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Passes our checks

First Community Housing

EIN 77-0119210 · Santa Clara, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak18 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO RELIEVE THE POOR AND UNDERPRIVILEGED, TO LESSEN THE BURDENS OF GOVERNMENT AND TO COMBAT COMMUNITY DETERIORATION BY DEVELOPING AND PROVIDING QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW AND MODERATE-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.

Income
$-994,215
Spending
$13.0 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
-22.2 months of spending
Employees
13
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$367,739, coo

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

Weak: 18 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 123% of what it owns.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 104% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Strong: 94 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $10.4 million spent. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE THIRD-PARTY PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES, OTHER NON-PROFIT SERVICE COMPANIES AND PUBLIC AGENCIES, OVER 3,000 PEOPLE WERE SERVED DURING THE YEAR. MANAGEMENT SERVICES AT EACH PROPERTY, FCH PROVIDES ENHANCED, ON-SITE RESIDENT SERVICES. THESE SERVICES ARE CUSTOMIZED TO THE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH SERVICE-BASED NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. THE PROGRAMS INCLUDE: FINANCIAL LITERACY, COMPUTER TRAINING CLASSES, YOUTH LITERACY, AND MORE.
  2. $425,134 spent. SINCE 1986 FIRST COMMUNITY HOUSING (FCH) HAS DEVELOPED AND OPERATES OVER 1,634 UNITS OF HIGH-QUALITY AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING FOR HOUSEHOLDS EARNING 20-80% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME FOR SILICON VALLEY. FCH IS A GREEN DEVELOPER NOTED FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO USING SUSTAINABLE, ENERGY-EFFICIENT MATERIALS AND SYSTEMS IN ITS DEVELOPMENTS AND HAS WON AWARDS FOR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, AND ENERGY-EFFICIENCY.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1986.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.