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Passes our checks

Habitat for Humanity International Inc

EIN 57-0978123 · Summerville, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DORCHESTER HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, INC.'S ("DHFH") MISSION STATEMENT IS "PUTTING GOD'S LOVE INTO ACTION BY BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER BUILDING HOMES AND HOPE." DHFH WAS FOUNDED IN 1993 AND HAS BUILT SEVENTY-FIVE (75) HOMES AND THREE (3) REHABS. DHFH IS AN APPROVED AFFILIATE OF HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INTERNATIONAL ("HFHI"), BUT IT DOES NOT RECEIVE ANY MONETARY FUNDING FROM HFHI. DHFH BUILDS NEW HOMES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOW-WEALTH FAMILIES IN DORCHESTER COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA, WHO HAVE A DEMONSTRATED NEED FOR AFFORDABLE AND DECENT HOUSING. HABITAT HOMES ARE BUILT BY DHFH'S CONSTRUCTION CREW AND HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDING FUTURE AND CURRENT HABITAT HOMEOWNERS. DHFH SELLS HABITAT HOMES TO QUALIFIED FUTURE HOMEOWNERS IN ITS HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM.

Income
$4.5 million
Spending
$3.9 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
11 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 45%
Employees
39
Volunteers
775
Highest pay
$94,613, president & ceo

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

Strong: 93 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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 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. $2.9 million spent. RESTORE PROGRAM - DHFH OPERATES A RESTORE WHICH SELLS DONATED ITEMS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC TAX-FREE AND AT REDUCED PRICES. PROCEEDS FROM RESTORE SALES ARE USED TO FUND DHFH'S CONSTRUCTION AND HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM. THE RESTORE IS OPEN EACH WEEK MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY FROM 9 AM - 7 PM FOR SHOPPING AND TO ACCEPT DONATIONS. THE RESTORE ALSO PERFORMS SCHEDULED PICK-UPS FROM HOMES AND BUSINESSES SIX DAYS A WEEK. LOCAL BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS GENEROUSLY DONATE NEW AND GENTLY USED ITEMS TO THE RESTORE. THE RESTORE UTILIZES HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS TO KEEP ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS DOWN.
  2. $774,975 spent. CONSTRUCTION AND HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM - DHFH PARTNERS WITH LOW-WEALTH FAMILIES IN NEED OF AFFORDABLE AND DECENT HOUSING TO BUILD NEW HOMES THAT ARE SOLD TO THE QUALIFIED FUTURE HOMEOWNERS. DHFH'S HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM REQUIRES THAT FAMILIES: HAVE LIVED AND/OR WORKED IN DORCHESTER COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR; DEMONSTRATE A NEED FOR AFFORDABLE AND DECENT HOUSING; EARN BETWEEN 35%-80% OF THE MEDIAN INCOME FOR DORCHESTER COUNTY, BASED UPON THE SIZE OF THE FAMILY THAT WILL RESIDE IN THE HABITAT HOME; HAVE AND MAINTAIN A HOUSING EXPENSES-TO-INCOME RATIO OF 32% OR LESS; HAVE AND MAINTAIN A DEBT-TO-INCOME RATIO AT OR BELOW 40%; HAVE AND MAINTAIN A GOOD CREDIT HISTORY; WORK AT LEAST 425 "SWEAT-EQUITY" HOURS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DHFH; AND PASS CRIMINAL RECORD AND SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY CHECKS.
  3. N/A

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? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 January 1987.

    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.