Openhouse
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Openhouse enables San Francisco Bay Area LGBTQ+ seniors to overcome the unique challenges they face as they age by providing housing, direct services and community programs. (continued on Schedule O)
- Income
- $5.5 million
- Spending
- $5.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 13.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 50%
- Employees
- 52
- Volunteers
- 389
- Highest pay
- $263,966, exec 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
Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 21% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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 (housing, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 13 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 (3)
- $2.5 million spent. Community Engagement: To ameliorate social and environmental conditions that may serve as barriers for LGBTQ seniors, Openhouse organizes over 100 hours per month of intellectually stimulating activities and opportunities that bring LGBTQ+ older adults together to meet each other, reduce social isolation and enhance their quality of life. Activities include game days, bi-weekly and monthly lunches, movie screenings, museum tours and other outings, general discussion groups, financial planning seminars, and arts and writing workshops.(Continued on Schedule O) Community Engagement Continued: Activities are co-created and designed by staff, volunteers, and participants with the goal of creating a safe, affirming, and inclusive space for participants. Openhouse staff often use these activities to build trust and rapport with community members and connect them with other social services such as Home Delivered Grocery program, Friendly Visitor program, and supportive services. As we continue to emerge from the pandemic, Openhouse social engagement and recreational programming is offered through a variety of delivery methods: In person, hybrid, and virtually, helping to bridge LGBTQ+-welcoming programming to accessible spaces for community members across San Francisco.Health & Wellness Activities:Given LGBTQ+ older adults potential stigma and fear of accessing mental health services and other social services supports, Openhouse offers staff-and peer-facilitated support groups and a new 10-week program of treatment for moderate to severe depression and anxiety. The therapy sessions are conducted by a licensed clinical social worker at no charge. Because community members were emotionally triggered by a second deadly pandemic in their lifetimes, a survey of LGBTQ+ seniors before and after COVID vaccine availability revealed that their number one critical need was affordable mental health care. The goal of the Support Program Groups is to provide LGBTQ+ seniors an opportunity to build community with peers facing similar challenges, in a safer, age- and LGBTQ+-affirming space. These groups can provide an increased sense of self-worth and self-knowledge through shared vulnerability, challenge, and trust, and can empower group members in how they approach relationships outside of the group. Group facilitators are often Openhouse clients themselves and have longstanding histories of participation in activist groups, therapy groups, and consciousness raising groups that bolster their facilitation. Facilitators employ diverse approaches, such as literature, theory, videos, art, and music, to encourage group participation and reflection on group topics. Ongoing emotional support groups include: Long-Term Survivors HIV/AIDS support group, LGBTQ Seniors with Chronic Disabilities support group, Self-Compassion & Belonging, In the Life: Supporting LGBTQ POC group, LGBTQ Caregivers of those with Dementia support group, and Living with Loss: Drop-in Grief support group.To reduce health disparities, promote healthy behavior and encourage early access to care, Openhouse offers health and wellness activities and workshops led by health professionals each year. Workshop topics include: HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, diabetes prevention, healthy eating, managing stress, reducing suicide ideation, and reducing high blood pressure. In addition to these workshops, Openhouse offers weekly exercise classes such as meditation and yoga. As we fully emerge from the pandemic, groups take place in-person, hybrid, and virtually.
- $1.1 million spent. Community Support Services: Under the Openhouse Community Support Services Department, 55 Laguna and its neighboring building, 95 Laguna are uniquely designed to support LGBTQ+ seniors. Both buildings were established through a partnership between Mercy Housing, a nonprofit housing developer, and Openhouse a community nonprofit that serves LGBTQ+ seniors. Through this partnership, Mercy Housing provides property management and resident services, and Openhouse provides a range of activities and services for LGBTQ+ seniors that honor and affirm their experience and create a safe home environment within community. Openhouse also provides case management for Continuum of Care participants of all genders, sexual identities and expressions who live on site. (Continued on Schedule O) Individuals and couples who are 55 years and older, for55Laguna, andthose who are 62 and older, for 95 Laguna, whose household income does not exceed 50% of Area Median Income (AMI) are eligible. 14 of 117 units are set aside for formerly homeless funded through Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), and 23 are for homeless individuals placed by the San Francisco Department of Homelessness Continuum of Care (COC) program.Case Management and Care Navigation: Under the Openhouse Community Support Services Department, staff provide case management and care navigation to LGBTQ+ older adults and adults with disabilities who have complex needs. This continuum of assistance provides wrap-around support and services coordination that seniors need, many of which do not have children or family to provide this critical care. These services allow community members to age in place and maintain independence throughout the aging process.San Francisco residents who are 60 years of age or older, or individuals between 18 and 59 years of age who are living with disabilities, who are at risk of premature institutionalization, and who meet at least one of the following conditions: Impairment in one or more areas of Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), such as eating, dressing, transfer, bathing, toileting, & grooming, taking medication, or attending appointments.Case Managers support individuals in improving their quality of life, increase aging with dignity, do crisis management, and assist in the death and dying process.Information and Referral (ADRC): The Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) is under the Openhouse Community Support Services Department. LGBTQ+ older adults find new sources of support and access critically needed services through the information, referrals and basic emotional support provided by Openhouse. To meet growing community demand and the priorities identified by the San Francisco (LGBT) Aging Policy Task Force, Openhouse was designated as one of ten city-funded ADRCs in July 2014.Housing Assistance: Under the Openhouse Community Support Services Department, the Housing Navigation program offers guidance to those seeking affordable housing in San Francisco. Our Housing Workshops, introduce community members to the process of housing search in SF, including an overview of housing availability and eligibility requirements, exploration of strategies, and sharing of helpful resources, all in an LGBTQ+ affirming environment. In follow up sessions, staff assist individuals to complete applications and improve their chances of success through financial coaching, debt-management, and budgeting. Openhouse is a critical source of information when new and existing affordable housing options become available. We send out monthly updated Affordable Housing Lists for 5 counties.
- $771,937 spent. Strategic Partnerships: The Strategic Partnerships and Training department aims to transform the existing infrastructure of aging clinical and social services in a multi-pronged approach. Strategic partners are organizations with a demonstrated commitment to transforming their existing expertise to better serve LGBTQ+ older adults and adults with disabilities. An example of a strategic partner is the existing partnership with On Lok, a highly recognized community-based healthcare organization who are creators of the PACE healthcare model. Together, we co-created the first-of-its-kind adult day program, for and by the LGBTQ+ community. This kind of transformational work is a powerful component gleaned from our training work. Our DAS funded training and transformational work is responsible for executing robust interactive learning experiences to agencies, organizations, and non-profits to adapt their expertise to become inclusive to older adults who happen to be LGBTQ+. We provide assessment tools for skilled nursing and residential care facilities, adapt and tailor trainings to clinicians, social workers, and other providers all in the aim to inform culturally competent clinical and social services for our elders in San Francisco and beyond.
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 February 2000.
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.
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.