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Humane Borders Inc

EIN 80-5033532 · Tucson, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MAIN PURPOSE OF OUR ORGANIZATION IS TO PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO PERSONS IN NEED IN THE DESERT BORDERLANDS OF THE U.S. AND MEXICO, AND TO WORK TOWARDS A MORE JUST ENVIRONMENT IN THE BORDERLANDS.

Income
$474,058
Spending
$369,308
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
11.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
2
Volunteers
24

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 126% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (5)
  1. $190,385 spent. SERVICE WATER STATIONS: WE ASSIST MIGRANTS IN DISTRESS WITH FOOD, WATER, FIRST AID, AND IF NECESSARY ARRANGE WITH THE BORDER PATROL FOR RESCUE AND, OR TRANSPORTATION OF MIGRANTS. IN 2023 WE SERVICED APPROXIMATELY 30 WATER STATIONS IN THE SOUTHERN ARIZONA DESERT, ON LAND MANAGED BY FEDERAL, COUNTY, AND CITY GOVERNMENTS WHO HAS GIVEN US PERMISSION. OUR TWO PART-TIME STAFF COORDINATE THE WORK OF 17 REGULAR VOLUNTEER DRIVERS OF OUR WATER TRUCKS, AND WE HAD MANY OTHER VOLUNTEERS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AND A FEW FROM OTHER COUNTRIES. VOLUNTEERS HAVE PUT OUT MORE THAN 18,000 GALLONS OF WATER EVERY YEAR, AND HAVE PUT MORE THAN 4,000 HOURS SERVING THE WATER STATIONS EACH YEAR, PICKING UP TRASH LEFT BY MIGRANTS, EDUCATING THE PUBLIC, HELPING FAMILIES LOOKING FOR LOVED ONES PERHAPS LOST IN THE DESERT, AND HELPING OUT AT SHELTERS ON THE US MEXICAN BORDER. WE ALSO REPORT IF WE FIND HUMAN REMAINS IN THE DESERT AND KEEP A NATIONALLY KNOWN MAP THAT MONTHLY UPDATES THE NUMBER AND LOCATION OF KNOWN DEATHS IN THE ARIZONA DESERT. SERVICE WATER STATIONS: WE ASSIST MIGRANTS IN DISTRESS WITH FOOD, WATER, FIRST AID, AND IF NECESSARY ARRANGE WITH THE BORDER PATROL FOR RESCUE AND, OR TRANSPORTATION OF MIGRANTS. IN 2023 WE SERVICED APPROXIMATELY 30 WATER STATIONS IN THE SOUTHERN ARIZONA DESERT, ON LAND MANAGED BY FEDERAL, COUNTY, AND CITY GOVERNMENTS WHO HAS GIVEN US PERMISSION. OUR TWO PART-TIME STAFF COORDINATE THE WORK OF 17 REGULAR VOLUNTEER DRIVERS OF OUR WATER TRUCKS, AND WE HAD MANY OTHER VOLUNTEERS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AND A FEW FROM OTHER COUNTRIES. VOLUNTEERS HAVE PUT OUT MORE THAN 18,000 GALLONS OF WATER EVERY YEAR, AND HAVE PUT MORE THAN 4,000 HOURS SERVING THE WATER STATIONS EACH YEAR, PICKING UP TRASH LEFT BY MIGRANTS, EDUCATING THE PUBLIC, HELPING FAMILIES LOOKING FOR LOVED ONES PERHAPS LOST IN THE DESERT, AND HELPING OUT AT SHELTERS ON THE US MEXICAN BORDER. WE ALSO REPORT IF WE FIND HUMAN REMAINS IN THE DESERT AND KEEP A NATIONALLY KNOWN MAP THAT MONTHLY UPDATES THE NUMBER AND LOCATION OF KNOWN DEATHS IN THE ARIZONA DESERT.
  2. $26,339 spent. VEHICLES FLEET: WE MAINTAIN A FLEET OF WATER TRUCKS AND AUXILIARY VEHICLES. THE WATER TRUCKS HAVE OFF-ROAD WATER HAULING AND DISPENSING CAPABILITIES THAT INCLUDE DESERT RESCUE AND SATELLITE COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT. IN 2024 WE WERE OUT IN THE DESERT 3 TO 5 TIMES A WEEK AND DROVE APPROXIMATELY MORE THAN 15,000 MILES.
  3. $51,104 spent. OUTREACH, MIGRANTS FOOD AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE, AND EDUCATION: WE CONSTANTLY ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN CONTRIBUTOR, PUBLIC, AND MEDIA CONTRACTS. WE PUBLISH A NEWSLETTER, IT IS DISTRIBUTED BY MAIL AND POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE. WE KEPT UPDATING OUR WARNING POSTERS THAT WARN MIGRANTS OF THE DANGERS OF CROSSING IN THE DESERT. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PIMA COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER, WE CONTINUE TO POST ON OPENGIS OUR MAPS OF WHERE DEATHS ARE OCCURING IN OUR AREA. WE RESPOND TO THOSE LOOKING FOR LOVED ONES USING OUR WELL ESTABLISHED (24 YEARS) CONNECTIONS WITH VARIOUS U.S. AND MEXICAN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS. WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO MIGRANTS, ESPECIALLY IN ARIZONA, WHO NEED WATER, FOOD, CLOTHES, OR MEDICAL CARE.
  4. $81,247 spent. RECORD VEHICLE DEPRECIATION EXPENSES FOR THE ORGANIZATION'S STATED GOALS.
  5. RECORD VEHICLE DEPRECIATION EXPENSES FOR THE ORGANIZATION'S STATED GOALS.

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 January 2011.

    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.