Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Hope Center USA

EIN 87-3003753 · Lake Zurich, IL

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 The Hope Center is to help restore what is broken in our world, in our community, and in each of us.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$750,179
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
8.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
5
Volunteers
250
Highest pay
$89,006, executive dir.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 6 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 August 31, 2024, 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)
  1. $202,747 spent. Food Pantry - The Hope Center operates a food pantry where guests can expect to find a wide selection of fresh and shelf-stable items to keep their kitchens stocked, as well as herbs and veggies harvested weekly from our farm. We love to connect with pantry guests to find out how else The Hope Center can make a difference in their lives. The food pantry is open every Saturday and serves people throughout northern Illinois.
  2. $125,505 spent. Hope Farm - HOPE Farm sprouted from a simple idea: wouldn't it be wonderful if our food pantry could offer beautifully ripe, nutritious veggies and fruit? We knew the answer, so we got to work! Thanks to a committed crew of volunteers, bushels of plump tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, leafy greens, and aromatic herbs are now being harvested weekly. Our growing, small-scale farm is built around a hydroponic greenhouse that lets us farm year-round, sunshine or snow. Outside, rows of raised beds are lush in the summer with soil-grown garden veggies and native prairie plants.
  3. $69,121 spent. Benevolence - The benevolence program assists individuals who find temporary financial hardship with basic needs such as rent or mortgage assistance, car repairs, medical needs, or other urgent living needs. Participants in the benevolence program go through a holistic intake process to assess the need and are required to participate in financial and budget training to receive assistance.
  4. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 4: Additional services are offered by the ministry including: Single Moms OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 5: Hope Legal OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 6: Teen moms OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 7: Toy Store OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 8: Senior care OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 9: Racial reconciliation OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 10: Disability OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 11: Kylee's closet OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 12: Foster care OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 13: English as a second language OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 14: Home repairs OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 15: Marketplace OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 16: Residency OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 17: Hope health

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2022.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.