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Hebrew Free Loan Association of San Francisco

EIN 94-1156545 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong91 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO AID WORTHY JEWISH PEOPLE TO BE AND REMAIN SELF-SUPPORTING AND SELF-RESPECTING PERSONS BY AID OF LOANS, GRANTS AND SUCH SERVICES AS THE INDIVIDUAL MAY REQUIRE. SUCH LOANS, GRANTS AND SERVICES SHALL BE RENDERED WITHOUT INTEREST OR OTHER CHARGES. LOANS ARE GIVEN FOR EMERGENCIES, PERSONAL FINANCIAL CHALLENGES, TUITION AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL-RELATED COSTS, FIRST TIME HOME PURCHASES, DEBT CONSOLIDATION, STARTING OR EXPANDING A SMALL BUSINESS, ADOPTION, HEALTH CARE, AND ASSISTING THOSE WHO HAVE BECOME UNEMPLOYED. LOANS ARE ALSO PROVIDED TO SYNAGOGUES AND OTHER JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS.

Income
$3.4 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
40.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
14
Volunteers
98
Highest pay
$319,261, 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

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 40.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 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

    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 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 (3)
  1. $1.9 million spent. WE DISBURSED 591 INTEREST-FREE LOANS DURING THE YEAR, TOTALING $8.6 MILLION. THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE AMOUNT DISBURSED LAST YEAR, BUT 52 MORE LOANS, WHICH MEANS WE HELPED MORE PEOPLE. WE CLOSED THE YEAR WITH 1,670 LOANS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY (125 MORE THAN LAST YEAR) TOTALING $20.5 MILLION.OUR 18 LOAN PROGRAMS HELP PEOPLE PURSUE LIFE GOALS AND ADDRESS FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS. STUDENT LOANS WERE THE MOST FREQUENTLY REQUESTED LOAN TYPE,FOLLOWED BY DEBT CONSOLIDATION AND GENERAL NEEDS.THE NEED FOR ASSISTANCE CONTINUES TO INCREASE,AS MANY STILL STRUGGLE TO FIND THEIR FOOTING AFTER LOSING INCOME OR DEPLETING SAVINGS DURING THE PANDEMIC. WE ARE WORKING HARD TO GROW OUR RESOURCES TO MEET COMMUNITY NEED.
  2. HELPING SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS LAUNCH OR EXPAND THEIR BUSINESSES IS A CORE FOCUS OF OUR LENDING. THIS YEAR, WE MADE 36 BUSINESS LOANS TOTALING $1.3 MILLION (80% MORE LOANS AND 115% MORE IN DOLLARS THAN LAST YEAR). AMOUNTS RANGED FROM $10K TO $50K.MANY APPLICANTS DON'T YET HAVE A BUSINESS TRACK RECORD, SO CAN'T QUALIFY FOR BANK LOANS. FOR EARLY-STAGE ENTREPRENEURS BOOT-STRAPPING THEIR BUSINESSES, OUR LOANS BEING INTEREST-FREE IS A GAME CHANGER. WE'VE SUPPORTED FOOD AND BEVERAGE COMPANIES, MEDICAL PRACTICES, LAW FIRMS, RETAIL STORES, COACHING AND CONSULTING PRACTICES, DEVELOPERS OF PRODUCTS (E.G., SMART TOOTHBRUSHES, PICKLEBALL GRIPS, AND VIDEO GAMES), AND OTHER TYPES OF ENTERPRISES.
  3. IN 2023-24, WE RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM GENEROUS DONORS TO LAUNCH OUR ENVIRONMENTAL LOAN PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES INTEREST-FREE LOANS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS CONTRIBUTE TO SUSTAINABILITY. THE PROGRAM GREW AND GAINED TRACTION THIS YEAR, AS WE TRIPLED THE NUMBER OF ENVIRONMENTAL LOANS WE MADE. MANY LOANS HELPED PEOPLE BUY ELECTRIC VEHICLES TO GET TO WORK AND SCHOOL. OTHERS ASSISTED PEOPLE TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPES OR INSTALL ELECTRIC HEAT PUMPS IN THEIR HOMES. WE ALSO HELPED SMALL ENVIRONMENTAL BUSINESSES, SUCH AS A SOLAR INSTALLATION COMPANY AND AN INSTALLER OF GREYWATER SYSTEMS AND WATER-CONSCIOUS LANDSCAPING.

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 January 1935.

    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.