Hwo Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 8313 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF HWO INC. DBA FOUNDATION FOR A HEALTHIER WEST ORANGE IS INVESTING IN AND CHAMPIONING INITIATIVES THAT SUPPORT THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THE WEST ORANGE COUNTY, FLORIDA COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $6.7 million
- Spending
- $3.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 66%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 94%
- Employees
- 16
- Volunteers
- 6
- Highest pay
- $247,547, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 49% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 35% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1566% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8313 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 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
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 September 30, 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)
- $2.2 million spent. THE FOUNDATION FOR A HEALTHIER WEST ORANGE INVESTS IN AND CHAMPIONS INITIATIVES THAT SUPPORT THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY. A TRUSTED COMMUNITY LEADER, THE FOUNDATION BRINGS TOGETHER AN ENGAGED NETWORK OF BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, NOT-FOR-PROFITS AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS. THE VISION OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO CULTIVATE THE HEALTHIEST COMMUNITY IN THE NATION.THE FOUNDATION IS GUIDED BY THREE VALUES FOR ITS WORK IN THE COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS, INNOVATION AND ACCESS. WE STAND FOR THE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT OF EMOTIONAL, MENTAL, AND PHYSICAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. IN ADDITION, WE RECOGNIZE OUR PURPOSE AS A THOUGHT LEADER AND INVESTOR TO ENABLE GROWTH AND CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITY WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON PLACE INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESOURCES, BRANDED WITH HEALTHY WEST ORANGE TO FURTHER THE GOALS OF THE MOVEMENT. AND LASTLY, WE STAND FOR EQUITABLE ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD, SAFE AND INCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND HEALTHCARE SERVICES. THESE VALUES ARE PUT INTO ACTION IN A NUMBER OF WAYS, INCLUDING: - LEADING A COLLABORATIVE STEERING COMMITTEE THAT SEEKS TO PROMOTE, ACTIVATE, AND ENHANCE THE TRAIL SYSTEM THROUGHOUT WEST ORANGE COUNTY. - ADDRESSING SENIOR NEEDS BY EVALUATING PARTNERSHIPS AND FUNDING INFORMED BY RESEARCH. - CREATING INFRASTRUCTURE AND GREEN SPACES THAT BUILD HEALTHY COMMUNITIES. - THE FACILITATION OF INVESTMENTS THAT ADDRESS SPECIAL NEEDS SUCH AS DISABILITIES AND HEALTH RELATED LIMITATIONS. - ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY WITH HEALTH COMMUNICATION, EVIDENCE-BASED COMMUNITY INITIATIVES, AND EXPANDING ACCESS TO LOCAL SERVICES. ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR OUR THREE LARGEST PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE: - HEALTHY WEST ORANGE, A CONSUMER-FACING HEALTH AND WELLNESS MOVEMENT THAT ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS TO EAT WELL, STAY ACTIVE AND ENJOY LIFE INSPIRES HEALTHY BEHAVIORS, CHAMPIONS HEALTHY PROGRAMS, UNITES HEALTH-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS, AND ADVOCATES FOR HEALTHY COMMUNITY DECISIONS. CONTINUING TO ADAPT IN A POST COVID-19 ENVIRONMENT, HEALTHY WEST ORANGE FOCUSED ON BRINGING BACK AND EXPANDING IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING AND EDUCATION WHILE STILL GROWING VIRTUAL ENGAGEMENT WITH SOCIAL MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES. IN THE LAST YEAR, HEALTHY WEST ORANGE REACHED MORE THAN 400,000 MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH FIVE SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS, DOZENS OF COMMUNITY FESTIVALS AND EVENTS, MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS, FOUR HEALTHY ACTIVITY CHALLENGES AND CONTINUAL CONTENT ADDITIONS TO THE WEBSITE. - IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES HUBB, A PHYSICAL AND VIRTUAL RESOURCE CENTER THAT HELPED MORE THAN 11,000 INDIVIDUALS FIND AND ACCESS LOCAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. FROM