Nonprofit · EIN 75-3070026
INCREASING H O P E
Tax-exempt · N CHARLESTON, SC 29406
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $1,110,655 | $775,759 | $334,896 | $507,940 | $176,807 | $331,133 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $694,145 | $652,096 | $42,049 | $234,555 | $238,318 | -$3,763 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $649,092 | $948,762 | -$299,670 | $201,183 | $246,995 | -$45,812 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $1,080,301
- of which government grants
- $293,621
- Program service revenue
- $29,290
- Investment income
- $64
- Other revenue
- $1,000
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $72,468
- Other salaries and wages
- $226,954
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $351,361
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $47,928
- Occupancy
- $101,279
- Travel
- $18
- Depreciation
- $14,966
- Program services (functional)
- $581,700
- Management and general (functional)
- $176,422
- Fundraising (functional)
- $17,637
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $234,555
- Total assets, end of year
- $507,940
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $176,807
- Net assets, end of year
- $331,133
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $60,290
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $31,133
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $300,000
- Gross receipts
- $1,110,655
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 20
- Year formed
- 2005
- State of legal domicile
- SC
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorthea Bernique | Executive Director Officer | 60 | $72,469 |
| Jill Whisonant | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Chris Kovach | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Herman A Baptiste MBA | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Amber Roos | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Barbara W Stapleton | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Josiah Collins | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Troy Strother | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Thetyka Robinson | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Shawn Saulsberry | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Christian M Douomong | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Melvin Willis | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 8 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorthea Bernique | Executive Director Officer | 60 | $69,392 |
| Jill Whisonant | Board Member Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Ryan Benton | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Lordanis Karagiannidis Ph D | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Chris Kovach | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Angelia Williams | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Herman A Baptiste MBA | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Jessica Waagner | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 11 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DOROTHEA BERNIQUE | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 60 | $64,054 |
| TRINA CARTER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| JILL WHISONANT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| RYAN BENTON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| JON STROUD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| CHRIS KOVACH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| ANGELIA WILLIAMS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| DONNA D'AMATO | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| IORDANIS KARAGIANNIDIS | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| GARY LOADHOLT | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| LAURA BATES | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 8570 RIVERS AVE STE 120, N CHARLESTON, SC 29406-9893
- In care of
- % DOROTHEA V BERNIQUE
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- Dorothea Bernique, 8570 Rivers Ave STE 120, North Charleston, SC 29406
- Signed the 990
- Dorothea Bernique, Executive Director
- Phone
- (843) 225-4343
- Website
- www.increasinghope.org
- Return prepared by
- Glaser and Company LLC
Mission
The mission of Increasing H.O.P.E financial training center is to create financial freedom and stability for families in South Carolina by building assets through financial education and training.
Program accomplishments
- Broad Community Impact Summary Increasing H.O.P.E. Financial Training Center delivers financial education, housing counseling, and small business training to clients across Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties. The organization helps families achieve homeownership, supported small business owners through the I-HOPE Women's Business Center, and provided free tax preparation services to clients. These efforts provides significant economic impact, reflecting our commitment to fostering long-term financial stability and community resilience among low- to moderate-income residents.Focused Program Accomplishments Increasing H.O.P.E. expanded its financial literacy and economic empowerment programs. We supported individuals through financial education and counseling, assisting families in achieving homeownership, and provided small business coaching through our Women's Business Center. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program helps maximize refunds and build financial security to our clients. New ServiceBeginning in February 2026, a collaborative partnership between the City of Charleston and Increasing H.O.P.E. Financial Training Center launched "The Charleston Financial Empowerment Center" (FEC). The FEC provides free, one-on-one professional financial counseling to help individuals and families improve their financial well-being. Through personalized coaching, clients receive guidance on budgeting, debt reduction, credit improvement, savings, banking, and long-term financial goal setting. The FEC empowers residents to build financial stability, increase economic opportunity, and achieve lasting financial independence. This expands the work and reach of Increasing HOPE substantially and supports future sustainability of services within the Tri county.Expenses $581,700 · revenue $29,290
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 75-3070026
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2006
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Human services (P51)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $507,940
- Income (IRS master file)
- $1,110,655
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $1,110,655 | $775,759 | $507,940 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $694,145 | $652,096 | $234,555 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $649,092 | $948,762 | $201,183 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $945,750 | $783,892 | $359,123 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 75-3070026).
Questions about INCREASING H O P E
- What is the EIN of INCREASING H O P E?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of INCREASING H O P E is 75-3070026.
- Is INCREASING H O P E tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2006.
- Are donations to INCREASING H O P E tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does INCREASING H O P E file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of INCREASING H O P E due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did INCREASING H O P E last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of INCREASING H O P E?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names Dorothea Bernique.
- Who are the officers and directors of INCREASING H O P E?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 12 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $72,469 (Dorthea Bernique, Executive Director).
- How much revenue does INCREASING H O P E have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $1,110,655, expenses of $775,759 and total assets of $507,940 at year end.
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