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Milestone Recovery

EIN 01-6024344 · Portland, ME

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE PROVIDE COMPASSIONATE CARE AND SERVICES TO EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, MENTAL ILLNESSES AND HOMELESSNESS TO ATTAIN AN ENHANCED QUALITY OF LIFE REGARDLESS OF ABILITY TO PAY.

Income
$8.7 million
Spending
$9.1 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
-3.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 49%
Employees
171
Highest pay
$211,587, psychiatrist

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 54% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $3.5 million spent. DETOXIFICATION - A MEDICALLY MONITORED WITHDRAWAL PROGRAM, LASTING 3-7 DAYS, FOR MAINERS STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, OFFERED REGARDLESS OF ABILITY TO PAY. CLIENTS RECEIVE MEDICAL CARE, WITH COUNSELING AND AFTERCARE PLANNING.
  2. $1.4 million spent. EMERGENCY SHELTER - MILESTONE RECOVERY OPERATES SOUTHERN MAINE'S ONLY SPECIALIZED SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER EMERGENCY SHELTER. THE SHELTER PROVIDES INDIVIDUALS WITH A SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP, NUTRITIOUS MEALS, CLEAN CLOTHES, SHOWERS, AND COUNSELING WHILE BEING TREATED WITH DIGNITY. HOUSING NAVIGATOR - THE HOUSING NAVIGATOR PROGRAM ASSISTS MILESTONE'S CLIENTS EXPERIENCING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS IN ACCESSING STABILIZATION SERVICES AND TRANSITIONING OUT OF HOMELESSNESS AND INTO PERMANENT HOUSING.
  3. $1.5 million spent. RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT - THIS CLINICALLY MANAGED, HIGH INTENSITY, LONG-TERM RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM EMPLOYS A VARIETY OF EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENTS TO SERVE MALE CLIENTS WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT MAINTAINING RECOVERY AFTER PARTICIPATING IN OTHER PROGRAMS. TRANSITIONAL HOUSING - MILESTONE'S 3/4 -WAY HOUSING PROVIDES MORE INDEPENDENT HOUSING TO GRADUATES OF THE RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAM AS THEY PREPARE TO TRANSITION INTO THE COMMUNITY. PROGRAMS ARE BASED IN PORTLAND AND OLD ORCHARD BEACH.
  4. $1.0 million spent. HOME TEAM - THE HOMELESS OUTREACH AND MOBILE ENGAGEMENT (HOME) TEAM PROVIDES STREET-LEVEL OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS IN GREATER PORTLAND. WE PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION AND SERVICE NAVIGATION TO HELP CLIENTS ACCESS FOOD, SHELTER, CLOTHING, HEALTH CARE, AND OTHER VITAL SERVICES.
  5. HOME TEAM - THE HOMELESS OUTREACH AND MOBILE ENGAGEMENT (HOME) TEAM PROVIDES STREET-LEVEL OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS IN GREATER PORTLAND. WE PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION AND SERVICE NAVIGATION TO HELP CLIENTS ACCESS FOOD, SHELTER, CLOTHING, HEALTH CARE, AND OTHER VITAL SERVICES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1967.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

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