Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Haywood Vocational Opportunities Inc

EIN 56-1651554 · Waynesville, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HVO IS A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT IN MANUFACTURING AND SERVICES. WE EMPOWER ALL INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES THROUGH VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, SUPPORTING THEIR JOURNEY TOWARD INDEPENDENCE AND SUCCESS.

Income
$10.0 million
Spending
$11.2 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
4.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 87%
Employees
267
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$158,373, plant manage

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • 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

    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

    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 June 30, 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)
  1. $7.7 million spent. HVO CREATES PATHWAYS TO INDEPENDENCE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES BY OFFERING VOCATIONAL TRAINING, COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT, AND SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY INTEGRATION OPPORTUNITIES.
  2. $1.1 million spent. HVO OPERATES AN EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT PREPARE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES FOR SUCCESS IN THE WORKFORCE. THROUGH ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, COACHING, AND SKILSS DEVELOPMENT, PARTICIPANTS GAIN CONFIDENCE, EARN INCOME, AND ACHIEVE GREATER SELF-SUFFICIENCY. IN THE MOST RECENT YEAR, HVO PROVIDED VOCATIONAL SERVICES TO 172 INDIVIDUALS, HELPING 22 SECURE AND MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT IN THE COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION TO VOCATIONAL TRAINING, HVO PARTNERS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO CREATE INCLUSIVE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. THESE PARTNERSHIPS NOT ONLY EXPAND JOB PLACEMENTS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES BUT ALSO STRENGTHEN THE LOCAL ECONOMY. HVO STAFF PROVIDE ONGOING SUPPORT TO EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES, ENSURING LONG-TERM JOB SUCCESS AND WORKPLACE INTEGRATION. HVO OPERATES AN EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT PREPARE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES FOR SUCCESS IN THE WORKFORCE. THROUGH ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, COACHING, AND SKILSS DEVELOPMENT, PARTICIPANTS GAIN CONFIDENCE, EARN INCOME, AND ACHIEVE GREATER SELF-SUFFICIENCY. IN THE MOST RECENT YEAR, HVO PROVIDED VOCATIONAL SERVICES TO 172 INDIVIDUALS, HELPING 22 SECURE AND MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT IN THE COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION TO VOCATIONAL TRAINING, HVO PARTNERS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO CREATE INCLUSIVE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. THESE PARTNERSHIPS NOT ONLY EXPAND JOB PLACEMENTS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES BUT ALSO STRENGTHEN THE LOCAL ECONOMY. HVO STAFF PROVIDE ONGOING SUPPORT TO EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES, ENSURING LONG-TERM JOB SUCCESS AND WORKPLACE INTEGRATION.
  3. HVO'S IMPACT EXTENDS BEYOND DIRECT EMPLOYMENT. BY EQUIPPING INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES WITH PRACTICAL SKILLS AND A STEADY INCOME, THE ORGANIZATION REDUCES BARRIERS TO INDEPENDENCE AND ENHANCES QUALITY OF LIFE. FAMILIES BENEFIT FROM INCREASED STABILITY, WHILE LOCAL BUSINESSES GAIN RELIABLE, SKILLED EMPLOYEES. AS A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE, HVO REINVESTS RESOURCES FROM ITS MANUFACTURING AND SERVICE OPERATIONS INTO OUR TRAINING PROGRAMS, SUSTAINING A CYCLE OF OPPORTUNITY AND EMPOWERMENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 November 6, 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 June 2025.

    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 October 1989.

    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 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.