Path People Attempting to Help
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PATH SEEKS TO RESTORE HOPE WITH A PERSONALIZED APPROACH TO EMPOWER OUR EAST TEXAS NEIGHBORS TO THRIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $3.3 million
- Spending
- $3.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 12.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 93%
- Employees
- 20
- Volunteers
- 331
- Highest pay
- $91,797, executive dir.
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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 22 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 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 (1)
- $2.8 million spent. FOOD, HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, UTILITIES, PRESCRIPTION, AND OTHER ASSISTANCE TO UNDERPRIVILEGED. TOTAL NUMBER OF CLIENTS SERVED: 8,382 HOUSEHOLDS WITH 26,643 MEMBERS. OVER 33% OF THOSE FAMILIES CAME TO PATH FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2024.FOOD PANTRY:PROVIDED NUTRITIOUS NON-PERISHABLE FOOD TO 7,429 HOUSEHOLDS WHICH INCLUDES 24,302 INDIVIDUALS.HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION:PROVIDED EMERGENCY UTILITY ASSISTANCE FOR 684 CASES TOTALING $197,031.PROVIDED EMERGENCY RENT/MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE TO 113 HOUSEHOLDS TOTALING $166,391.BASIC MEDICAL SERVICES PROVIDED:PROVIDED EYE EXAMS AND GLASSES FOR 747 INDIVIDUALS TOTALING $41,680.DENTAL SERVICES FOR 123 INDIVIDUALS VALUED AT $30,072.EMERGENCY PRESCRIPTION ASSISTANCE FOR 187 HOUSEHOLDS TOTALING $6,162.TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FAMILY CASE MANAGEMENT PROVIDED PERSONALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT TO 50 HOUSEHOLDS WITH A TOTAL OF 140 HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS.SPECIAL PROJECTS:DISTRIBUTED 889 COATS TO CHILDREN, 72,744 DIAPERS, 924 FANS, AND 729 BLANKETS.VOLUNTEERS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE AT PATH. 331 VOLUNTEERS GAVE OVER 18,773 HOURS OF SERVICE TO THOSE IN NEED.CHARITY NAVIGATOR: PATH IS RATED A 4-STAR CHARITY, THE HIGHEST RATING FOR A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. A FOUR-STAR RATING IS GIVEN TO ORGANIZATIONS WHO SCORE A 90 OR ABOVE IN CHARITY NAVIGATOR'S REVIEW AND IS CONSIDERED "EXCEPTIONAL." FOR ORGANIZATIONS LIKE PATH, IT MEANS WE "EXCEED INDUSTRY STANDARDS AND OUTPERFORM MOST CHARITIES IN [OUR] CAUSE." PATH HAS MAINTAINED THIS RATING SINCE 2016.CANDID (FORMERLY GUIDESTAR): PATH HAS ACHIEVED THE GOLD SEAL OF TRANSPARENCY FOR 2024.BBB OF CENTRAL EAST TEXAS: - PATH HAS MET THE 20 STANDARDS TO BE A BBB CREDITED CHARITY - RECIPIENT OF THE 2022 BBB AWARD FOR NONPROFIT EXCELLENCEPATH IS A LOCALLY SUPPORTED AGENCY OF THE UNITED WAY OF SMITH COUNTY.
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 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 May 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 September 1987.
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.