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Brown Hope

EIN 82-4843276 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak28 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BROWN HOPE IS PLANTING AND NURTURING SEEDS FOR RACIAL JUSTICE AND HEALING. WE SERVE AND MOBILIZE COMMUNITIES IN ORDER TO HEAL OUR COLLECTIVE SOIL FROM THE POISONS OF OUR PAST AND PRESENT, SO OUR FUTURE ROOTS CAN THRIVE.

Income
$997,657
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
52%
Reserves
-2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
24
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$125,869, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2023, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 28 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 131% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 57% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    52% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 36 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2023, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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, 2023, 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. $718,264 spent. IN 2023, THE BLACK RESILIENCE FUND SUPPORTED 25 HOUSEHOLDS IN MULTNOMAH COUNTY THROUGH A VILLAGE-BUILDING COHORT WITH A 3-YEAR INCOME GUARANTEE. EACH COHORT MEMBER RECEIVES BETWEEN $1,000, $1,500, $2,000 A MONTH DEPENDING ON HOUSEHOLD SIZE. A TOTAL OF 68 PEOPLE ARE SERVED THROUGH THE PROGRAM.
  2. $236,685 spent. IN 2023, OVER 1,000 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED THROUGH POWER HOUR. THIS PROGRAM IS AN INTENTIONAL SPACE FOR BLACK, BROWN, AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE TO BUILD COMMUNITY, INSPIRE POTENTIAL, AND HEAL FROM RACIAL TRAUMA. POWER HOUR IS A WEEKLY, TWO HOUR EVENT WITH SEVERAL SOCIAL ACTIVITIES THAT HAPPEN DURING THAT TIME, INCLUDING SMALL BREAKOUT GROUPS, A COLLECTIVE VIBE CHECK, A GUEST SPEAKER PRESENTATION AND Q&A, AND A CLOSING MINDFULNESS MEDITATION.
  3. $238,906 spent. THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED OTHER PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES THROUGHOUT 2023 FOCUSED ON INSPIRING COMMUNITY DISCOURSE AND ACTION AROUND RACIAL JUSTICE AND HEALING.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2023, 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 2023.

    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 April 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.