Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Caritas of Austin

EIN 74-1909670 · Austin, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CARITAS OF AUSTIN PROVIDES A HOME AND TAILORED SERVICES TO PREVENT AND END HOMELESSNESS.

Income
$18.4 million
Spending
$19.5 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 68%
Employees
167
Volunteers
2,293
Highest pay
$219,375, president & ceo

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

Weak: 44 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 65% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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, 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. $8.7 million spent. SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAMS PROVIDE PERMANENT HOUSING WITH ON-SITE AND OFF-SITE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED LONG-TERM HOMELESSNESS AND WHO ARE RECOVERING FROM THE TRAUMA THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED WHILE BEING HOMELESS.
  2. $3.8 million spent. BEST SINGLE SOURCE PLUS (BSS PLUS) COLLABORATION IS COMPRISED OF LOCAL NONPROFITS REFERRED TO AS PARTNER AGENCIES AND AIMS TO STREAMLINE HOUSING SERVICES, IMPROVE EFFICIENCY, AND ELIMINATE BARRIERS FOR THOSE SEEKING ASSISTANCE FOR HOUSING STABILITY. PARTICIPATING AGENCIES INCLUDE: BUILDING PROMISE USA, CARITAS OF AUSTIN, DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT, FAMILY ELDERCARE, FOUNDATION FOR THE HOMELESS, LIFEWORKS AUSTIN, SUNRISE COMMUNITY CHURCH, THE SAFE ALLIANCE, THE SALVATION ARMY - AUSTIN AREA COMMAND. BSS+ PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT AND BASIC NEEDS SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY. THE PROGRAM IS BASED ON A RAPID REHOUSING (RRH) MODEL THAT UTILIZES PROGRESSIVE ENGAGEMENT INTERVENTIONS. THE PRIMARY GOAL IS TO ENCOURAGE HOUSING STABILITY TO PREVENT AND END HOMELESSNESS. CARITAS OF AUSTIN IS THE LEAD FISCAL AGENT, MANAGING ALL PROGRAM OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTERING CONTRACT FUNDS.
  3. $1.6 million spent. THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERAN FAMILIES PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO INCREASE HOUSING STABILITY FOR VETERAN FAMILIES THAT ARE AT-RISK OF HOMELESSNESS OR EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. SUPPORTIVE SERVICES INCLUDE OUTREACH, CASE MANAGEMENT, HELP IN OBTAINING VA BENEFITS, EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND ASSISTANCE OBTAINING AND COORDINATING OTHER PUBLIC BENEFITS.
  4. $2.6 million spent. REFUGEE SERVICES FOR DOCUMENTED REFUGEES BEGINS WITH THEIR ARRIVAL IN AUSTIN AND INCLUDES EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE AND CONNECTION TO OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES. THE GOAL OF THESE SERVICES IS TO HELP REFUGEES TRANSITION TO LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES AND ACHIEVE SELF-SUFFICIENCY WITHIN THEIR FIRST SIX MONTHS OF ARRIVAL. REFUGEES SERVED ARE APPROVED FOR RESETTLEMENT BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.EMPLOYMENT SERVICES PROGRAM PROVIDES CLIENTS OPPORTUNITIES TO FIND AND KEEP JOBS IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. CLIENTS RECEIVE ASSISTANCE WITH SHORT-TERM JOB PLACEMENT AS WELL AS LONG-TERM CAREER DEVELOPMENT. SERVICES INCLUDE: PRE-EMPLOYMENT PREPARATION SUCH AS JOB READINESS TRAINING, VOCATIONAL CERTIFICATION, ESL CLASSES, AND ASSISTANCE WITH PROFESSIONAL RECERTIFICATION; REFERRAL AND PLACEMENT; WORK AUTHORIZATION; LOGISTICAL SUPPORT; NEW HIRE PAPERWORK ASSISTANCE; AND POST-HIRE SUPPORT.FOOD SERVICES CONSIST OF THE CARITAS COMMUNITY KITCHEN AND FOOD PANTRY. EACH WEEKDAY THE CARITAS COMMUNITY KITCHEN SERVES A HOT, NUTRITIOUS LUNCH TO OVER 300 PEOPLE, NO QUESTIONS ASKED. THE FOOD PANTRY PROVIDES GROCERIES AND HYGIENE ITEMS TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ALREADY RECEIVING SERVICES FROM CARITAS OF AUSTIN.EDUCATION CLASSES PROVIDE CLIENTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO ENRICH THEIR LIVES AND SUPPORT THEIR PATH TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THE PROGRAM TAKES A HOLISTIC APPROACH BY TEACHING THE PARTICIPANTS THE TOOLS THEY WILL NEED TO ACHIEVE THEIR PERSONAL AND FINANCIAL GOALS. CARITAS' EDUCATION CLASSES FOCUS ON THREE AREAS: LIFE SKILLS, MONEY MANAGEMENT, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.OTHER PROGRAM SUPPORT INCLUDES CLASSES FOR HIGHLY TRAINED VOLUNTEERS THAT MENTOR PERSONS EXPERIENCING POVERTY AND NEWLY-ARRIVED DOCUMENTED REFUGEES AS THESE PERSONS MOVE FROM CRISIS-DRIVEN LIVES TO STABLE, SELF-SUFFICIENT LIVES. IT ALSO INCLUDES PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY SCREENING, SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS WITH PROGRAM STAFF, AND REFERRING INDIVIDUALS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES.

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

  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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1977.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.