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Boston Rescue Mission Inc

EIN 04-2104726 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SINCE 1899, THE BOSTON RESCUE MISSION HAS PROVIDED A SAFE, HEALING COMMUNITY FOR PEOPLE AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. BRM IS COMMITTED TO TRANSFORMING AND EMPOWERING WOMEN AND MEN AT RISK TO END THEIR HOMELESSNESS AND TO BECOME HEALTHIER AND MORE SELF-SUFFICIENT. EVERY DAY, HOMELESS WOMEN AND MEN FIND DIGNITY AND REFUGE IN OUR SHELTER COMMUNITY FROM THE LONELY AND OFTEN VIOLENT STREETS AND INCLEMENT WEATHER. WE PROVIDE HEARTY AND HEALTHY MEALS, A SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP, BATHROOM AND SHOWER FACILITIES, TOILETRIES, EMERGENCY CLOTHING, AND CARE FOR EVERY PERSON WITH RESPECT. STAFF IS DIVERSE IN LANGUAGE, ETHNICITY, CULTURE, AGE, SKILLS, AND KNOWLEDGE AND LIVED EXPERIENCES AND ASSIST GUESTS WITH ACHIEVING THEIR GOALS FOR HOUSING, RECOVERY, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH AND OTHER CRITICAL NEEDS. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025, STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS PREPARED AND SERVED OVER 45,000 NUTRITIOUS MEALS. LAST YEAR, BRM'S TEN BED FACILITY IN DORCHESTER PROVIDED TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.

Income
$10.0 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 61%
Employees
27
Volunteers
1,865
Highest pay
$383,481, president

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 70% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 60% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 44% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 6 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 (4)
  1. $1.6 million spent. OVERFLOW SHELTER PROGRAM:OUR EMERGENCY SHELTER PROVIDES BEDS AND SERVICES TO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WHO DON'T HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP. THE BOSTON RESCUE MISSION CONDUCTS AN INTAKE WITH EACH PERSON TO ACCESS THEIR IMMEDIATE NEEDS. WE PROVIDE TWO NOURISHING AND HEARTY MEALS, ACCESS TO CLEAN BATHROOMS AND SHOWER FACILITIES, ACCESS TO A CASE MANAGER FOR HELP WITH IMMEDIATE NEEDS, ESL CLASSES TO NEWLY ARRIVED MIGRANTS, ASSISTANCE WITH GETTING WORK PAPERS AND JOBS, AND BEGINNING THE PROCESS OF FINDING HOUSING.
  2. $622,938 spent. COMMUNITY BUILDER INCUBATOR PROGRAM:ON DECEMBER 21, 2004, BOSTON RESCUE MISSION CREATED THE KINGSTON INVESTMENT PROPERTIES TRUST. THIS NOMINEE TRUST WAS CREATED AS A TITLE HOLDING AGENCY. THE BOSTON RESCUE MISSION ADMINISTERS SHARED SPACE FOR SERVICES IN DOWNTOWN BOSTON FOR SEVERAL MASSACHUSETTS COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING HOMELESSNESS, DISABILITY ADVOCATES, YOUTH AND CHILD SERVICES. BOSTON RESCUE MISSION'S ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES ARE ALSO LOCATED IN THE BUILDING. THE PROXIMITY TO EACH OTHER FACILITATES PROGRAMMATIC COLLABORATION AMONG SEVERAL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND WITH THE BOSTON RESCUE MISSION. BRM IS ALSO BUILDING FUTURE PROGRAMMATIC SPACE CAPACITY FOR ITS GROWING PROGRAMS.
  3. $188,487 spent. HEALTHY MEALS PROGRAMS:SHELTER MEALS- BRM RELIES ON THE GENEROSITY OF DOZENS OF FOOD DONORS TO HELP US PREPARE AND SERVE OVER 45,000 HEALTHY AND HEARTY MEALS EACH YEAR. STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS SERVE TWO MEALS A DAY; LUNCHES AND DINNERS TO GUESTS WHO STAY IN OUR OVERFLOW SHELTER PROGRAM AND OUR COMMUNITY RESIDENTS. FOOD PANTRY - OUR PANTRY PROVIDES FOOD BASICS SUCH AS BREAD, RICE, BEANS, PASTA, FISH, MEATS, FRUITS & VEGETABLES, CEREALS AND OTHER PACKAGED FOOD TO OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED. EVERY MONDAY & SATURDAY AFTERNOON, WE DISTRIBUTE CRITICAL FOOD SUPPLIES THAT HELP SUSTAIN AND FEED NEIGHBORHOOD FAMILIES.
  4. $83,013 spent. SOBER LIVING COMMUNITY- BRM'S SUPPORTIVE SHELTER COMMUNITY PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL AND PEER SUPPORT IN A SAFE SOBER ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR GUESTS. OUR DOWNTOWN CROSSING LOCATION OFFERS ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, A WIDE RANGE OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, ACCESS TO RECOVERY TREATMENT, TRANSITIONAL AND PERMANENT HOUSING, AND OTHER VALUABLE RESOURCES. JOB READINESS - WE PROVIDE JOB TRAINING AND WORK OPPORTUNITIES TO THESE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PREPARE THEM TO JOIN OR REJOIN THE WORKFORCE. WE TEACH, DEVELOP, AND REINFORCE THE WORK SKILLS, COPING ABILITIES, POSITIVE ATTITUDES AND SELF-CONFIDENCE THAT ARE NECESSARY TO SUCCESSFULLY APPLY FOR A JOB, ACCEPT AN OFFER, AND TO MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1932.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.

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