James Island Outreach
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
JAMES ISLAND OUTREACH UPLIFTS AND UNITES OUR COMMUNITY BY HELPING NEIGHBORS WITH BASIC AND EMERGENCY SERVICES.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 3.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 365
- Highest pay
- $72,080, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 59% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (4)
- $711,895 spent. FOOD ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED THROUGH A CLIENT-CHOICE PANTRY TO PROMOTE PRODUCE AND MEATS, BAKERY ITEMS AND NON-PERISHABLES BASED ON HOUSEHOLD NUTRITION NEEDS AND PREFERENCES. SERVING AN AVERAGE OF 298 HOUSEHOLDS PER MONTH, 337,821 POUNDS OF FOOD, VALUED AT $584,430, WAS DISTRIBUTED TO NEIGHBORS IN NEED. ADDITIONALLY, CLIENTS CAN REALIZE AN ADDITIONAL 42,966 POUNDS OF FOOD, VALUED AT $74,331, WAS DISTRIBUTED TO OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS FIGHTING HUNGER IN THE CHARLESTON COMMUNITY.
- $3,573 spent. FINANCIAL RESOURCES WORKSHOP. LAUNCHED IN 2023, THIS PROGRAM OFFERS TWICE MONTHLY WORKSHOPS FOR CLIENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO LEARN ABOUT LOCAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO HELP THEM INCREASE INCOME AND DECREASE EXPENSES. LED BY VOLUNTEER FACILITATORS, IN 2025, 22 WORKSHOPS WERE HELD WITH A TOTAL OF 117 ATTENDEES. IN THE FALL OF 2025, THE WORKSHOP WAS EXPANDED TO A TWO PART SERIES, ADDING A SECOND WORKSHOP IN WHICH ATTENDEES RECEIVE ONE-ON-ONE COACHING TO DEVELOP A HOUSEHOLD PLAN BASED ON THEIR EXPENSES AND INCOME.
- $60,633 spent. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND REFERRALS ARE PROVIDED TO HELP NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, HOUSING INSECURITY AND OTHER ECONOMIC CHALLENGES. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE WITH UTILITY BILLS TOTALING $22,894 WAS PROVIDED TO 122 HOUSEHOLDS.
- $315,185 spent. THE HART CRITICAL HOME REPAIRS PROGRAM HELPS CLIENTS WITH CRITICAL REPAIRS SUCH AS LEAKING ROOFS, DAMAGED FLOORS, PLUMBING LEAKS AND WINDOW REPLACEMENTS. HOME REPAIRS TOTALING $38,363 WERE ACCOMPLISHED IN 2025 COVERING 7 SEPARATE PROJECTS. THE BACKPACK BUDDIES PROGRAM PROVIDES BAGS OF INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED FOOD ITEMS EVERY WEEKEND DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR TO STUDENTS WHO RELY ON THE SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAMS DURING THE WEEK. ALL 7 JAMES ISLAND SCHOOLS ARE SERVED, AND THE PROGRAM IS ADMINISTERED COMPLETELY BY VOLUNTEERS. IN 2025, NEARLY 200 STUDENTS EACH SCHOOL WEEK BENEFITTED FROM THIS PROGRAM.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 November 6, 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 2025.
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 May 1991.
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 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.