Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Houston Welcomes Refugees

EIN 81-1896789 · Houston, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong92 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO HELP EASE THE RESETTLEMENT PROCESS FOR REFUGEES COMING TO HOUSTON BY MOBILIZING INVESTED, CARING VOLUNTEERS, FOSTERING HOPE AMIDST CRISIS.

Income
$975,225
Spending
$965,481
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
16.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
13
Volunteers
601
Highest pay
$71,650, exec directo

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

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

    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

    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 (3)
  1. $551,147 spent. STARTING ESSENTIALS - REFUGEES ARRIVE IN THE UNITED STATES WITH VERY LITTLE AND HAVE TO QUICKLY BEGIN THEIR LIVES OVER AGAIN. WELCOME KITS ARE FILLED WITH HOUSEHOLD ITEMS THAT PROVIDE THE STARTING ESSENTIALS FOR EVERY ROOM IN A REFUGEE FAMILY'S NEW HOME. VOLUNTEER MOVE-IN TEAMS PREPARE THE REFUGEE FAMILY'S HOME BY UNPACKING WELCOME KITS, DELIVERING GROCERIES AND A HOT MEAL, AND LEAVING NOTES OF WELCOME AND ENCOURAGEMENT. THIS PROGRAM EMPOWERS EACH REFUGEE FAMILY BY ALLOWING THEM TO REALLOCATE AN AVERAGE OF 975 OF THEIR RESOURCES TO MEET OTHER BASIC NEEDS. IN 2024, 394 REFUGEE FAMILIES TOTALING 1,661 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED THE GIFT OF WELCOME KITS. A TOTAL OF OVER 330,000 IN HOUSEHOLD GOODS WERE DISTRIBUTED, WELCOMING THESE FAMILIES WITH HOPE AND DIGNITY.
  2. $173,845 spent. FRIENDSHIP - RESETTLING IN A NEW COUNTRY WITHOUT SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE, UNDERSTANDING THE CULTURE, OR KNOWING ANYONE SUDDENLY MAKES SIMPLE DAILY TASKS DAUNTING AND OVERWHELMING. THIS PROGRAM PARTNERS VOLUNTEER WELCOME TEAMS WITH A REFUGEE FAMILY DURING THEIR FIRST SIX MONTHS IN HOUSTON. TEAMS CONNECT REFUGEES WITH CRITICAL RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY, ACT AS A SUPPORT SYSTEM, AND OFFER REFUGEES THE GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP. IN 2024, 34 FAMILIES TOTALING 142 INDIVIDUALS WERE HONORED WITH THE GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP BY A WELCOME TEAM DURING THEIR FIRST MONTHS IN HOUSTON.
  3. $149,176 spent. COMMUNITY EDUCATION - WHILE MOST REFUGEES RECEIVE CASE MANAGEMENT DURING THEIR FIRST SIX MONTHS IN THE U.S., CASEWORKERS OFTEN SUPPORT MULTIPLE FAMILIES AT ONE TIME. THERE IS A TREMENDOUS NEED FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY TO COME ALONGSIDE REFUGEES AS THEY NAVIGATE LIFE IN A NEW COUNTRY. WITH MANY TRAINING AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS PER YEAR, THIS PROGRAM EDUCATES AND EMPOWERS VOLUNTEERS, AND INCREASES AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR REFUGEES IN THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY. IN 2024, 701 INDIVIDUALS WERE MOBILIZED AND EQUIPPED TO BE VOLUNTEERS THROUGH 37 ORIENTATIONS AND ANOTHER 5,154 WERE EDUCATED ON REFUGEES, THE RESETTLEMENT PROCESS, AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH 36 TRAININGS AND SPECIAL EVENTS.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 May 2016.

    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.

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.