HOUSING AND FOOD TO MENTAL HEALTH AND BASIC ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, HUBB BRIDGES THE GAP BETWEEN THE NUMEROUS ORGANIZATIONS THAT DELIVER HEALTH AND WELLNESS RESOURCES AND THE RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE SEEKING THESE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS. RESIDENTS NOT ONLY FOUND THESE RESOURCES THROUGH HUBB, BUT THE PLATFORM ALLOWED THEM TO CONNECT DIRECTLY WITH THE AGENCIES, CLOSING THE LOOP AND ENSURING INDIVIDUALS COULD ENGAGE WITH THE RESOURCES THEY FOUND. FOR RESIDENTS NEEDING MORE PERSONALIZED SUPPORT, THE HUBB COMMUNITY RESOURCE SPECIALIST ALSO PROVIDED GUIDANCE AND RESOURCE ASSISTANCE TO MORE THAN 11,200 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH TELEPHONIC AND ZOOM SUPPORT, HELPING INDIVIDUALS WHO STRUGGLED TO SELF-NAVIGATE THE ONLINE RESOURCE. - IN COLLABORATION WITH THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, THE FOUNDATION EXPANDED "WESTLY'S MILE" TO 20 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN WEST ORANGE COUNTY. THE WALK/RUN CLUB IS DESIGNED TO GIVE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS IN WEST ORANGE COUNTY A FOUNDATION OF HEALTHY HABITS. OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, WESTLY'S MILE WILL EXPAND TO 37 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM, EACH SCHOOL WILL RECEIVE PROGRAM MATERIALS, GUIDANCE AND STIPENDS FOR TEACHERS WHO LEAD THE RUN/WALK CLUB. IN ADDITION TO WESTLY'S MILE, HEALTHY WEST ORANGE AND THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION ENGAGE MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN WEST ORANGE COUNTY WITH EDUCATION MATERIALS, ACTIVITIES AND ENGAGEMENT RELATED TO PROPER HYDRATION. HEALTHY WEST ORANGE, LLC, WHOSE MANAGER AND SOLE MEMBER IS HWO INC., SUPPORTED THE FOLLOWING INITIATIVES: - EXPANDED ITS DIGITAL MEDIA AUDIENCE INCREASED VIDEO PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION VIA YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND PARTNER OUTLETS SAW GROWTH OF 28%. - INCREASED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN CHALLENGES TWO RACES NAMED WESTLY'S VIRTUAL 5K AND HEALTHY WEST ORANGE HEALTHY SELFIE 5K, A DANCE CHALLENGE, AND A SPLASH CHALLENGE HAD AN OVERALL INCREASE IN REGISTRANTS OF 40%, WITH MORE THAN 3,500 RESIDENTS PARTICIPATING. - COLLABORATED ON PUBLIC SCHOOL FOCUSED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND COMPETITIONS LIKE MIDDLE SCHOOL HYDRATION PROGRAM WITH THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, AND SHOW US YOUR STRENGTH CHALLENGE WITH THE OBSERVER MEDIA GROUP.THESE PROGRAMS INCREASED PUBLIC-SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT AND ALLOWED ENGAGEMENT WITH NEW SCHOOLS AND AUDIENCES. - EXPANDED WESTLY'S MILE, THE BEFORE/AFTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WALKING RUNNING CLUB, WITH 5 SCHOOLS COMPLETING A FULL YEAR 15 SCHOOLS IN TOTAL LAUNCHING JUST AS THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED. - OFFERED COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS, THE FIRST HWO EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING IN THE HWO GROVE OF THE HWO BUILDING FOR HUBB, PERSONAL NAVIGATION ASSISTANCE INCREASED AND OUTREACH ALSO EXPANDED. THE HUBB COMMUNITY RESOURCE SPCIALIST JOINED THE HEALTHY WEST ORANGE TEAM AT ALL MAJOR FESTIVALS AND EVENTS (I.E: SPRING FEVER IN THE GARDEN, HEALTH AND HARVEST FESTIVAL, BOTH LIVE 5K EVENTS) COLLABORATED ON FEATURES ON THE HEALTHY HYPE EMAILS, AND JOINED REGULAR LOCAL MEETING AND ADVISORY GROUPS LIKE COMMISSION/OFFICE ON AGING, ONE WINTER GARDEN, MAXEY COMMUNITY ADVISORY, WEST ORANGE NCF COMMUNITY ADVISORY, AND HEALTH AND HUNGER TASK FORCE. HWO HOLDINGS, LLC, WHOSE MANAGER AND SOLE MEMBER IS HWO INC., WAS GRANTED THE 1200 E. PLANT ST. BUILDING IN WINTER GARDEN, FL. BY THE WEST ORANGE HEALTHCARE DISTRICT IN APRIL 2022. HWO HOLDINGS, LLC SERVES THE COMMUNITY AS AN IN-KIND INVESTOR AND FACILITATOR USING THE HWO BUILDING'S 3100
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 November 6, 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 September 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 May 2019.
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 November 4, 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.