Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

One Way Out Ministries Inc

EIN 20-5992723 · Fort Myers, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceWeak46 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ONE WAY OUT MINISTRIES, INC. IS ORGANIZED AS A CHARITABLE, RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION PRIMARILY OPERATING TO HELP RESCUE WOMEN AND CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND TO HELP ACHIEVE A BETTER LIFESTYLE. TO ACHIEVE THIS PURPOSE, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DIRECTORS AND VOLUNTEERS VISIT NIGHT CLUBS AND OTHER LOCATIONS WHERE WOMEN MAY BE IN THE POSITION/PROFESSION THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION. ASSISTANCE IS OFFERED TO THESE WOMEN TO ALLOW THEM TO LEAVE THIS TYPE OF PROFESSION AND MAKE A BETTER LIFE. THE ASSITANCE PROVIDED MAY BE IN THE FORM OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, TEMPORARY HOUSING, CLOTHING, FOOD AND SPIRITUAL SUPPORT.

Income
$407,112
Spending
$411,793
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 59%
Employees
8
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$43,180, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2023, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2023, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 2023, 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. $411,793 spent. IN 2023, ONE WAY OUT HELPED ABOUT 48 WOMEN GET OFF THE STREETS, OUT OF THE HANDS OF TRAFFICKERS. WE HELPED 43 WOMEN GET OUTSIDE HOUSING AND HELPED 35 WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIND SAFE SHELTER. WE COUNSELED 5 SEX TRAFFICKED WOMEN. WE PROVIDED FURNITURE AND OTHER FURNISHINGS FOR ABOUT 65 WOMEN AND FAMILIES THIS YEAR. WE HELPED 40 WOMEN FIND BETTER JOBS AND 2 WOMAN ENROLLED IN SCHOOL THIS YEAR. ABOUT 40 WOMEN AND A FEW MEN RECEIVED ON THE JOB TRAINING AT OUR THRIFT STORE, SECOND CHANCE UPSCALE RESALE. WE HAD 30 PEOPLE DO COMMUNITY SERVICE FROM THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT. WE ALSO ARE GIVING AWAY APPROXIMATELY 28 BAGS OF CLOTHING ON A WEEKLY BASIS FOR THE LOCAL HOMELESS MINISTRY. WE GAVE ANOTHER 4 TRUCK LOADS OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS AND FURITURE TO HOPES HEART AND A STEP ABOVE THRIFT STORE. WE DELIVER 75 GIFTS TO THE STRIP CLUBS EACH MONTH. AND WE ALSO PROVIDED 2000 GIFTS FOR OUTREACH OVER THE CHRISTMAS SEASON. IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER MINISTRIES WE GIVE APPROXIMATELY 15 BAGS OF GROCERIES PER WEEK. IN 2023, ONE WAY OUT HELPED ABOUT 48 WOMEN GET OFF THE STREETS, OUT OF THE HANDS OF TRAFFICKERS. WE HELPED 43 WOMEN GET OUTSIDE HOUSING AND HELPED 35 WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIND SAFE SHELTER. WE COUNSELED 5 SEX TRAFFICKED WOMEN. WE PROVIDED FURNITURE AND OTHER FURNISHINGS FOR ABOUT 65 WOMEN AND FAMILIES THIS YEAR. WE HELPED 40 WOMEN FIND BETTER JOBS AND 2 WOMAN ENROLLED IN SCHOOL THIS YEAR. ABOUT 40 WOMEN AND A FEW MEN RECEIVED ON THE JOB TRAINING AT OUR THRIFT STORE, SECOND CHANCE UPSCALE RESALE. WE HAD 30 PEOPLE DO COMMUNITY SERVICE FROM THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT. WE ALSO ARE GIVING AWAY APPROXIMATELY 28 BAGS OF CLOTHING ON A WEEKLY BASIS FOR THE LOCAL HOMELESS MINISTRY. WE GAVE ANOTHER 4 TRUCK LOADS OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS AND FURITURE TO HOPES HEART AND A STEP ABOVE THRIFT STORE. WE DELIVER 75 GIFTS TO THE STRIP CLUBS EACH MONTH. AND WE ALSO PROVIDED 2000 GIFTS FOR OUTREACH OVER THE CHRISTMAS SEASON. IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER MINISTRIES WE GIVE APPROXIMATELY 15 BAGS OF GROCERIES PER WEEK.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2023, 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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2010 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on December 15, 2011.

    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 December 2023.

    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 2012.

    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.