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Project Hope Foundation Inc

EIN 58-2324540 · Greenville, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak41 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROJECT HOPE FOUNDATION PROVIDES A LIFESPAN OF AUTISM SERVICES THROUGH ITS NINE PROGRAMS THAT FOCUS ON INDIVIDUAL, GROUP, CLASSROOM, AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION. ITS MISSION IS TO HELP FAMILIES, OPEN MINDS, PROMOTE INCLUSION, AND EXPAND POTENTIAL.

Income
$21.8 million
Spending
$22.1 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
-0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 83%
Employees
323
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$131,800, executive di

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

Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 49% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 38 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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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. $18.0 million spent. TO PROMOTE INCLUSION AND EXPAND POTENTIAL, WE PROVIDE A VARIETY OF CLASSROOM OPPORTUNITIES THORUGH OUR HOPE ACADEMY PROGRAM, INCLUDING INCLUSION CLASSROOMS WHERE CHILDREN WITH AUTISM LEARN SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH TYPICAL PEERS IN A MAINSTREAM CLASSROOM; AUTISM-SPECIFIC CLASSROOMS THAT FOCUS ON ACADEMICS AS WELL AS BUILDING SELF-HELP, COMMUNICATION, AND COMMUNITY SKILLS; BEHAVIORAL CLASSROOMS THAT FOCUS ON SELF-HELP AND COMMUNITY INTERACTION SKILLS; AND COMPUTER-BASED CLASSROOMS THAT ENABLE STUDENTS WITH AUTISM TO EARN A DIPLOMA WITHOUT THE ORGANIZATION AND SOCIAL STRESSES OF MAINSTEAM CLASSROOMS. THE PROGRAM SERVES APPOXIMATELY 85 STUDENTS IN PRE-K THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOMS.
  2. $585,747 spent. IN OUR HOPE REACH PROGRAM, WE OPEN MINDS BY PROVIDING 25-40 HOURS PER WEEK OF INTENSE APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS (ABA) THERAPY FOCUSING ON LANGUAGE, BEHAVIORAL, SOCIAL, AND COGNITIVE SKILLS TO OVER 60 CHILDREN WITH AUTISM.
  3. $1.3 million spent. TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM AND RELATED DISORDERS, WITH SUPPORT INFORMATION, AND HOPE IN THE PURSUIT OF HELPING POTENTIAL EMERGE FROM EACH SUCH INDIVIDUAL.

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 October 13, 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 September 1998.

    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 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.