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Charleston Hope

EIN 90-0903530 · Charleston, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CHARLESTON HOPE IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO INCREASING ACCESS TO MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS IN TITLE I SCHOOLS TO ENHANCE STUDENT WELL-BEING. FOUNDED IN 2011, CHARLESTON HOPE PARTNERS WITH SCHOOL COMMUNITIES TO DELIVER TRAUMA-INFORMED, SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMMING THAT STRENGTHENS RESILIENCE AND FOSTERS HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT. THE ORGANIZATION'S WORK IS ROOTED IN THE BELIEF THAT EVERY CHILD, REGARDLESS OF ZIP CODE, DESERVES ACCESS TO THE CARE AND SUPPORT NECESSARY TO NAVIGATE LIFE'S CHALLENGES AND THRIVE ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY. CHARLESTON HOPE'S INNOVATIVE APPROACH PLACES LICENSED THERAPISTS, TRAINED INTERNS, AND CARE COORDINATORS DIRECTLY WITHIN SCHOOLS AND AFTER-SCHOOL SETTINGS, MEETING STUDENTS WHERE THEY ARE AND REDUCING BARRIERS TO CARE.

Income
$501,344
Spending
$530,710
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
14
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$84,644, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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 June 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 (4)
  1. $158,916 spent. THRIVE PROGRAM (PRIMARY PROGRAM) CHARLESTON HOPE'S THRIVE PROGRAM PROVIDES SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO STUDENTS IN ELIGIBLE TITLE 1 SCHOOLS. MANY STUDENTS EXPERIENCE TRAUMA, CHRONIC STRESS, AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES THAT IMPACT THEIR ABILITY TO LEARN, REGULATE BEHAVIOR, AND ENGAGE IN SCHOOL. SCHOOLS OFTEN LACK SUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO MEET THESE NEEDS.THE THRIVE PROGRAM EMBEDS LICENSED THERAPISTS, CLINICAL INTERNS, AND CARE COORDINATORS DIRECTLY WITHIN PARTNER SCHOOLS TO DELIVER ACCESSIBLE, TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE. STUDENTS RECEIVE INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, GROUP COUNSELING, EARLY INTERVENTION, AND SKILL-BUILDING SUPPORT DESIGNED TO IMPROVE EMOTIONAL REGULATION, COPING SKILLS, AND OVERALL WELL-BEING. BY PROVIDING SERVICES WITHIN THE SCHOOL SETTING, THE PROGRAM REDUCES BARRIERS TO ACCESS AND SUPPORTS BOTH STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS.DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, CHARLESTON HOPE EXPANDED THRIVE SERVICES ACROSS THREE PARTNER SCHOOLS, DELIVERING OVER 700 HOURS OF THERAPY SESSIONS AND INCREASING THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS RECEIVING MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT. THE PROGRAM CONTRIBUTED TO IMPROVED STUDENT WELL-BEING, STRONGER SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS, AND INCREASED ACCESS TO CONSISTENT CARE.
  2. $38,246 spent. STEP-IN PROGRAM (AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM)THE STEP-IN PROGRAM PROVIDES PREVENTATIVE, GROUP-BASED SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING FOR ELEMENTARY-AGED STUDENTS. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON EARLY INTERVENTION BY HELPING STUDENTS BUILD CONFIDENCE, STRENGTHEN EMOTIONAL REGULATION, AND DEVELOP HEALTHY PEER RELATIONSHIPS.STEP-IN OPERATES PRIMARILY AS AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR 3RD-5TH GRADE STUDENTS AND UTILIZES STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES, GUIDED DISCUSSIONS, AND RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING EXERCISES TO FOSTER BELONGING AND CONNECTEDNESS. PARTICIPANTS LEARN PRACTICAL SKILLS RELATED TO COMMUNICATION, COPING, AND SELF-AWARENESS IN A SUPPORTIVE GROUP ENVIRONMENT.DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE STEP-IN PROGRAM SERVED STUDENTS ACROSS PARTNER SITES AND PROVIDED CONSISTENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL GROWTH. THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS LONG-TERM STUDENT WELL-BEING BY BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION OF EMOTIONAL AND RELATIONAL SKILLS.
  3. $12,012 spent. ADVOCACY & COMMUNITY IMPACTCHARLESTON HOPE ENGAGED IN ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICES WITHIN LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS THROUGH A ONE-TIME GRANT. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION PARTNERED WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION AND THE YWCA OF GREATER CHARLESTON, TO SUPPORT SYSTEMS-LEVEL CHANGE.THESE EFFORTS FOCUSED ON ADVANCING TRAUMA-INFORMED TRAINING AND STRENGTHENING THE OVERALL ECOSYSTEM OF SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS. THROUGH COLLABORATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, CHARLESTON HOPE WORKS TO ENSURE THAT SCHOOLS ARE EQUIPPED TO BETTER RESPOND TO THE MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS OF STUDENTS.
