Thrifty Nickel Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 4% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
AS PROVIDED IN ITS STATEMENT OF PURPOSE, THE SPECIFIC PURPOSES FOR WHICH THE ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IS THE SALE OF USED MERCHANDISE AND OTHER GOODS TO SUPPORT CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THOSE AS DEFINED BY SECTION 501(C)(3). THE PAST, PRESENT AND PLANNED ACTIVITIES IS THE SALE OF USED MERCHANDISE TO SUPPORT ITS CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES. THE PRIMARY CHARITABLE ACTIVITY AS PROVIDED IN ARTICLE 2 OF THE BYLAWS IS TO OPERATE A SHELTER FOR HOMELESS MEN AND TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THE RETAIL STORES RESIDE. THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION STATEMENT, VISION AND VALUES ARE: MISSION STATEMENT: PROVIDE A PATHWAY OF WELLNESS, HOPE, AND PEACE TO HOMELESS MEN. PROVIDE CLOTHING, SHOES, FOOD, AND SMALL HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES TO FAMILIES IN NEED WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES TO BETTER THEIR LIVES. VISION: BETTER LIVES BETTER FAMILIES BETTER COMMUNITIES A BETTER WORLD THROUGH THE MINISTRY OF JESUS CHRIST VALUES: HOPE LOVE COMPASSION PEACE
- Income
- $638,020
- Spending
- $524,624
- Spent on programs
- 4%
- Reserves
- 1.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 99%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 4
- Highest pay
- $23,400, president
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
Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 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
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 154% of spending went to programs.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 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 (1)
- $22,627 spent. AS PROVIDED IN ITS STATEMENT OF PURPOSE, THE SPECIFIC PURPOSES FOR WHICH THE ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IS THE SALE OF USED MERCHANDISE AND OTHER GOODS TO SUPPORT CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THOSE AS DEFINED BY SECTION 501(C)(3). THE PAST, PRESENT AND PLANNED ACTIVITIES IS THE SALE OF USED MERCHANDISE TO SUPPORT ITS CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES. THE PRIMARY CHARITABLE ACTIVITY AS PROVIDED IN ARTICLE 2 OF THE BYLAWS IS TO OPERATE A SHELTER FOR HOMELESS MEN AND TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THE RETAIL STORES RESIDE. THE ORGANIZATION WILL OPERATE A SHELTER FOR HOMELESS MEN AND WILL PROVIDE CLOTHING, SHOES, FOOD, AND SMALL HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES TO FAMILIES IN NEED WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES TO BETTER THEIR LIVES. THE ORGANIZATION INCURS EXPENSES TO OPERATE A SHELTER FOR HOMELESS MEN AND TO PROVIDE CLOTHING, SHOES, FOOD, AND SMALL HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES TO FAMILIES IN NEED WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES TO BETTER THEIR LIVES. AS PROVIDED IN ITS STATEMENT OF PURPOSE, THE SPECIFIC PURPOSES FOR WHICH THE ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IS THE SALE OF USED MERCHANDISE AND OTHER GOODS TO SUPPORT CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THOSE AS DEFINED BY SECTION 501(C)(3). THE PAST, PRESENT AND PLANNED ACTIVITIES IS THE SALE OF USED MERCHANDISE TO SUPPORT ITS CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES. THE PRIMARY CHARITABLE ACTIVITY AS PROVIDED IN ARTICLE 2 OF THE BYLAWS IS TO OPERATE A SHELTER FOR HOMELESS MEN AND TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THE RETAIL STORES RESIDE. THE ORGANIZATION WILL OPERATE A SHELTER FOR HOMELESS MEN AND WILL PROVIDE CLOTHING, SHOES, FOOD, AND SMALL HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES TO FAMILIES IN NEED WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES TO BETTER THEIR LIVES. THE ORGANIZATION INCURS EXPENSES TO OPERATE A SHELTER FOR HOMELESS MEN AND TO PROVIDE CLOTHING, SHOES, FOOD, AND SMALL HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES TO FAMILIES IN NEED WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES TO BETTER THEIR LIVES.
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
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 May 2018.
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.