Passes our checks

Hope Institute

EIN 82-0827951 · Mountain Brk, AL

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

What it says it does

The Hope Institute is a 501(c)(3) institution that brings best practices for developing good character in students to K-12 schools in Alabama.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

Reserves
20 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20
It owes 45% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15
Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

Independent board
25 of 25
7 of 7 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
12 of 15
Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)

$752,953 spent. The Hope Leadership Academy is The Hope Institute's flagship initiative to partner with schools to develop students into people of character. Available to K-12 schools in Alabama, the Hope Leadership Academy is designed to inspire transformational change by introducing administrator and educator teams to the process of building a character-focused school culture. This energizing, three-year process lets participants learn from national character education leaders, concentrate on the culture of their school, design character development plans for their school, visit schools with character programs already implemented, and network with other school leaders. This process works for any school in any setting. Through day-long workshops and on-site consulting that helps inform community needs and school demographics, participants apply learned concepts to their school. Because of this, every school involved is implementing new strategies in ways that work for them.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 December 2024.
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 June 2017.
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 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.