Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF GREATER CHATTANOOGA (HFH-GC) BRINGS TOGETHER BUSINESSES, CHURCHES, AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOW INCOME FAMILIES TO SPARK AUTHENTIC TRANSFORMATION IN OUR CITY THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION OF SIMPLE, DECENT, AFFORDABLE AND SAFE HOMES.
- Income
- $4.3 million
- Spending
- $2.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 20.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 51%
- Employees
- 41
- Volunteers
- 1,605
- Highest pay
- $179,789, 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 20.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 70% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (4)
- $1.6 million spent. THE LARGEST PORTION OF HFH-GC'S PROGRAM IS THE PROCESS OF HOME BUILDING. THIS INCLUDES LAND ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT, HOME DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT, AND RELATED EFFORTS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE CREATION OF AFFORDABLE HOMES THAT ARE SOLD AT COMPLETION TO QUALIFIED FAMILIES THROUGH ZERO PERCENT INTEREST LOAN SUPPORT AND AT NO PROFIT.
- $475,479 spent. THE SECOND LARGEST PORTION OF HFH-GC'S PROGRAM IS THE RESTORE OPERATION. RESTORE HELPS RECYCLE NEW AND USED CABINETS, APPLIANCES, LIGHTING, HARDWARE AND OTHER ITEMS DONATED BY AREA BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS INTO THE COMMUNITY, WHILE GENERATING FUNDS TO SUPPORT HABITAT'S WORK IN CHATTANOOGA.
- $343,375 spent. THE THIRD LARGEST PORTION OF HFH-GC'S PROGRAM COVERS THE PROCESS OF RECRUITING AND IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL HABITAT PARTNER FAMILIES, AND WORKING WITH THEM THROUGH THE HABITAT APPLICATION PROCESS, A COMPREHENSIVE HOME OWNERSHIP EDUCATION PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDES COURSES ON HOME MAINTENANCE AND ON FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, AND FOLLOW UP SUPPORT ONCE THEY ARE LIVING IN THEIR NEW HOME. THIS SUPPORT SPANS THE 30+ YEAR LIFE OF THEIR HABITAT ZERO-INTEREST MORTGAGE.
- $262,000 spent. ZERO INTEREST LOANS ARE EXTENDED TO PARTNER FAMILIES AT A DISCOUNT FAR BELOW MARKET RATE MORTGAGE COSTS, ALLOWING PARTNER FAMILIES TO STRETCH PRECIOUS RESOURCES. MORTGAGE DISCOUNTS ARE EXPENSED AND AMORTIZED ON THOSE MORTGAGE LOANS THAT ARE HELD IN-HOUSE, RATHER THAN BEING SOLD TO ASSET RECOVERY PROGRAMS LIKE TENNESSEE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES NEW START PROGRAM.
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
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 October 13, 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 June 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 January 1987.
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 October 21, 2026.
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