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Passes our checks

Rescue Mission Alliance of Syracuse N Y

EIN 15-0532146 · Syracuse, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE PUT LOVE INTO ACTION THROUGH SHELTER, FOOD, CLOTHING, AND HOPE. WE VALUE PEOPLE, COMMUNITY, INTEGRITY AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. OUR PROGRAMS IN SYRACUSE, AUBURN, AND BINGHAMTON, ARE TAILORED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EACH COMMUNITY. AMONG THE SERVICES WE OFFER ARE EMERGENCY SHELTER, MEALS, SUPPORTIVE PERMANENT HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES, AND SPIRITUAL CARE. IN ALL OF OUR LOCATIONS, CASE MANAGERS HELP GUESTS DEVELOP INDIVIDUAL PLANS AND CONNECT WITH THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO LEAVE HOMELESSNESS AND HUNGER BEHIND.

Income
$33.6 million
Spending
$32.6 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
4.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 69%
Employees
655
Volunteers
1,858
Highest pay
$291,134, chief executive officer

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

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 37% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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 September 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 (3)
  1. $18.1 million spent. SOCIAL ENTERPRISE OPERATIONS: THE RESCUE MISSION OPERATES 17 THRIFTY SHOPPER STORES IN 7 COUNTIES AND 3 ECLECTIC THRIFT STORES, 3FIFTEEN. THE CLOTHING AND HOUSEHOLD GOODS DONATED TO OUR 4 ATTENDED DONATION CENTERS AND SORTED BY THE DONATION REDISTRIBUTION CENTER ARE SOLD AT STORES TO GENERATE REVENUE FOR PROGRAM SERVICES OR ARE GIVEN AWAY TO MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN NEED THROUGH OUR OUTREACH STORE. SOCIAL ENTERPRISE OPERATIONS ALSO PROVIDES WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PEOPLE SERVED BY THE RESCUE MISSION.
  2. $5.6 million spent. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS: CURRENTLY PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED IN SYRACUSE, BINGHAMTON, AND AUBURN. THESE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO MOVE INDIVIDUALS OUT OF HOMELESSNESS AND TOWARD REGAINING THEIR INDEPENDENCE. OVER THE FOUR REGIONS WE SERVE, WE PROVIDED A TOTAL OF 155,000 MEALS TO MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN, PROVIDED 72,000 OVERNIGHT STAYS. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE ASSISTED 528 PEOPLE OBTAIN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
  3. $3.1 million spent. PERMANENT HOUSING PROGRAMS: IN ADDITION TO OPERATING AN EMERGENCY SHELTER, THE RESCUE MISSION PROVIDES PERMANENT AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING THROUGH MULTIPLE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE LONG-TERM STABILITY AND INDEPENDENCE. GIFFORD PLACE OFFERS 28 UNITS OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR FORMERLY HOMELESS MEN WORKING TOWARD SELF-SUFFICIENCY.CROSSROADS IS A LICENSED ADULT HOME WITH A CAPACITY OF 59, SERVES MEN AGE 21 AND OLDER WHO REQUIRE SUPPORTIVE RESIDENTIAL SERVICES. WHITNEY PLACE PROVIDES 32 BEDS (11 SINGLE ROOMS AND A 21-BED DORMITORY) IN A STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT WHERE MEN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS CAN REBUILD THEIR LIVES. FAMILY TRANSITIONS CONSISTS OF 28 APARTMENTS AT THE MERRIMAN STREET COMPLEX, SERVING FAMILIES WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS AND/OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. WHITNEY HOUSE (BINGHAMTON) IS A THREE-BEDROOM RESIDENCE PROVIDING SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR WOMEN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THE DR. ALEJANDRO GARCIA RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH HOUSE IS A NINE-BED EMERGENCY SHELTER SERVING RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH AGES 1217 IN SYRACUSE AND ONONDAGA COUNTY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 November 6, 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 September 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 1948.

    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 November 4, 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.