Swords to Plowshares Veterans Rights Organization
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SWORDS TO PLOWSHARES' MISSION IS TO HEAL THE WOUNDS OF WAR, TO RESTORE DIGNITY, HOPE AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY TO ALL VETERANS IN NEED, AND TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE HOMELESSNESS AND POVERTY AMONG VETERANS.
- Income
- $39.2 million
- Spending
- $38.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- -3.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 67%
- Employees
- 256
- Volunteers
- 150
- Highest pay
- $216,656, executive director/ coo
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
Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 70% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 44% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 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 (4)
- $17.6 million spent. SUPPORTIVE HOUSINGSWORDS TO PLOWSHARES (SWORDS) CONTINUES TO EXPAND OUR INNOVATIVE AND AWARD-WINNING, EMERGENCY, TRANSITIONAL AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAMS THAT HELP HOMELESS VETERANS GAIN STABILITY AND LIVE INDEPENDENTLY IN THE COMMUNITY. WE CURRENTLY HOUSE NEARLY 500 VETERANS IN PERMANENT OR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. SWORDS HAS THREE PROJECTS, ONE THAT'S FULLY COMPLETE AND THE OTHER TWO IN VARIOUS STAGES DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS. THESE PROJECTS WILL PROVIDE HOUSING ANOTHER 150 VETERANS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.FOR MORE DETAILS ON THE IMPACT OF OUR PROGRAMS PLEASE GO TO WWW.STP-SF.ORG/OUR-IMPACT
- $11.9 million spent. HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICESMORE THAN 1,500 VETERANS SOUGHT SERVICES AND CASE MANAGEMENT AT SWORDS DROP-IN CENTER, WHICH PROVIDES CRITICAL SERVICES TO HOMELESS AND AT-RISK VETERANS, INCLUDING: EMERGENCY SHELTER; MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING; HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION; RAPID RE-HOUSING AND REFERRALS TO A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY AGENCIES AND THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION. WE PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO STABILIZE VETERANS AND TO MEET THE FULL RANGE OF THEIR NEEDS AS THEY PREPARE TO ENTER A TREATMENT PROGRAM, START A NEW JOB OR EXIT HOMELESSNESS. CASE MANAGERS ARRANGED FOR BRIEF EMERGENCY HOUSING FOR OVER 250 HOMELESS VETERANS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO 300 VETERAN FAMILIES MOVING INTO PERMANENT HOUSING. WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO RETAIN HOUSING FOR 150 VETERAN FAMILIES FACED WITH EVICTION. SWORDS' REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE SERVICES HELPED VETERANS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND/OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES MANAGE THEIR MONEY AND RETAIN HOUSING. CURRENTLY 145 VETERANS PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM AND ARE THUS PROTECTED FROM EVICTION AND OTHER CONSEQUENCES OF POOR MONEY MANAGEMENT. WE ALSO WORKED WITH THE SAN FRANCISCO VETERANS ADMINISTRATION, THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO, THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND THE SAN FRANCISCO HOUSING AUTHORITY TO STREAMLINE EFFORTS AND COLLABORATION TO HOUSE THE "HARDEST TO SERVE" CHRONICALLY HOMELESS VETERANS. OUR VA-FUNDED RAPID RE-HOUSING PROGRAM; SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERANS AND FAMILIES (SSVF), CONSISTS OF TIME-LIMITED, SHORT-TERM PROGRESSIVE COMPONENTS OF INDIVIDUALIZED GOAL SETTING DESIGNED TO BUILD UPON ONE ANOTHER FOR A SOLID APPROACH TO HOUSING STABILIZATION AND RETENTION. THIS 'HOUSING FIRST" MODEL PROVIDES IMMEDIATE WRAP-AROUND SUPPORT TO EACH PARTICIPANT, ESTABLISHING A SOLID PERMANENT HOUSING FOUNDATION - FOLLOWED BY SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT HAVE BEEN UNIQUELY DESIGNED TO HELP VETERANS MAINTAIN THEIR HOUSING. WE SERVED OVER 1,100 FAMILIES IS ALL BAY AREA COUNTIES.
