Hope Ventures Inc

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
814389154
IRS 990 coverage
2022–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-EZ 2021, Form 990-N 2017
Location
Pasadena, CA, USA
Phone
6266781980
Rating
81
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Single Organization Support

Reported finances

Revenue
$216,685
Expenses
$286,076
Assets
$109,576
Liabilities
$11,333

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

9 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • Mark Edgar-Goeser (President & CEO)

Highest reported compensation

  • Mark Edgar-Goeser (President & CEO): $75,000 total reported compensation
  • Heath Hollandsworth (Operations Dir.): $62,269 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

We train organizations around the world to raise up thriving businesses in undeserved communities.

What it reported doing in 2024

Entrepreneurship Training Program(1) Quito Entrepreneur Project Provided continued support for economic development efforts in impoverished communities in Ecuador through a locally led business program and small farming initiatives for 135 participants. Ongoing involvement includes coaching, consulting, and monitoring of impact outcomes.(2) Haiti Entrepreneur Project provide the project director with periodic coaching, consultation, and monitor a virtual business program serving communities in Port-au-Prince. The activities have been minimized due to civil unrest and gang violence in the area, but maintains a connection with over 20 entrepreneurs. (3) Malawi Entrepreneur Project Facilitated business training for 40 entrepreneurs at the Hope Business Hub. Launched a formal Business Association and implemented structured coaching for entrepreneur growth and collaboration.(4) Manila Entrepreneur Project Launched a business incubator program in partnership with local leaders to serve entrepreneurs in vulnerable communities. The pilot cohort includes 18 entrepreneurs and 12 mentors receiving tailored training and support.(5) Zimbabwe Entrepreneur Project Provided ongoing support for Business Savings Groups to equip underserved entrepreneurs with training, mentoring, and access to capital in collaboration with local partners. 40 people were enrolled in the program by the end of 2024.(6) Sierra Leone Entrepreneur Project Helped launch a foundational entrepreneur training program in Freetown in partnership with a local organization, equipping 25 aspiring entrepreneurs with the tools to start and grow businesses.(7) South LA Entrepreneur Project Previously supported a business incubator serving underserved communities in South Los Angeles through a local partner. No direct involvement during this reporting period; the program operates independently.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 78% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 95% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. The filing reports few safeguards for money sent abroad and fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 84
  • Transparency & Controls: 83
  • Accountability: 84
  • Sustainability: 14
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
  • Program expense ratio: 76.2%; rating input score 76
  • Fundraising efficiency: $6.97 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 30; 30th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: 4 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 50
    • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
    • Requires narrative reports: Fail
    • Conducts field audits: Fail
    • May suspend future funding: Fail
    • Requires financial reports: Pass
    • Conducts site visits: Pass
    • Requires grant agreements: Pass
    • May require repayment: Fail
  • Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 80th percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Limited
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 87.5%; rating input score 88; 24th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 7 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 78
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Missing
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: -32%; rating input score 9; 9th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.38; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.1; rating input score 26; 26th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 48%; rating input score 4; 4th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 27.8% per year; rating input score 100; 89th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 13.6% per year; rating input score 100; 80th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 21.1% per year; rating input score 100; 86th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 100% of revenue deployed · 76.2% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 7 of 8 board members independent · 7 of 9 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $218K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $75K · 9 people listed
  • Consistency: 31 of 31 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 5 filed schedules · includes foreign activity
  • Filing history: 3 filing years from 2022 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 2 filed money-flow records
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • Review — Transparency & Controls: Foreign activity oversight: 4 of 8 not reported.
  • Moderate — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 30/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 9/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 20/100.
  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: Independent financial-statement audit not reported.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 4/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 26/100.