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Helps International Incorporated

EIN 75-1966419 · Addison, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceFair60 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HELPS INTERNATIONAL (HELPS) PROVIDES ENDURING PROGRAMS OF PRACTICAL, SOCIAL AND SPIRITUAL VALUE TO THE PEOPLE IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD THROUGH A SYSTEM OF PARTNERSHIP AND MUTUAL RESPONSIBILITY. HELPS TAKES AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO POVERTY REDUCTION WITH PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON FOUR KEY AREAS: AGRICULTURE, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE.

Income
$4.5 million
Spending
$4.6 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
17.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 81%
Employees
0
Volunteers
793
Highest pay
$170,183, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $1.8 million spent. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: HELPS' COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS DRAMATICALLY IMPROVING HEALTH & SAFETY IN RURAL AREAS BY INSTALLING FUEL-EFFICIENT COOK STOVES, WATER FILTERS & OTHER HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS. THE OPEN FIRES TRADITIONALLY UTILIZED FOR COOKING INSIDE OF HOMES LEADS TO DIVESTING RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS & SEVERE BURNS. ADDITIONALLY, WATERBORNE DISEASES ARE A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM IN GUATEMALA, WHERE MILLIONS LACK ACCESS TO CLEAN DRINKING WATER. HELPS VOLUNTEERS INSTALL ONIL STOVES & WATER FILTERS IN THOUSANDS OF POVERTY STRICKEN GUATEMALAN HOMES EACH YEAR THEREBY REDUCING HEALTH PROBLEMS & CREATING NEW SOCIAL & ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, ESPECIALLY FOR FEMALES. SINCE 2002, MORE THAN 232,000 ONIL COOK STOVES AND MORE THAN 207,000 ONIL WATER FILTERS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED. IN 2024, HELPS DISTRIBUTED 1,840 ONIL COOK STOVES & 1,598 ONIL WATER FILTERS.
  2. $1.2 million spent. HEALTH CARE: HELPS' HEALTH CARE PROGRAM IS WORKING TO FILL THE GAPS IN HEALTH CARE & BRING HOPE TO RURAL AREAS OF GUATEMALA. UTILIZING A NETWORK OF U.S. BASED VOLUNTEER MEDICAL TEAMS, HELPS IS PROVIDING PREVENTIVE CARE, SURGERY & COMMUNITY EDUCATION TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. EACH TEAM CONSISTS OF 65 - 100 VOLUNTEERS INCLUDING PHYSICIANS, NURSES, INTERPRETERS, DENTISTS, TECHNICIANS & SUPPORT STAFF WHO TRAVEL TO REMOTE AREAS WITH SEVERELY RESTRICTED ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE. THESE MEDICAL TEAMS PROVIDE FULL SERVICE INCLUDING CLINICS, GENERAL SURGERY, PLASTIC SURGERY, OPHTHALMOLOGY, DENTAL & RADIOLOGY. SINCE 1994 HELPS TEAMS HAVE PROVIDED CARE TO MORE THAN 349,200 PATIENTS. IN 2024 HELPS MEDICAL TEAMS PROVIDED CARE TO 9,302 PATIENTS ACROSS GUATEMALA.
  3. $320,250 spent. AGRICULTURE: MORE THAN 26,000 FARMING FAMILIES HAVE PARTICIPATED IN HELPS' AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM SINCE 2005. IN 2024 THE PROGRAM SERVED 1,742 FARMERS.
  4. $177,700 spent. EDUCATION: HELPS INTERNATIONAL'S EDUCATION PROGRAM IS TEACHING THE NEXT GENERATION OF GUATEMALAN LEADERS IN THE SMALL, RURAL VILLAGE OF SANTA AVELINA WHERE POVERTY & ILLITERACY RATES ARE EXTREMELY HIGH. IN SANTA AVELINA THE HELPS PROGRAM OFFERS TO PRE K THROUGH GRADE 6 INSTRUCTION. HELPS ALSO OFFERS EXTRACURRICULAR ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES AND TEACHER TRAINING. MORE THAN 3,500 STUDENTS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN HELPS EDUCATION PROGRAM. HELPS SERVED 199 STUDENTS IN 2024.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 July 1984.

    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.