Down Home
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
DOWN HOME EMPOWERS LIVES AND STABILIZES THOSE EMERGING FROM HOMELESSNESS BY FURNISHING HOMES, STRENGTHENING CONNECTIONS, AND TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $956,747
- Spending
- $871,873
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 11.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 87%
- Employees
- 12
- Volunteers
- 550
- Highest pay
- $77,000, president/executive direct
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 258 of 9 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
7 of 7Has a 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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, 2025, 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)
- $691,543 spent. ENTERING HOUSING IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THE JOURNEY OF EMERGING FROM HOMELESSNESS, YET FOUR WALLS ARE NOT ENOUGH TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. DOWN HOME (DH) HELPS END THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS BY CREATING HOMES AND A COMMUNITY WHERE FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS FIND COMFORT, DIGNITY, STABILITY, AND CONNECTION. IN 2025, THE DH TEAM SERVED 55 NEW FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS, A 34% INCREASE FROM 2024, IMPACTING 137 MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN. THIS WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE DEDICATION OF 552 VOLUNTEERS AND THE GENEROSITY OF 988 DONORS. OUR COMMITMENT TO OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE LED TO SCALING OUR TEAM TO 7 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES TO MEET THE RISING DEMAND FOR OUR PROGRAM OPERATIONS. THE IMPACT OF DOWN HOME'S WORK IS REFLECTED IN THE VOICES OF WHOSE WHOM WE SERVE. IN 2025, 100% OF CLIENTS REPORTED THAT DOWN HOME PROVIDED THEIR FAMILY WITH SECURITY, COMFORT, COMMUNITY CONNECTION, AND RELIEF FROM FINANCIAL STRESSORS. ALL OUR CLIENTS FACE SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL CHALLENGES, WITH 100% LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY THRESHOLD. ADDITIONALLY, 90% HAVE AN ANNUAL INCOME OF LESS THAN $35,000, AND 85% HAVE EXPERIENCED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES, AND/OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE AS A PAST TRAUMA OR CATALYST FOR HOMELESSNESS. OUR COMMITMENT EXTENDS BEYOND MOVE-IN DAY. DURING THE FIRST YEAR AFTER THEIR HOME REVEAL AND BEYOND, WE MAINTAIN INTENTIONAL COMMUNICATION AND PROVIDE ONGOING SUPPORT TO THOSE WELCOMED INTO THE DOWN HOME FAMILY. THESE RESOURCES INCLUDE PARTNERSHIPS THAT PROVIDE A YEAR OF FREE INTERNET, BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION PACKAGES, TRANSPORTATION SUPPORT, AND AN ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION. DOWN HOME REMAINS DEDICATED TO BREAKING THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS BY ENSURING THAT EVERY PERSON WE SERVE FINDS NOT JUST A HOUSE, BUT A HOME AND A COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTS THEIR JOURNEY TO STABILITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 2025.
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 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.