Is it real?
Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jun 2018.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File
Where the money goes
89 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.
Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.
Something off? Claim to add context
Who runs it and what they're paid
5 people listed on the 990; $59K paid to officers and key staff.
Kelly Shaughnessy’s $145K as President and CEO is at the 61st percentile of top reported officer pay among 1690 $1–10M philanthropy & grantmaking nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.
Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 3 named individuals · Part VII
| Name | FY2025 | FY2024 | FY2023 | FY2022 | FY2021 | FY2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelly Shaughnessy | $145,000 | $142,667 | $89,000 | $70,115 | $27,378 | $8,652 |
| Diana Mays | — | — | $73,000 | $64,959 | $31,825 | — |
| Kelsey Otim | $55,000 | $21,894 | — | — | — | — |
Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.
See Light Up Hope INC executive salaries →Questions the 990 asks
The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.
- Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
- Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes
Programs and updates
Provides care and financial support for orphans and impoverished people in Kenya.
Questions for Light Up Hope INC
Your first name shows with your question. Light Up Hope INC answers here, for everyone.
Josephs House Program
To support the emotional, spiritual, physical and educational care for orphans and impoverished persons in the nation of kenya. This is an adult transitional program for higher education in trade school or university. All school fees, supplies, and room and board each month are covered.
Lift
Family unification program. Assists the children with resources for food, education, and healthcare
High School Program
School fees, supplies, room and board, uniform, transportation, and support for suitable guardians during the three annual school breaks.
By the numbers
The FY2021 990, line by line.
Download 990
| Line | Start FY21 | End FY21 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and savingsLn 1–2 | $126K | $301K |
| Total assetsLn 16 | $346K | $521K |
| LiabilitiesLn 26 | $6K | $498 |
| Net assetsLn 32 | $340K | $521K |
| Line | Total | Programs | Management | Fundraising |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1 | $45 | $45 | ||
| Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3 | $525K | $525K | ||
| Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5 | $59K | $59K | ||
| Other employee benefitsLn 9 | $431 | $431 | ||
| Payroll taxesLn 10 | $5K | $5K | ||
| Accounting feesLn 11c | $545 | $545 | ||
| Other fees for servicesLn 11g | $80 | $80 | ||
| Office expensesLn 13 | $2K | $2K | ||
| Information technologyLn 14 | $5K | $5K | ||
| OccupancyLn 16 | $2K | $2K | ||
| TravelLn 17 | $214 | $214 | ||
| Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24 | $109K | $109K | ||
| Total functional expensesLn 25 | $709K | $634K | $75K | $80 |
Filing history
| Year | Money in | Money out | In minus out | Net assets | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 LatestFiled with the IRS Jun 3, 2026 | $3.2M | $2.8M | $365K | $1.2M | 990 PDF |
| FY2024Filed with the IRS Apr 29, 2025 | $3.2M | $2.8M | $393K | $802K | 990 PDF |
| FY2023Filed with the IRS Aug 15, 2024 | $2.4M | $2.3M | $114K | $409K | 990 PDF |
| FY2022Filed with the IRS Aug 2, 2023 | $882K | $802K | $80K | $601K | 990 PDF |
| FY2021 ViewingFiled with the IRS Jul 31, 2023 | $780K | $709K | $71K | $521K | 990 PDF |
| FY2020Filed with the IRS May 3, 2022 | $61K | $440K | 990 PDF |
Schedules filed Part IV
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $779,517 revenue, 12 lines filed
Part VI · Governance 3 of 5 board members independent, 3 to look at
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $779,517 across 3 lines filed
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $708,853 across 12 lines filed
Part X · Balance sheet $521,127 assets, 8 lines filed
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $520,629 net assets at year end
Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File
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