- $1.3 million spent. EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICESSWORDS OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES THAT HELP VETERANS OVERCOME BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT, STABILIZE THEIR LIVES AND BECOME JOB-READY. WE HELPED MORE THAN 350 VETERANS IN SAN FRANCISCO AND THE EAST BAY WITH PRE-EMPLOYMENT PREPARATION, CAREER COUNSELING, JOB TRAINING, JOB PLACEMENT AND FOLLOW-UP. WE SECURED JOB TRAINING FOR 280 VETERANS AND PLACED 264 VETERANS IN JOBS. 150 OF OUR CLIENTS WERE HOMELESS AT TIME OF ENROLLMENT. SWORDS ALSO HELPS VETERANS WITH TRAINING, TUITION, WORK CLOTHING, TOOLS, TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER NEEDS SO THEY CAN FIND AND MAINTAIN LONG-TERM EMPLOYMENT.SWORDS WORKS WITH WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARDS, EMPLOYERS, COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING INSTITUTIONS TO DEVELOP CUSTOMIZED JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS IN GROWTH INDUSTRY SECTORS. THE TRAININGS ARE TAILORED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF VETERANS, MANY OF WHOM SERVED IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN. WE OFFER SPECIALIZED CURRICULUM AND SMALL CLASS SIZES SO THAT VETERANS CAN SECURE ACCELERATED CERTIFICATION TO MOVE QUICKLY INTO JOBS. THESE SPECIALIZED TRAININGS ENABLE US TO EFFICIENTLY SERVE MORE VETERANS AND TO HAVE A HIGHER JOB PLACEMENT PERCENTAGE. WE FORGED NEW RELATIONSHIPS WITH EMPLOYERS TO PLACE VETERANS IN JOBS UPON PROGRAM COMPLETION, AND WE ARE WORKING TO STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN THE CORPORATE COMMUNITY THROUGH A STATEWIDE INITIATIVE.
- $2.5 million spent. POLICY DEVELOPMENT -INSTITUTE FOR VETERAN POLICY (IVP):SWORDS' INSTITUTE FOR VETERAN POLICY ADVOCATES FOR IMPROVED SYSTEMS OF CARE FOR VETERANS OF ALL ERAS, SPECIFICALLY IN THE AREAS OF ACCESS TO BENEFITS, HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, MENTAL HEALTH AND THE PREVENTION OF POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS. THE PROGRAM DELIVERS THE HIGHLY ACCLAIMED COMBAT TO COMMUNITY TRAINING TO HUNDREDS EACH YEAR. IVP ALSO PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND ADMINISTERS THE RE-GRANTING OF FUNDS TO VETERAN-SERVING AGENCIES IN CALIFORNIA AND TEXAS WHICH DELIVER EMPLOYMENT, TRAINING, AND WRAP AROUND SERVICES.LEGAL SERVICES:EACH YEAR, OUR ATTORNEYS PROVIDE FREE LEGAL ADVICE, ASSISTANCE, AND REPRESENTATION TO MORE THAN 1,000 HOMELESS AND LOW-INCOME VETERANS THROUGHOUT THE BAY AREA. BY ASSISTING VETERANS ATTAIN VA ELIGIBILITY THROUGH THE VA CHARACTER OF DISCHARGE PROCESS AND APPLICATIONS FOR RECORDS CORRECTIONS AND UPGRADES BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CORRECTIONS BOARDS, WE FIGHT TO REMOVE BARRIERS ESSENTIAL TO VETERANS' STABILITY, INCLUDING ACCESS TO VA HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION SERVICES, BENEFITS, AND HEALTHCARE. WITH THE HELP OF OUR ROBUST PRO BONO PROGRAM, WE SECURED OVER $11 MILLION IN LIFETIME BENEFITS AWARDS FOR VETERAN CLIENTS IN VA DISABILITY COMPENSATION, VHA MEDICAL SERVICES AND VA PENSION BENEFITS. MORE THAN NINETY PERCENT OF THE CASES ADJUDICATED WERE IN THE VETERAN'S FAVOR.
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 November 6, 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 August 1976.
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 November 4, 2026.
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