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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: July 2025 Expires: July 2027

West Houston Assistance Ministries

Accredited Charity
Accredited Charity

Meets Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

West Houston Assistance Ministries meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:

Mission:
"We seek to carry out Christ's command to love and provide for those in need."

West Houston Assistance Ministries is dedicated to the provision of a wide variety of emergency help to those in need, primarily in the West Houston zip codes 77042, 77057, 77063, 77077, 77082.


Year, State Incorporated:
1982, TX

West Houston Assistance Ministries' (WHAM) mission is to carry out Christ's command to love and provide for those in need. More than 65,000 people residing in WHAMs service area are currently living in poverty and struggling to meet their most basic needs, with more than one in five suffering food insecurity or risk of being hungry. On a daily basis, these individuals must face tough choices on how to allocate scarce resources, often choosing between buying food or paying for rent, utilities, or medication. In accordance with our mission, WHAM offers services through food pantry, financial assistance, and employment services that address clients most fundamental requirements. WHAMs client choice pantry offers healthy food choices to clients who shop and select the food they receive in a grocery store setting. Assistance with rent/mortgage and utilities prevents eviction and resulting homelessness and disconnection of critical electricity, water, or gas services. Employment Services provides access to education and job training to lift people out of poverty, promote independence, and connect them to tools for better lives. Together with additional services we provide (clothing, seasonal programs, disaster relief, etc.), WHAM contributes to alleviating poverty and building a thriving community.  In 2017, the organization served 40,114 people and 20,850 families.

For the year ended September 30, 2023, West Houston Assistance Ministries's program expenses were:

Program Services $7,208,960
Total Program Expenses $7,208,960

Chief Executive
Mark Brown, CEO

Chair of the Board
Stevan Williamson

Board Size
13


Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Television, Grant proposals, Cause-related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on West Houston Assistance Ministries's audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2023.

Source of Funds
In-Kind contributions $4,227,687
Grants and contribuions $2,096,538
Federal Grants $847,531
Resale Store, net $406,779
Special events $274,455
Other $1,916
Total Income $7,854,906

Programs: 88% Fundraising: 6% Administrative: 6%

Total Income $7,854,906
Total expenses: $8,211,686
  Program expenses $7,208,960
  Fundraising expenses $455,349
  Administrative expenses $483,209
  Other expenses $64,168
Income in Excess of Expenses $-356,780
Beginning Net Assets $3,158,996
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $2,802,216
Total Liabilities $136,031
Total Assets $1,349,744

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

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Report completed by:
BBB of Greater Houston and South Texas