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St Francis House Inc

EIN 59-1978981 · Gainesville, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak30 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Empowering families with chidren to achieve permanent and stable self-sufficiency by providing case management; nutritious meals; and educational, health and career resources; in a safe and secure environment.

Income
$849,037
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
-5.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 58%
Employees
31
Volunteers
300
Highest pay
$80,600, ceo and executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 30 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (housing, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 65% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (housing, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 September 30, 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 (3)
  1. $592,686 spent. Main Street Shelter. Our main location can provide emergency shelter to eight families at a time, which is generally 35 to 40 people each night. While residing at the shelter, guests receive three meals a day, are assigned an individualized case plan, and receive other supportive services including rental and utility assistance. Additionally, the Main Street Shelter offers a free meal, case management services, and basic needs to anyone in need (known as day guests), between 9:00 am 12:00 pm daily. If the temperature drops below 45 degrees or there is a severe weather emergency (hurricane, tornado, etc.), the City of Gainesville will allow the Main Street Shelter to open for Cold Night Shelter, in which we have space for an extra 60 clients.
  2. $166,697 spent. Sunrise Apartments. Sunrise Residence Inn was established by St. Francis House in 2000. Sunrise is a permanent housing program that assists homeless working individuals whose goal is to become self-sufficient. Since affordable housing is difficult to find in Gainesville, the program at times also invites persons who receive disability income to participate. Some residents use the program for a year or two, then move on to private housing. Others, who have fixed incomes, have lived at Sunrise since it was opened. Residents work with a case manager based on their personalized case plans.
  3. $111,695 spent. Arbor House. Arbor House provides affordable housing in a communal setting to working mothers with children. There are 13 rooms available for rent; residents enjoy their own room, but share bathrooms, kitchen, and living room spaces with other tenants. Each family works with a case manager to design a plan to move to self-sufficiency. Low-income families who cannot afford market rent benefit from this set-up since they work as a community to achieve similar goals. The extended time families can stay at Arbor House, in accordance with their case management plan, allows mothers to pursue education and skills, and thus, increase their incomes.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1981.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.