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Mercy Center Incorporated

EIN 06-1307050 · Madison, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MERCY CENTER IS A RETREAT AND CONFERENCE CENTER THAT WELCOMES INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS OF DIVERSE FAITHS AND BACKGROUNDS TO A PEACEFUL PLACE OF NATURAL BEAUTY FOR PERSONAL, SPIRITUAL AND PROFESSIONAL RENEWAL AND GROWTH.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
6.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 64%
Employees
23
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$70,000, executive di

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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $1.4 million spent. THE MERCY CENTER(MERCY BY THE SEA)OFFERED 127 IN-PERSON DAY AND WEEKEND PROGRAMS, SERVING 2,003 GUESTS. ADDITIONALLY, FIVE VIRTUAL PROGRAMS HAVE CONNECTED 454 PARTICIPANTS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE, CREATING A SHARED SPACE FOR REFLECTION AND GROWTH. MERCY HOSTED 46 DIRECTED RETREATS, 4 THEMED RETREATS AND A 7-WEEK SABBATICAL PROGRAM SERVING A TOTAL OF 452 INDIVIDUALS, AND PRIVATE OVERNIGHT RETREATS OFFERED RESTFUL SOLITUDE FOR AN ADDITIONAL 218 GUESTS. MERCY PROVIDED HOSTING SERVICES TO 65 OVERNIGHT GROUPS, REPRESENTING 1320 INDIVIDUALS, AND 135 DAY GROUPS WITH 2,336 GUESTS. THESE GROUPS INCLUDE FOUNDATIONS, YOGA GROUPS, UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES, HOSPITALS, CIVIC GROUPS, WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP, NONPROFIT SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, EDUCATORS, AND FAITH COMMUNITIES. ADDITIONALLY, 43 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED AN AWARD FROM THE MERCY FOR ALL SCHOLARSHIP FUND TO ATTEND PROGRAMS OR RETREATS AT MERCY AND EACH WEEK MERCY BY THE SEA SENDS AN E-NEWSLETTER TO OVER 19,842 INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS. AND FINALLY, THE MARY C. DALY RSM ART GALLERY SERVES AS A HUB FOR ARTISTIC EXPRESSION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. OVER THE LAST YEAR, THE GALLERY SHOWCASED THE WORKS OF SEVEN TALENTED ARTISTS. THE MERCY CENTER(MERCY BY THE SEA)OFFERED 127 IN-PERSON DAY AND WEEKEND PROGRAMS, SERVING 2,003 GUESTS. ADDITIONALLY, FIVE VIRTUAL PROGRAMS HAVE CONNECTED 454 PARTICIPANTS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE, CREATING A SHARED SPACE FOR REFLECTION AND GROWTH. MERCY HOSTED 46 DIRECTED RETREATS, 4 THEMED RETREATS AND A 7-WEEK SABBATICAL PROGRAM SERVING A TOTAL OF 452 INDIVIDUALS, AND PRIVATE OVERNIGHT RETREATS OFFERED RESTFUL SOLITUDE FOR AN ADDITIONAL 218 GUESTS. MERCY PROVIDED HOSTING SERVICES TO 65 OVERNIGHT GROUPS, REPRESENTING 1320 INDIVIDUALS, AND 135 DAY GROUPS WITH 2,336 GUESTS. THESE GROUPS INCLUDE FOUNDATIONS, YOGA GROUPS, UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES, HOSPITALS, CIVIC GROUPS, WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP, NONPROFIT SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, EDUCATORS, AND FAITH COMMUNITIES. ADDITIONALLY, 43 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED AN AWARD FROM THE MERCY FOR ALL SCHOLARSHIP FUND TO ATTEND PROGRAMS OR RETREATS AT MERCY AND EACH WEEK MERCY BY THE SEA SENDS AN E-NEWSLETTER TO OVER 19,842 INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS. AND FINALLY, THE MARY C. DALY RSM ART GALLERY SERVES AS A HUB FOR ARTISTIC EXPRESSION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. OVER THE LAST YEAR, THE GALLERY SHOWCASED THE WORKS OF SEVEN TALENTED ARTISTS.

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? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 March 1946.

    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.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.