Hopewest
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Created through a community-wide vision, HopeWest is dedicated to profoundly changing the experiences of aging, illness, and grief one family at a time through creativity, volunteerism, and philanthropy.
- Income
- $79.9 million
- Spending
- $70.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 1.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 90%
- Employees
- 581
- Volunteers
- 1,085
- Highest pay
- $340,656, president/ceo - 6/30/25
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
Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 29% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 14 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 (4)
- $28.4 million spent. HopeWest Hospice offers compassionate support and high quality comprehensive care to individuals and families across 10,000 miles of western Colorado serving five counties. Our largest program and expenditure is hospice care. We serve more than 490 patients and families every day. Patients are cared for by an expert interdisciplinary team including hospice/palliative certified physicians and advance practice nurses. Hospice served more than 2120 patients. More than 600 received individualized short-term care at Ferris Care Center. Care is designed to meet the needs of patients and families during times when a more intensive level of care is needed. Community support through philanthropy and volunteerism ensures HopeWest is able to be there for our community.
- $25.9 million spent. HopeWest PACE provided high quality care to more than 225 participants in 2025. With PACE, a team of health care professionals works with each individual to make sure needed services are coordinated. PACE programs get to know their participants and design services to meet each person's unique needs. The Center for Living Your Best houses a clinic, adult day center with activities and meals, as well as physical and occupation therapy opportunities that enhance the continued health and well-being of our participants. Our dedicated staff ensure each participant is provided with the medical and support services so they can be safe living at home for as long as possible.
- $3.3 million spent. Community programs is our third largest program expenditure. Services are offered to grieving adults through support groups and one-on-one counseling. HopeWest Kids provides grief services to children ages 3-19 through school groups, equine therapy, grief camps and art therapy. More than 800 children and adults were served last year. We also offer two different Palliative Care Programs. Palliative Care is for people with serious health conditions not yet eligible for hospice or are still receiving curative treatment. More than 228 patients were served last year. These programs offer a variety of specialized care to meet our patient's needs to gain back quality of life for them and their loved ones.
- $4.5 million spent. Retail Outlets- HopeWest operates retail entities to provide an opportunity for the community to know us before they need us. Heirlooms for Hospice is an upscale resale store featuring treasures donated by the community. Families of those HopeWest has served find comfort knowing the treasures they donate help support HopeWest. We have three different locations in Grand Junction, Montrose, and Delta. We also operate Spoons bistro and bakery located on the Ferris Care Center Campus in Grand Junction. While it serves patients and families who are in the Care Center, it is also a full-service restaurant open to the public. Proceeds from both Spoons and Heirlooms support the programs of HopeWest. Volunteer Services - People with a passion for helping others make our mission possible. More than 1080 volunteers gave 80,417 hours of time in 2025, adding a value of 38.5 full time equivalents (FTEs). Gifts of time are as unique as those who contribute. Volunteers change our world in so many ways. Through holding the hands of patients in need, providing art and music therapy to patients, supporting kids coping with grief, beautifying our gardens, creating a one-of-a-kind shopping experience at Heirlooms for Hospice, making our fundraising events special, and so much more. Volunteers are truly the heart of HopeWest.
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 August 1993.
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.