National Domestic Violence Hotline
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE PROVIDES CRISIS INTERVENTION, SAFTEY PLANNING, RESOURCES, INFORMATION, AND REFERRALS TO THOSE AFFECTED BY RELATIONSHIP ABUSE.
- Income
- $28.0 million
- Spending
- $28.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 2.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 77%
- Employees
- 286
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $458,666, chief executive officer
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
Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 26% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2521 of 21 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 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)
- $22.7 million spent. THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE (THE HOTLINE) IS A VITAL SERVICE: OUR MISSION IS TO ANSWER THE CALL TO SUPPORT AND SHIFT POWER BACK TO THOSE AFFECTED BY RELATIONSHIP ABUSE - 24/7/365. ESTABLISHED IN 1996 AND HEADQUARTERED IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, THE HOTLINE IS THE ONLY NATIONAL 24-HOUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE SERVING THE UNITED STATES AND ITS TERRITORIES, PROVIDING COMPASSIONATE SUPPORT, LIFE-SAVING RESOURCES, AND PERSONALIZED SAFETY PLANNING VIA PHONE, ONLINE CHAT, AND TEXT. THE HOTLINE'S FRONTLINE STAFF ("ADVOCATES") ARE HIGHLY TRAINED TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT, UNDERSTAND EACH VICTIM'S UNIQUE SITUATION, AND HELP THEM IDENTIFY OPTIONS FOR A SAFER FUTURE.CONTINUED TO SCHEDULE OTO DATE THE HOTLINE HAS ANSWERED MORE THAN 7 MILLION CALLS, CHATS, AND TEXTS. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH THROUGH BILINGUAL ADVOCATES AND IN MORE THAN 200 OTHER LANGUAGES THROUGH TRANSLATION. THE HOTLINE IS A CRITICAL RESOURCE FOR SURVIVORS, OFTEN THE FIRST SOURCE TO VALIDATE THAT ABUSE IS BEING EXPERIENCED, AND A TRUSTED PROVIDER OF RESOURCES, REFERRALS, AND SAFETY PLANNING.IN 2007, THE HOTLINE ESTABLISHED LOVE IS RESPECT, AN INITIATIVE THAT ENGAGES, EDUCATES, AND EMPOWERS YOUNG PEOPLE TO PREVENT AND END ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS. LOVE IS RESPECT IS A SAFE, INCLUSIVE SPACE WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN ACCESS INFORMATION AND GET 24/7 HELP THROUGH PHONE, DIGITAL CHAT, AND TEXT IN AN ENVIRONMENT DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR THEM. LOVE IS RESPECT MOBILIZES PARENTS, EDUCATORS, AND PEERS TO RAISE AWARENESS ON HEALTHY DATING BEHAVIORS AND HOW TO IDENTIFY UNHEALTHY AND ABUSIVE PATTERNS.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1979.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.