Homes For Our Troops continues our history of excellence by receiving the highest possible rating of four stars from Charity Navigator, the world’s largest and most trusted nonprofit evaluator. This places HFOT in the top five percent of charities rated by the organization.
Charity Navigator evaluates organizations that are registered 501(c)(3) charities through a comprehensive rating system that provides analysis across four key indicators, referred to as beacons:
- Impact & Results: HFOT is assessed on the direct impact of our program relative to the cost required to run it to help donors identify that we are a high-impact charity. As a valued supporter, you can trust that we will be excellent stewards of your money. Since our founding in 2004, nearly 90 cents of every dollar spent has gone directly toward program services, providing post-9/11 Veterans with the adapted homes they need. HFOT has built over 368 specially adapted custom homes nationwide. Our goal is to build a home for every Veteran who qualifies for one. View our website for a complete list of our Veterans by state.
- Accountability & Finance: HFOT’s financial health is analyzed to equip donors with information about how we operate, and how we are stewarding the donations we receive, as well as our commitment to governance policies and procedures. Charities need at least three consecutive years of data to receive a score. Homes For Our Troops is publicly funded, with approximately 65 percent of our revenue generated by individual donors, private and family foundations, and community fundraisers nationwide who step up to help our Veterans by coordinating everything from lemonade stands to golf tournaments. The remaining 35% comes from corporate supporters in the form of cash and donated materials. Our audited financial statements can be viewed and downloaded here.
- Leadership & Adaptability: HFOT’s leadership capacity and ability to adapt to internal and external changes are assessed to assure donors we have strong leadership practices with a demonstrated ability to deliver on our mission. Our mission is to build and donate specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post-9/11 Veterans, to enable them to rebuild their lives. What makes us different from other Veteran charities is our focus on Rebuilding Lives, the most important aspect of our mission. HFOT stays in contact with our Veterans after home delivery for life, and we provide a pro-bono financial planner for three years to assist in financial planning and household budgeting, in addition to homeownership education and warranty coverage to ensure that the Veteran is set up for long-term success as a homeowner. Check our senior leadership and Board of Directors.
- Culture and Community: Donors can gain insight into HFOT’s overall culture and community to find out about our organizational health. HFOT’s Core Values reaffirm our commitment to the Veterans we are privileged to serve, as well as to our donors, volunteers, and supporters. The HFOT staff is a dedicated, loyal, and cohesive team, led by skilled and versatile leaders, focused on excellence, ethical conduct, and the quality of the services we provide. HFOT is dedicated to these values: COMMITMENT, ACCOUNTABILITY, RESPECT, EXCELLENCE, and SERVICE. Additionally, we established a Veteran Action and Advisory Team (VAAT), consisting of HFOT Veterans and spouses who guide and mentor HFOT Veterans and staff on a wide range of topics and provide insight into the Veteran community. HFOT continues to expand our network of other nonprofits, government organizations, and corporations to enhance available resources to which to refer HFOT Veterans dealing with challenges. To learn more about our impactful program, read about these inspiring stories of Veterans and families rebuilding their lives.
We recommend assessing the charity ratings of an organization you are interested in supporting. In addition to Charity Navigator, CharityWatch, BBB Wise Giving Alliance, and GuideStar are valuable resources that measure nonprofits based on accountability, transparency, donor privacy, and the efficiency of how donations are spent.
Charity Watch has awarded Homes For Our Troops an A rating and has included us in its “Top-Rated Veterans & Military Charities” listing. The BBB Wise Giving Alliance reviews a charity using 20 criteria that cover governance, effectiveness, finance, and fundraising. Homes For Our Troops meets all 20 BBB Charity Standards. GuideStar is the world’s largest source of information on nonprofit organizations. HFOT is a platinum-level GuideStar participant, demonstrating its commitment to transparency.
Learn more about the importance of charity ratings here.
Thank you for being an integral part of our mission as contributors, funders, and volunteers. Your support makes a difference in the lives of the Veterans we serve.