The Humanities Foundation Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

Affordable Housing Program: As a non-profit developer, Humanities Foundation plays a crucial role in facilitating affordable housing projects from inception to completion. Our organization serves various roles, ranging from general partner and managing member to developer, allowing us to access funds exclusively available to nonprofit entities. We provide essential financing to projects and collaborate with construction professionals, including engineers, architects, and builders, to realize affordable housing developments. Upon construction completion, Humanities Foundation engages professional management companies to handle property marketing, leasing, and maintenance. Affordable housing encompasses a broad spectrum of income levels and price ranges. What truly defines housing as "affordable" is the rent or mortgage payment relative to an individual or family's income. According to the federal government, rental housing is considered "affordable" if residents pay no more than 30 percent of their income on rent. Mortgage lenders generally evaluate a home's affordability when the mortgage payment does not exceed 35 percent of the borrower's income. In assessing affordability in relation to income, we employ the term "Area Median Income" (AMI), calculated and published annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The term "median" indicates that half of all households in the area have income greater than this amount. The Humanities Foundation prioritizes affordable units for individuals with incomes within the 30% to 80% AMI range. This means that residents in our communities earn less than half of the average income compared to the entire regional population. AMI serves as the basis for calculating rental amounts according to the 30% of income standard for affordable housing. We utilize public and private partnerships to ensure that rent remains affordable and that construction and maintenance costs do not place a burden on our residents. Recognizing the need for supportive services, the Humanities Foundation has established a range of strategic partnerships to offer services such as health screenings, health education programs, after-school activities, youth summer camps, meals, on-site food banks, and community gardens. In our housing program, we've undertaken various projects: Magnolia 61: A 60-unit apartment complex designed for seniors aged 55 and older located at 1830 Magwood Drive, Charleston, SC. Hampton West Apartments: A 41-unit apartment development catering to seniors aged 55 and older with incomes at or below 100% of the area median income, situated at 554 Rutledge Avenue, Charleston, SC.Shady Grove Apartments: A 72-unit apartment complex constructed for seniors aged 62 and older with incomes 50% below the area median income, situated at 1725 Savage Road, Charleston, South Carolina. Seven Farms Apartments: A 72-unit apartment community created for families with incomes 50% below the area median income, situated at 305 Seven Farms Drive and Daniel Island Drive, Charleston, South Carolina. Ivy Ridge Apartments: A 72-unit apartment development designed for families with incomes 50% below the area median income, located at 2215 Greenridge Road, North Charleston, South Carolina. Pine Hill Apartments: A 72-unit apartment complex constructed for families with incomes 50% below the area median income, situated at 117 Yellow Jasmine Road, Orangeburg, South Carolina. Grandview Apartments: A 72-unit apartment building designed for seniors with incomes 50% below the area median income, located at 1850 Magwood Road, Charleston, South Carolina. Waterford Village: A 96-unit apartment development catering to families with incomes 50% below the area median income, situated at 61 Waterford Loop, Staunton, Virginia. Seven Farms Village: A 42-unit apartment building constructed for seniors with incomes 50% below the area median income, located at 305 Seven Farms Drive, Charleston, South Carolina. Arbor Hill

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 65.4%; rating input score 65
• Program expense ratio: 78.9%; rating input score 79
• Fundraising efficiency: $10.74 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 40; 40th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 55.6%; rating input score 56; 12th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • 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: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -34.5%; rating input score 5; 5th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 15.31; rating input score 95; 95th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.28; rating input score 26; 26th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 13.6%; rating input score 26; 26th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 4.3% per year; rating input score 100; 38th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 1.9% per year; rating input score 100; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 5.7% per year; rating input score 100; 42nd percentile among comparable filings