Hope in Jesus Ministries
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The purpose of Hope in Jesus Ministries is to be a religious group of individuals joined together using evangelical means and methods to benefit individuals impacted by incarceration. Individuals impacted by incarceration extends beyond inmates inside prison walls to include individuals such as ex-inmates and family members of inmates in the community. Ex-inmates often face homelessness, joblessness, and become repeat offenders. This cycle negatively impacts family, friends, and community as a whole. With faith-based resources and support, we aim to meet people in various stages of this cycle and encourage change.
- Income
- $432,425
- Spending
- $353,218
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 12.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 82%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 40
- Highest pay
- $81,840, director chaplain
Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 252 of 4 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
0 of 7Reports no 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 April 30, 2026, 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 (7)
- $87,080 spent. Hope in Jesus Ministries provided chaplaincy services to inmates housed at the Minimum, Medium, and Women's facilities of the Rhode Island Department of Corrections. Chaplaincy activities included, but were not limited to, weekly religious services, communion, baptism, on-calldeath notifications, on-call furlough requests, personal counseling, and communicating with inmate's family members and medical personnel. Also included in the chaplaincy is the oversight and placement of religious volunteers in the Medium, Minimum, Maximum, Intake, and Women's facilities.
- $100,511 spent. FOOD TRUCK: The Hope in Jesus Ministries Mobile Food Establishment (Food Truck) program serves several Rhode Island communities with high concentrations of individuals impacted by incarceration. The majority of these individuals are facing food and shelter insecurity. Twice a week, a free-of-charge hot meal and water and a message of Hope is offered to all who come to the truck. This program is operated by independent contractors and community volunteers.
- $64,521 spent. PATH Program is designed and operated to reach youth inpacted by incarceration. PATH begins with afterschool clubs in elementary schools and will continue at the college level. Currently we provide afterschool club based weekly activites at the elemetary level. This program is conducted by an independent contract and community volunteers.
- $33,800 spent. Hope in Jesus Ministries offers the Learning to Live Initiative, the Genesis Initiative, and Vocational Education Ministry classes, and mentoring to inmates at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections. Through these Initiatives, the ministry provided faith-based life skills courses, vocational, and mentoring opportunities to inmates housed in Minimum, Medium, Maximum, and Women's 1 facilities. This effort is accomplished with the joint effort of trained religious volunteers from the public. In a year, 24 twelve week classes are conducted across Minimum, Medium, Maximum, and Women's 1 facilities. These classes reached approximately 400 inmates. We maintain a sizable waiting list of inmates desiring to be enrolled in our classes. Inmates receive a certificate of completion for each class completed, as well as good time, for completed the coursework and attending sessions.
- $5,000 spent. COMMUNITY GARDEN: The Gospel Garden program revitalized and utlizes a community space in Providence to create a vegetable garden to serve as a no-cost supplemental food resource,a place to gather for resources, and evangelistic outreach. The community garden is established within a demographic largely impacted by incarceration and socieconomic hardship. This program is maintained and operated by independent contractors and community volunteers.
- $21,440 spent. RE-ENTRY GRANTS: Upon interview and mentoring, individuals are chosen to be granted re-entry fund to assist with re-establishment into the community and workforce. These funds are dispersed on a sliding-scale to supplement the former inmates efforts at re-building a sustainable life after incarceration. HOLIDAY OUTREACH: In keeping with our evangelical and religious purpose, Hope in Jesus Ministries particpated in community outreach through Easter and Christmas gift giving to children and families impacted by incarceration. Also benevolence funds were granted to those seeking to do well, but have an obvious financial hardship that would hinder their ability.
- $570 spent. Online ministry and training technology -Biblelogics is an evangelical online podcast outreach ministry of Hope in Jesus Ministries. The purpose is to extend the reach of Hope and faith beyond our local community, as well as, to be an ongoing biblical resource for people in contact with prison and outreach ministries we do. HIJM maintains a web domain, Youtube channel, and Rumble Channel for volunteers,mentors, and mentees to find training and community resources.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2026, 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 October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on September 15, 2010 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on January 15, 2016.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending April 2026.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2016.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.