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Taller San Jose Hope Builders

EIN 59-3816355 · Santa Ana, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HOPE BUILDERS EMPOWERS DISADVANTAGED YOUNG ADULTS WITH THE MENTORSHIP, JOB SKILLS AND LIFE SKILLS TRAINING THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF EMPLOYERS.

Income
$4.0 million
Spending
$5.7 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
8.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
52
Volunteers
275
Highest pay
$186,233, secretary

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: 64 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 42% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 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. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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. $495,463 spent. APPLICANT: THE APPLICANT STAGE INCLUDES ALL THOSE WHO SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION TO HOPE BUILDERS. APPLICANTS NEED TO BE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18-28, WITH RIGHT-TO-WORK DOCUMENTS. HOPE BUILDERS CASTS A WIDE NET TO RECRUIT AS MANY APPLICANTS AS POSSIBLE. WE THOROUGHLY VET AND SCREEN EACH APPLICANT TO IDENTIFY THOSE WHO ARE MOTIVATED TO CHANGE THEIR CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES AND EXCITED TO START BUILDING THEIR CAREER. APPLICANTS, WHO COMPLETE ALL STEPS OF THE PROCESS, ARE INVITED TO ORIENTATION. AN APPLICANT WHO COMPLETES THIS STAGE MUST AGREE TO THE TRAINEE PLEDGE AND RENEW THEIR COMMITMENT TO BECOMING A HOPE BUILDER.
  2. $1.9 million spent. TRAINEE: THE TRAINEE STAGE INCLUDES THOSE WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND ENROLL IN ONE OF THE JOB TRAINING PATHWAYS (CONSTRUCTION, CHILD DEVELOPMENT, OR HEALTHCARE). THE GOAL OF THIS STAGE IS TO GET YOUNG ADULTS WORKFORCE READY. THE TRAINING SIMULATES THE WORKPLACE AND REINFORCES EMPLOYER EXPECTATIONS. HOPE BUILDERS BELIEVES THAT SKILLS TRAINING MUST ALSO INCLUDE COACHING AND MENTORING TO ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING BARRIERS TO SUCCESSFUL EMPLOYMENT. EACH TRAINING ACADEMY INCLUDES LIFE SKILLS TRAINING, CASE MANAGEMENT, BASIC SKILL ENRICHMENT, EMPLOYMENT READINESS, AND TECHNICAL SKILLS. TRAINEES RECEIVE A WEEKLY $100 STIPEND AND HAVE ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION AND CHILDCARE VOUCHERS, AS NEEDED. WORKFORCE READINESS IS ASSESSED WEEKLY. THOSE WHO HAVE NOT YET MET REQUIRED LEVEL OR WHO EXPERIENCE A SET BACK IN READINESS ARE PROVIDED SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICES TO ADDRESS BARRIERS. A TRAINEE WHO COMPLETES THIS STAGE MUST AGREE TO THE CAREER BUILDER PLEDGE AND RENEW THEIR COMMITMENT TO BECOMING A HOPE BUILDER.
  3. $1.4 million spent. CAREER BUILDER: THE CAREER BUILDER STAGE INCLUDES THE YOUNG ADULTS WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY MET WORKFORCE READINESS STANDARDS AND ARE NOW TAKING STEPS TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE. WORKFORCE READY CANDIDATES WORK CLOSELY WITH STAFF TO SECURE A QUALITY JOB WITHIN A CAREER PATHWAY. THROUGH HBCC, EMPLOYERS WHO CAN OFFER A PATHWAY TO A LIVING WAGE ARE RECRUITED AND MATCHED WITH WORKFORCE READY CANDIDATES. HBCC FOCUSES ON SUPPORTING EMPLOYERS WITH A PIPELINE OF ADEQUATE AND RELIABLE WORKFORCE. A CAREER BUILDER WHO COMPLETES THIS STAGE MUST AGREE TO THE HOPE BUILDER PLEDGE AND RENEW THEIR COMMITMENT TO BECOMING A HOPE BUILDER.HOPE BUILDER: THE HOPE BUILDER STAGE INCLUDES THOSE YOUNG ADULTS, WHO HAVE PROVEN THAT THEY HAVE DEVELOPED THE SKILLS NEEDED TO REMAIN IN A CAREER PATHWAY. HBCC CONTINUES TO OFFER JOB RETENTION SUPPORT AFTER A JOB PLACEMENT IS SECURED. THESE YOUNG ADULTS JOIN A COMMUNITY OF OTHER SUCCESSFUL HOPE BUILDERS, WHO HAVE FOUND AND RETAINED A QUALITY JOB THE KIND THAT PROVIDES A CAREER PATHWAY AND HAS LED TO LIVING-WAGE EMPLOYMENT. HOPE BUILDERS CONSIDERS SIX MONTHS OF RETENTION IN A CAREER PATHWAY, WITH A LIVING-WAGE SALARY, TO BE THE ULTIMATE MARKER OF SUCCESS; RESEARCH TELLS US THAT WHEN SOMEONE IS EMPLOYED FOR SIX MONTHS, THEY ARE MOST LIKELY TO REMAIN IN THE WORKFORCE. THROUGHOUT THIS STAGE, STAFF FOLLOWS UP WITH BOTH THE EMPLOYED STUDENT AND THE EMPLOYER AT SPECIFIC INTERVALS TO ENSURE EMPLOYMENT RETENTION. A HOPE BUILDER CONTINUES THEIR JOURNEY OF GROWTH OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE PROGRAM AS A SPOKESPERSON FOR HOPE BUILDERS.

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 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 June 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 September 2006.

    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.