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Together for Hope

EIN 87-0835491 · Jackson, MS

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF TOGETHER FOR HOPE IS TO END PERSISTENT RURAL POVERTY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
8.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
9
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$75,960, president

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 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)
  1. $707,440 spent. IN MANY WAYS, 2025 LEFT A HIGH-WATER MARK ON THE BANKS OF OUR RESERVOIR.AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, WE HOSTED OUR ANNUAL MEETING IN DECATUR, GA; HEALTH SUMMITS ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST; SCREENED OUR DOCUMENTARY RISING HOPE AROUND THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD (NEW CANAAN, CT; ST. LOUIS, MO; DALLAS, TX; WINSTON-SALEM, NC; DECATUR, GA; SAN JOSE, CA; LEWISBURG, PA; CLEVELAND, MS; PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA; ATLANTA, GA; SELMA, AL); HELD OUR ANNUAL STAFF RETREAT IN LOS CRUCES, NM; AND LAUNCHED HOPE BOX AS A WAY TO HIGHLIGHT THE PRODUCTS OF OUR SOCIAL ENTERPRISE NETWORK. BESIDES THIS, OUR PRESIDENT TOURED THE COUNTRY AND ABROAD SPEAKING AND LECTURING ABOUT OUR WORK (JACKSON, MS; TULSA, OK; CLINTON, MS; WASHINGTON DC; CAL, COLOMBIA; SHAW, MS; GREENVILLE, SC; OXFORD, MS; ST. LOUIS, MO; AND LUMBERTON, NC). WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO PRODUCE A 14-PAGE GLOSSY THAT DESCRIBES THE WORK THAT WE DO IN COUNTIES OF PERSISTENT RURAL POVERTY IN THE UNITED STATES.TOGETHER FOR HOPE (TFH) GALVANIZED THE BLACK BELT REGION AROUND BUILDING A HOUSE IN FITZGERALD, GA, AND HELPING A FAMILY OF FOUR BECOME HOMEOWNERS. RACHEL GUNTER SHAPARD, OUR VP FOR THE BLACK BELT, CALLED THIS PROGRAM "TOGETHER WE BUILD AND IT HAS BECOME OUR MODEL FOR CREATING NEW AFFORDABLE HOMES AND HOMEOWNERS ACROSS RURAL AMERICA. THIS YEAR WE PLAN TO BUILD 3-4 NEW HOMES WITH THIS MODEL THAT PROVIDES FAMILIES WITH A PATHWAY OUT OF POVERTY.IN THE DELTA REGION WE CONNECTED DELTA CIRCLES WITH OUR PARTNERS IN SILICON VALLEY, WHO CAME TO HELENA-WEST HELENA, AR, AND INSTALLED AN ORCHARD OF 3D PRINTERS, TRAINED STAFF HOW TO OPERATE IT, AND HOSTED A COMMUNITY-WIDE PARTY TO CELEBRATE THIS COLLABORATION. NOW, YOUTH AND ADULTS IN THE ARKANSAS DELTA WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE NEWEST TECHNOLOGIES AVAILABLE WHICH EQUIPS THEM WITH A KNOWLEDGE BASE FOR THE FUTURE.TFH APPALACHIA HELPED ONE VOICE, ONE OF OUR APPALACHIAN PARTNERS, FINALIZE A TOOLKIT FOR THEIR ORGANIZATION THAT THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR YEARS. WITH OUR ASSISTANCE, THEY WERE ABLE TO CREATE THE TOOLKIT THAT WILL EMPOWER THEM TO REPLICATE THEIR WORK IN FIGHTING THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC IN WV.DR. CORY PEACOCK BECAME OUR REGIONAL MANAGER OF THE FOUR CORNERS (ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO, UTAH, AND COLORADO), WHICH HELPS US TRULY BEGIN TO SCALE IN THE WEST. HAVING SOMEONE ORGANIZE OUR WORK IN THE FOUR CORNERS IS A HUGE LEAP TOWARDS SCALING TFH WITHIN THE TRIBAL NATIONS, TEXAS, FOUR CORNERS (TNT4C) REGION.

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

  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 September 2025.

    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 February 2022.

    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.