING A POWERFUL COLLABORATION TO INTRODUCE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC ENERGY EFFICIENCY INVESTMENT INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1986.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Caution.

    California's Attorney General lists its registration as revoked as of December 31, 1990. Organizations on this list may not solicit donations in California.

    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.