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Help Heal Veterans

CharityWatch rating issued
March 2026

F
CharityWatch Rating
Our independent rating based
on a number of factors.
 
31%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$57
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

Contact Information

Help Heal Veterans
36585 Penfield Lane
Winchester, CA 92596

Other Names

Help Hospitalized Veterans
HHV

Tax Status

501(c)3

Stated Mission

To enrich the lives of veterans & military personnel. Manufactures & distributes therapeutic arts & crafts kits to support the healing of veterans & active duty military; educates the public on the needs of veterans; and strives to make a positive environmental impact.

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Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 07/31/2024

Program Percentage: 31%

The percentage of Help Heal Veterans's cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).

$6,900,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $57

How many dollars Help Heal Veterans spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$6,800,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Joint Costs

Help Heal Veterans' rating was adjusted for Joint Costs. If you are a donor who considers direct mail, telemarketing, and other Joint Cost solicitations to be true charitable programs, the below efficiency ratios, which were not adjusted for joint costs, may better reflect your goals.

Program % Cost to Raise $100
49% $39
Accounting rules allow charities to report some telemarketing, direct mail, and other solicitation costs as Program expenses. CharityWatch believes that most donors do not consider a charity's solicitation activities to be the Programs they are intending to support with their donations. We therefore adjust such expenses out of a charity's reported Program expense and add it to Fundraising expense prior to calculating its rating.

Government Funding

0% to 24%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
Help Hospitalized Veterans Audited Financial Statements 95-2706737
Help Hospitalized Veterans IRS Form 990 95-2706737
Entity: Help Hospitalized Veterans
Document Type: Audited Financial Statements
Tax ID: 95-2706737
Entity: Help Hospitalized Veterans
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 95-2706737

Governance & Transparency

CharityWatch evaluates certain criteria related to a charity's Governance and Transparency. Donors may want to consider a charity's willingness to be open and transparent with CharityWatch to be a good litmus test for determining its commitment to public accountability.
Help Heal Veterans
meets governance benchmarks.
 
Help Heal Veterans
does not meet transparency benchmarks.
Transparency
Provides Financial Information
Audit Accessibility
Governance: Policies
Reports regularly & consistently monitoring & enforcing compliance with a written Conflict of Interest Policy
Reports required, annual disclosure by officers, directors, and key staff of interests that could give rise to conflicts
Reports having a written Whistleblower Policy
Reports having a written Document Retention and Destruction Policy
Governance: Financials
Reports providing copy of tax form to all board members prior to filing it with IRS
Reports that financial statements were audited by an independent accountant
Governance: Board of Directors
Reports at least 5 voting board members
51% or more of voting board members reported as independent
Reports documenting minutes of board and board committee meetings
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy Opt-Out Policy  

  Name Title Compensation
1 Joseph S. McClain CEO $256,724
2 Kristen Bennet VP of Development $181,587
1
Name: Joseph S. McClain
Title: CEO
Compensation: $256,724
2
Name: Kristen Bennet
Title: VP of Development
Compensation: $181,587

CharityWatch Analysts perform an in-depth analysis of charities' audited financial statements and IRS tax filings, and often review other documents such as state filings, annual reports, and fundraising contracts during their evaluations. Below are select notes that CharityWatch believes may be of interest to donors.

According to the Help Hospitalized Veterans d/b/a Help Heal Veterans (HHV) audit of July 31, 2024 (Note 1, Liquidity and Going Concern Considerations):

"As of July 31, 2024, the Organization has $461,015 of financial assets (cash, investments, and receivables) which it expects to be available within one year to meet its cash needs for general expenditures; however, its current liabilities as of July 31, 2024 are $1,301,627. Although the Organization generated an increase in net assets of $123,369 for the year ended July 31, 2024, its cash flows used in operating activities were $1,472,018; which was largely funded by the sale of the Organization’s investments, in the amount of $1,385,600. As of July 31, 2024, $190,970 of investments remain, and are included in the financial assets as available for general expenditures. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Organization’s ability to continue as a going concern.

The Organization’s plans to alleviate the substantial doubt of its ability to continue as a going concern include negotiations with its largest vendor, which is significant to the Organization’s mail-based fundraising efforts, to continue to extend its payment terms with the Organization. The Organization also intends to control its operating expenses and believes that its land and building, located in Winchester, California and which it purchased approximately 25 years ago, has appreciated significantly and is able to provide it with additional resources sufficient to fund operations for at least one year from the date these financial statements are available to be issued based on possible real estate activity.  

Although all such plans have not yet been fully implemented, the Organization and the aforementioned vendor have informally agreed that the vendor will continue to assist with the Organization’s fundraising efforts while the Organization continues to pay down the balance owed to the vendor. In addition, the Organization has undertaken due diligence related to potential opportunities with respect to its real estate, including sale, sale/leaseback, and subleasing considerations of its facility. Furthermore, management has begun to scale back its operating expenses. The Organization believes that these efforts will be sufficient to alleviate doubt surrounding its ability to continue operating as a going concern and that the Organization will be able to meet its obligations."

According to the Help Hospitalized Veterans d/b/a Help Heal Veterans (HHV) audit of July 31, 2024 (Note 10, In-Kind Contributions):

HHV received in-kind contributions during fiscal 2024 on which it placed a total value of $3,989,822. Of this amount, $2,941,560 was attributed to "Public service announcements."

[Note: CharityWatch generally excludes the value of in-kind (non-cash) donations of goods and services from its calculations of Program % and Cost to Raise $100. More information on how grades are calculated and the treatment of in-kind donations can be found on the Our Process page.]



According to the Help Hospitalized Veterans d/b/a Help Heal Veterans (HHV) audit of July 31, 2024 (Note 7, Economic Injury Disaster Loan):

"In 2020, the Organization entered into a loan agreement with the Small Business Administration ('SBA') under the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan ('EIDL') assistance program. Pursuant to the loan agreement, the Organization received $150,000, to be used for working capital.

Interest on the outstanding principal balance accrues at a rate of 2.75% per annum beginning on the date of the advance. Payments of $641 commenced on October 20, 2022 (two years from the date of the loan) and are due monthly through 30 years from the date of the loan agreement, at which time any amount outstanding would become due. The EIDL is collateralized by all tangible assets of the Organization. The outstanding balance, including accrued interest in the amount of $9,666 at July 31, 2024, is $159,666.

At July 31, 2024, principal payments on the EIDL are as follows" [the following has been formatted for presentation purposes]:

For the Years Ending July 31:

2025: $4,169

2026: $4,270

2027: $4,372

2028: $4,478

2029: $4,586

Thereafter: $137,791

Total: $159,666


According to the Help Hospitalized Veterans d/b/a Help Heal Veterans (HHV) 2024 tax filing"Board members Jack Meagher and Ed Meagher have [a] family relationship." (IRS Form 990, Schedule O re: Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 2).

John [Jack] Meagher is reported as the Chairman of HHV and is also an Officer. Ed Meagher is reported as a Director (IRS Form 990, Part VII, Section A). HHV reports having nine voting members on its governing body at the end of fiscal 2024, with all nine members being independent (IRS Form 990, Part VI, Section A, lines 1a & 1b).


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