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West Street Recovery

EIN 82-2708194 · Houston, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

West Street Recovery's mission is to connect communities to the resources they need to rebuild after climate disasters such as Hurricane Harvey and build resilient, secure, and stronger communities.

Income
$2.7 million
Spending
$2.4 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
10
Volunteers
225
Highest pay
$76,604, co-director

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: 69 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 87% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (7)
  1. $861,109 spent. WSR's Home Repair program continues to meet and assist homeowners who have not yet fully recovered, despite most agencies in the city having closed their Harvey repair programs. Distinguishing the impact of Harvey from disasters that preceded it (such as Ike and Alison) and that followed it (such as Imelda and Uri) is increasingly complex. All people deserve safe, sanitary, and dignified housing.
  2. $323,352 spent. The Voter Engagement Program works to notify community members when elections are taking place, to determine if they have plans to vote or need help getting to the polls, to support neighbors in understanding the positions and ballot measures on the ballot, and to spread awareness about how the election process works. Community members are organized and paid to participate in a voter engagement call banking program.
  3. $252,622 spent. WSR specializes in providing disaster relief resources to at-risk communities. In the event of a disaster, it is of the utmost importance for communities to receive help immediately. This program enables us to serve community members in the days following disasters, before traditional funding and grants become available.
  4. $218,859 spent. WSR continues to build collective knowledge about flooding, pollution, and infrastructure. Community members' ability to advocate on these issues has greatly increased through public speaking, meeting with officials, strategizing campaigns, and facilitating community conversations.
  5. $210,591 spent. WSR distributes direct assistance to families in our service area who need help with purchasing groceries, keeping utilities on, paying for funeral costs, supporting medication purchases, and promoting accessibility for individuals with disabilities. WSR has a per-household cap of $300 per year and distributes funds on a first-come, first-served basis.
  6. $170,937 spent. WSR has equipped local houses as "hub houses" with alternative power sources (formerly generators, now rooftop solar and battery systems), heating and cooling systems, food and water supplies, medical supplies, search and rescue equipment, and home repair tools. Hubs also strengthen social infrastructure. Neighbors know and care for each other through hosting trainings and block events.
  7. $55,813 spent. WSR's research formalizes community knowledge to impact policy and empower community members to document risk, unequal investment, and injustice in their communities.

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 November 2018.

    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.