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Project Sentinel

EIN 77-0266612 · Santa Clara, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO DEVELOP AND PROMOTE FAIRNESS AND EQUALITY OF HOUSING OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL PROTECTED PERSONS AND TO ADVOCATE PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES FOR COMMUNITY WELFARE AND HARMONY.

Income
$4.4 million
Spending
$4.5 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
3.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 73%
Employees
57
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$182,345, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    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 June 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 (3)
  1. $1.8 million spent. DISPUTE RESOLUTION SERVICES - DISPUTE RESOLUTION CASE MANAGERS HANDLED A TOTAL OF 8,964 INQUIRIES DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025. THEY PROVIDED INFORMATION ON RENTAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO 4,915 TENANTS, HOMEOWNERS, AND PROPERTY MANAGERS OF RENTAL HOUSING, ALONG WITH COUNSELING TO SUPPORT INFORMED DECISION-MAKING. AN ADDITIONAL 3,650 TENANTS, HOMEOWNERS, AND PROPERTY MANAGERS OF RENTAL HOUSING ATTENDED WORKSHOPS, WEBINARS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIVITIES. A TOTAL OF 2,860 CASES WERE OPENED FOR HOUSEHOLDS NEEDING EXTENSIVE COUNSELING, DISPUTE RESOLUTION SERVICES, AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE. PANELS OF VOLUNTEER AND PAID MEDIATORS, ALONG WITH SALARIED STAFF, RESOLVED RENTAL DISPUTES THROUGH ARBITRATION, MEDIATION, AND CONCILIATION.
  2. $1.4 million spent. FAIR HOUSING - THE FAIR HOUSING CENTER INVESTIGATED 338 COMPLAINTS OF DISCRIMINATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025. A TOTAL OF 566 PEOPLE BENEFITED FROM THOSE INVESTIGATIONS, AND THE ORGANIZATION'S STAFF FIELDED 1,076 CALLS FOR INFORMATION AND REFERRAL. THE ORGANIZATION BROUGHT SEVEN CASES TO ENFORCEMENT, RESULTING IN SETTLEMENTS TOTALING $214,743 FOR CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS UNDER STATE AND FEDERAL HOUSING LAWS. THE LITIGATED SETTLEMENT AMOUNTS FOR THESE CASES ALSO RESULTED IN A RECOVERY OF $27,246 FOR PROJECT SENTINEL'S STAFF TIME AND DISPERSED RESOURCES. MANY OTHER FAIR HOUSING CASES WERE RESOLVED THROUGH NEGOTIATION AND ADVOCACY, RESULTING IN CHANGES TO NON-COMPLIANT RENTAL POLICIES AND PRACTICES, THE GRANTING OF REQUESTED REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS, (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)AND THE WITHDRAWAL OF EVICTIONS. THE ORGANIZATION CONDUCTED 240 FORMAL OUTREACH ACTIVITIES WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM TARGETED UNDERSERVED, LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SERVING THOSE POPULATIONS, AND HOUSING PROVIDERS - AN INCREASE OF 54 EVENTS FROM THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR. ADDITIONALLY, THE ORGANIZATION DISTRIBUTED 9,699 EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, REPRESENTING A 61% INCREASE FROM LAST FISCAL YEAR. THE FAIR HOUSING CENTER HAD 251,581 WEBPAGE VIEWS AND PUBLISHED 87 SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS RELATED TO FAIR HOUSING PROTECTIONS.
  3. $626,246 spent. HUD HOUSING COUNSELING - HUD HOUSING COUNSELING ("HHC") PROVIDES NEEDED AND SOMETIMES REQUIRED COUNSELING TO HOMEOWNERS AND FUTURE HOMEOWNERS. MOST FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS REQUIRE A CERTIFICATE OF EITHER COUNSELING OR AN EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP. OTHER GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS ALSO REQUIRE COUNSELING FOR HOUSING PROGRAMS, SUCH AS APPLYING FOR A REVERSE MORTGAGE. HHC ALSO USES FUNDS FROM THE NATIONAL MORTGAGE SETTLEMENT FUND ("NMSF"), WHICH IS ADMINISTERED BY THE CALIFORNIA HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY ("CALHFA"), TO SUPPORT ITS HUD HOUSING COUNSELING PROGRAM. IT PROVIDES FREE HOUSING COUNSELING SERVICES TO CALIFORNIA HOUSEHOLDS STRUGGLING TO PAY RENT, MORTGAGE, AND LIVING EXPENSES. DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, HHC ASSISTED 1,219 FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)IN PREPARING FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP THROUGH HOMEBUYER EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND PROVIDED INDIVIDUAL ONE-ON-ONE PRE-PURCHASE COUNSELING TO AN ADDITIONAL 865 HOUSEHOLDS. HHC ALSO ASSISTED 78 HOMEOWNERS WITH MORTGAGE DEFAULT AND DELINQUENCY COUNSELING AND PROVIDED REVERSE MORTGAGE COUNSELING TO 631 HOUSEHOLDS. COMBINED, A TOTAL OF 2,793 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED HOMEOWNERSHIP EDUCATION AND COUNSELING SERVICES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 2025.

    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 June 1991.

    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.

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