Urban Hope Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The primary focus of Urban Hope is to partner with families who seek affordable rental housing and/or home ownership.
- Income
- $1.9 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- -20.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 82%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 70
- Highest pay
- $113,526, 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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 50% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% 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 2511 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
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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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, 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)
- $1.1 million spent. Highlights of Urban Hopes program accomplishments for 2024: By the end of 2024, Urban Hope provided 35 units of rental housing, with 104 tenants housed throughout the year and living in stable, safe, affordable housing. With tremendous community support, Urban Hope kept 90% of our tenants stably and safely housed throughout the last year. Several of our clients moved from unstable circumstances and escaped displacement by transitioning into our rentals. Urban Hope completed its second new construction project on a land bank lot awarded by the City of Richmond, hired two new staff members, completed a capital campaign for our HW renovations, and were awarded over $1M in competitive grants for the preservation of 16 of our units. Urban Hope maintained partnership with 52 private lenders, which supported the purchase and renovation of properties. Urban Hope continued its successful financial cohort program, matching their savings 5:1, and reducing client debt, helping secure a drivers license and a new car, and much more. We continued offering financial health to the public as well. Urban Hope made great strides towards our mission of making home a cornerstone of opportunity by keeping it affordable.
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 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 October 13, 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 2024.
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 January 2001.
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 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.