Assistance League of Houston
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Assistance League of Houston is a chartered chapter of the National Assistance League that provides various forms of assistance, including clothing, financial assistance, food and gifts primarily to children in need in schools and hospitals in the Houston Area.
- Income
- $684,644
- Spending
- $426,219
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 80%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 75
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 38% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 972% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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)
- $109,937 spent. Operation School Bell is the signature philanthropic program of the National Assistance League and one of the oldest and largest of Assistance League of Houston's programs in which school uniforms and new school-appropriate clothing are provided to economically disadvantaged schoolchildren. New clothing makes it possible for students to attend school appropriately dressed and prepared, boosting each child's self-confidence, school attendance, and classroom performance. The program currently serves schools in the Spring Branch, Houston and Alief Independent School Districts, and Harris County Area I Head Start Schools. During the year ended May 31, 2025, 4,783 children received new school uniforms.
- $137,007 spent. The organization's scholarship program awards scholarships annually to students in participating schools who have financial need, including some with physical and learning disabilities, and who have demonstrated scholastic achievement. The scholarships are intended to encourage committed students to pursue their education through high school and beyond. During the year ended May 31, 2025, 41 students received approximately $127,000 in financial assistance.
- $31,933 spent. The annual holiday party was held at Texas Children's Hospital this year, where gift cards were presented for food, clothing and other items to patients and their families. Families are sponsored by organization members, local businesses and individual donors. In December 2024, 40 patients and their families received more than $21,000 in gift cards through this program.
- $13,602 spent. Assistance League Reads (formerly Head Start Readers) encourages literacy through our reading to children. Assistance League of Houston volunteers provide a Literacy Enrichment Program to students at Harris County Head Start schools and Tiger Trail School where 2,000 books were given to students and volunteers read to the children.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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 May 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 April 1967.
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.