  4. $224,054 spent. ORGANIZATIONAL & PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONCHARLESTON HOPE PROVIDES SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO INCREASE ACCESS TO CARE FOR STUDENTS IN HIGH-POVERTY SCHOOLS. THROUGH ITS THRIVE PROGRAM, THE ORGANIZATION EMBEDS LICENSED THERAPISTS, CLINICAL INTERNS, AND CARE COORDINATORS WITHIN PARTNER SCHOOLS TO DELIVER INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING, EARLY INTERVENTION, AND TRAUMA-INFORMED SUPPORT. STUDENTS RECEIVE SERVICES THAT STRENGTHEN COPING SKILLS, IMPROVE BEHAVIOR, AND SUPPORT ACADEMIC SUCCESS, WHILE ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO SAFER AND MORE SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS.THE ORGANIZATION ALSO OPERATES THE STEP-IN PROGRAM, A PREVENTATIVE, GROUP-BASED SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING PROGRAM FOR ELEMENTARY-AGED STUDENTS. STEP-IN FOCUSES ON BUILDING CONFIDENCE, EMOTIONAL REGULATION, AND HEALTHY PEER RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES AND GUIDED DISCUSSIONS. IN ADDITION, CHARLESTON HOPE ENGAGES IN ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO ADVANCE TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICES WITHIN LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, CHARLESTON HOPE CONTINUED TO EXPAND ITS PROGRAMMING AND DEEPEN ITS IMPACT ACROSS PARTNER SCHOOLS, INCREASING THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS SERVED AND THE LEVEL OF MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT PROVIDED WITHIN THE SCHOOL SETTING.CHARLESTON HOPE PROVIDES SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO INCREASE ACCESS TO CARE FOR STUDENTS IN HIGH-POVERTY SCHOOLS. THROUGH ITS THRIVE PROGRAM, THE ORGANIZATION EMBEDS LICENSED THERAPISTS, CLINICAL INTERNS, AND CARE COORDINATORS WITHIN PARTNER SCHOOLS TO DELIVER INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING, EARLY INTERVENTION, AND TRAUMA-INFORMED SUPPORT. STUDENTS RECEIVE SERVICES THAT STRENGTHEN COPING SKILLS, IMPROVE BEHAVIOR, AND SUPPORT ACADEMIC SUCCESS, WHILE ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO SAFER AND MORE SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS.THE ORGANIZATION ALSO OPERATES THE STEP-IN PROGRAM, A PREVENTATIVE, GROUP-BASED SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING PROGRAM FOR ELEMENTARY-AGED STUDENTS. STEP-IN FOCUSES ON BUILDING CONFIDENCE, EMOTIONAL REGULATION, AND HEALTHY PEER RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES AND GUIDED DISCUSSIONS. IN ADDITION, CHARLESTON HOPE ENGAGES IN ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO ADVANCE TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICES WITHIN LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, CHARLESTON HOPE CONTINUED TO EXPAND ITS PROGRAMMING AND DEEPEN ITS IMPACT ACROSS PARTNER SCHOOLS, INCREASING THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS SERVED AND THE LEVEL OF MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT PROVIDED WITHIN THE SCHOOL SETTING.FINANCIAL NARRATIVECHARLESTON HOPE EXPERIENCED A CHANGE IN REVENUE DURING THE FISCAL YEAR DUE TO THE COMPLETION OF SEVERAL ONE-TIME AND MULTI-YEAR GRANT AWARDS THAT SUPPORTED PRIOR PROGRAM EXPANSION. AS THESE FUNDING SOURCES CONCLUDED, THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED TO INVEST IN PROGRAM DELIVERY AND GROWTH, PARTICULARLY WITHIN ITS THRIVE SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM.DURING THIS PERIOD, CHARLESTON HOPE EXPANDED SERVICES TO ADDITIONAL SCHOOLS AND INCREASED THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS RECEIVING MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, RESULTING IN HIGHER PROGRAM-RELATED EXPENSES RELATIVE TO REVENUE IN THE CURRENT YEAR. THE ORGANIZATION INTENTIONALLY MAINTAINED AND GREW SERVICE DELIVERY TO MEET STUDENT NEEDS DESPITE THE TRANSITION IN FUNDING.CHARLESTON HOPE IS ACTIVELY TRANSITIONING TO A MORE DIVERSIFIED AND SUSTAINABLE FUNDING MODEL, INCLUDING INCREASED INDIVIDUAL GIVING, CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS, AND A SHARED INVESTMENT MODEL WITH SCHOOL PARTNERS. THIS APPROACH IS DESIGNED TO CREATE LONG-TERM FINANCIAL STABILITY WHILE CONTINUING TO EXPAND ACCESS TO CRITICAL MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES.THE REPORTED CHANGE IN NET INCOME REFLECTS THIS STRATEGIC TRANSITION PERIOD AND THE TIMING OF REVENUE RELATIVE TO PROGRAM EXPANSION, RATHER THAN A REDUCTION IN ORGANIZATIONAL IMPACT OR FINANCIAL STABILITY.DONATED OFFICE SPACE IS NOT RECOGNIZED AS IN-KIND REVENUE OR EXPENSE ON THE FORM 990, AS IT DOES NOT MEET THE CRITERIA FOR RECOGNITION UNDER APPLICABLE IRS GUIDELINES. AS A RESULT, THIS ITEM IS REFLECTED IN INTERNAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS BUT EXCLUDED FROM THE 990.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 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 June 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 August 2014.

    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.

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