Self Help Enterprises
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
IMPROVING THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF LOW INCOME FAMILIES THROUGH HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY.
- Income
- $107.7 million
- Spending
- $87.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- 11.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 81%
- Employees
- 263
- Volunteers
- 25
- Highest pay
- $296,537, president & ceo
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
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (housing, over $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.1 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 56% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1596% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 32% of charities in its peer group (housing, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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 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 (1)
- $84.1 million spent. Self-Help housing Assisted 115 families in completing the construction of their new homes. 79 other families were in the process of construction as of June 30, 2025.Home buyer Assistance Program 68 families received secondary mortgage financing to help them purchase homes.Rehabilitation 90 families received financing and assistance in the rehabilitation or reconstruction of their homes. Multifamily Housing 372 Rental Units Developed Guardian Village (48)Neighborhood Village (53)Northstar Apartments (72)River Grove I (70)Cherry Crossing (72)Santa Fe Commons II (57)On June 30, 2025, SHE owned and operated 3,014 units of rental housing in 55 affordable housing communities. Community Development: 1,846 water/sewer connections in small rural communitiesHomeownership Education and Counseling: 713 low-income households received individual and/or classroom homeownership training to prepare them for home ownership. Emergency Services: For FY 25, Emergency ServicesInstalled Emergency Tanks or delivered hauled water to 88 households.Completed new construction or repairs on 288 new wells.Tested 278 domestic wells for contamination.Installed 128 filtration devices to mitigate contamination in systems.Delivered drinking water to around 534 households.
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
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 June 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 April 1965.
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.