THE HOPE LIGHT FOUNDATION Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

THE HOPE LIGHT FOUNDATION

EIN 20-4527582 · Cancer (G30)

What they do

The Primary Purpose of The Foundation is to Communicate Cancer Awareness Information On All Cancers In Illinois and Missouri to Educate The General Public and Providers On All Cancers Signs and Symptoms to Promote Early Cancer Detection and Survivorship. Our Primary Focus is On Rural and Medically Underserved Communities With Healthcare Professional Shortages. Our Research Includes Identifying, Evaluating and Documenting Cancer New Case and Death Rates Along With Demographic and Socioeconomic Information to Determine Where to Target Outreach and Awareness Education In Communities With The Greatest Need for Help to Fight Cancer. We Also Maintain The Metropolis Lighthouse "Hope Light" That is The Worlds Only Lighthouse Designed, Built and Dedicated to The Fight Against Cancer With A Symbolic Purpose to Guide People to The Hope Light Website to Obtain Cancer Signs and Symptoms With The Hope of Detecting Cancer Early When It is Easier to Treat and Survive.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

The spending raises an important question

Of every $100 spent, about $2.50 was reported for mission work and $0.00 for fundraising. Understand this before you give.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2025The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders4 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

2.63%of revenue went to mission work2.5% of expenses · Program services

$103.46spent for every $100 of revenueSpending was higher than revenue this year.

$1.23in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

100.0%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

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Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Worth asking: Expenses exceeded revenue by $2,274 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2025

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$65,734

Mission workProgram services$1,7302.63% of revenue2.5% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs0.00% of revenue0.0% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations0.00% of revenue0.0% of expenses

Total expenses$68,008103.46% of revenue

Expenses were greater than revenue, so the colored ring fills the available $100 and the total above 100% is shown below.

Pause before giving. This filing reports that 0.0% of spending went to fundraising and 2.5% went to mission work. Ask the charity to explain these numbers and show recent results.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2025CurrentExpense mix: 2.5% mission · 0.0% management · 0.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 103.46% of revenue

2024Expense mix: 0.5% mission · 0.0% management · 0.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 108.05% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 8.6% mission · 0.0% management · 0.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 229.77% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 5.8% mission · 0.0% management · 0.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 87.32% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 3.1% mission · 0.0% management · 0.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 172.17% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$65,734

Expenses$68,008

Annual shortfall $2,274 Expenses were higher than revenue for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$1,730 · 2.5% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$65,734

Expenses$68,008

Assets$83,366

Income$65,734

Contributions$65,734

Mission work (program services)$1,730

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2025

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

No compensation was reported for these leaders. The complete board and leadership roster is shown below.

Board and leadership roster (4)

BETH LYNNDIRECTOR

BEVERLY BESSCO-FOUNDER

JOHN DAVISDIRECTOR

MICHAEL MURRAYDIRECTOR

About this charity

Recognized since: January 2006
Location: 908 Hazelvalley Drive, Hazelwood, MO 63042
County: St. Louis
In care of: Rudell A Bess
Primary officer: Rudell A Bess, Founding Director

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(314) 838-4959

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2025
Tax period began: January 1, 2025
Return type: 990EZ
NTEE classification: Cancer (G30)
IRS tax category: Cancer