The Sewanee Hospitality Shop Auxiliary Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
This not for profit organization's mission is to support the economically disadvantaged population of a Tennessee Tri-county area, through sales of gently used clothing, household goods and books at a thrift store located on a University Campus. Substantially all goods are donated by the general public and the store is at least 95 staffed by volunteers who donate their time to the mission of the store. The central program is to award scholarships to local high school students going into allied health, through money earned in a thrift shop maintained by the organization.
- Income
- $86,536
- Spending
- $84,027
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- 19.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 97%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $35,100, shop manager
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (health care, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 19.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (health care, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 (1)
- $80,088 spent. Award multi-year scholarships to local high school students in our tri-county area, through money earned in our thrift shop, managed, staffed and run by our organization. The scholarships awarded are for more than one 1 year. We mentor the scholarship recipients, to ensure student success. The scholarship award program requires the students to maintain an academic B average, in order for each student to remain in the program. Scholarships are for colleges, universities, nursing schools, medical programs such as Emergency Medical Technician EMT training, etc.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 June 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.