Eastern Sierra Community Housing Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Eastern Sierra Community Housing (ESCH), has spearheaded a workforce housing development program targeted at tackling one of the toughest issues facing Sierra communities today. The private, not-for-profit, organization was established in 2003 and has made significant progress toward mitigating the affordable housing problem that exists in the community.
- Income
- $1.7 million
- Spending
- $923,883
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- -176.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 80%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 9
- Highest pay
- $120,000, secretary, ed
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: 47 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 81% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 47% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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 259 of 9 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 (1)
- $801,667 spent. Since its inception, the Organization has turned its initial start-up funds of $210,000, into nearly $62 million in grants, bonds, and tax credits for workforce housing and directly created 130 rental and ownership homes within the Town of Mammoth Lakes. Through home buyer assistance programs in Mono County, the Town of Mammoth Lakes, and the City of Bishop, the organization has assisted 125 (as of Feb. 2019) households purchase safe, affordable housing. Among other services, ESCH provides stewardship of 50+ community land trust ownership homes. The Organization now includes a four full-time staff and a nine-member Board of Directors which actively work to fulfill their mission to support workforce housing for a viable local economy and a sustainable community. Through collaborative public/private partnerships with local jurisdictions and for-profit resort and housing developers, ESCH is increasing the supply of housing that is affordable to the Eastern Sierras workforce and families. ESCH has been successful in providing housing through a variety of programs. Utilizing state, federal, and local funding sources Eastern Sierra Community Housing has developed and/or rehabilitated nearly 200 homes in the region. ESCH currently operates a down payment assistance program to help homebuyers into homeownership. Recently, the organization purchased a commercial building with the intention of converting it into an affordable rental development.ESCH has worked closely with the Town of Mammoth Lakes to implement the Housing Element and the housing requirements of the Towns Municipal Code. This contractual relationship has effectively secured a grant and other funding, developed a more effective deed restriction program, and spurred the development of affordable units to meet the Regional Housing Needs, determined by the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
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 June 2004.
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.
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.