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Safe Berks

EIN 23-2087191 · Reading, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SAFE BERKS PROVIDES A SAFE HAVEN AND SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT THROUGH EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, AND A RELENTLESS COMMITMENT TO PREVENT ABUSE. WE ARE DEDICATED TO FOSTERING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN BE THEIR TRUE SELVES AND FEEL EMPOWERED TO STAND UP TO ALL FORMS OF OPPRESSION.

Income
$4.2 million
Spending
$4.6 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
-0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 66%
Employees
90
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$139,416, chief executive officer

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: 40 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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. $1.5 million spent. PROVIDE SAFE EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THEIR CHILDREN. WHILE LIVING IN SHELTER, VICTIMS/SURVIVORS AND CHILDREN HAVE THE OPTION OF RECEIVING SUPPORTIVE COUNSELING, ADVOCACY AND REFERRAL, AS WELL AS EDUCATION ABOUT VARIOUS OPTIONS AND ASSISTANCE DURING AND AFTER SHELTER IN AN EFFORT TO ENHANCE SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE. IN FY 2024-2025, SAFE BERKS PROVIDED 195 ADULTS WITH 7998 NIGHTS OF SHELTER AND PROVIDED 8,250 NIGHTS OF SHELTER TO 186 CHILDREN. THE SHELTER PROGRAM OPERATES 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK
  2. $497,545 spent. THE MEDICAL ADVOCACY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM ("MAPP") PROVIDES TWENTY-FOUR HOUR RESPONSE TO OUR LOCAL HEALTHCARE FACILITIES AND HOSPITALS. WHEN A PERSON PRESENTS TO A HEALTHCARE FACILITY OR HOSPITAL AS A PATIENT AND DISCLOSES, THEY HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE OR SEXUAL ASSAULT, THE HEALTHCARE STAFF CONTACTS OUR HOTLINE FOR A MAPP ADVOCATE TO PROVIDE AN IN-PERSON RESPONSE. UPON MEETING WITH THE PATIENT, THE MAPP ADVOCATE WILL ASSESS THE PATIENT'S NEEDS, ASSIST WITH SAFETY PLANNING, AND CONNECT THEM WITH OTHER SAFE BERKS SUPPORT SERVICES OR APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY RESOURCES. IN 2024-2025, THE MAPP ADVOCATES PROVIDED THESE SERVICES TO 318 CLIENTS. IN ADDITION TO THE HEALTHCARE FACILITY RESPONSE, THIS DEPARTMENT HAS 2 OVERNIGHT RAPID RESPONSE ADVOCATES WHO PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES TO SURVIVORS AT THE BERKS COUNTY COURTHOUSE WHILE FILING A PETITION FOR AN EMERGENCY PROTECTION FROM ABUSE ORDER. IN 2024/2025, THE RAPID RESPONSE ADVOCATE PROVIDED THESE SUPPORT SERVICES TO 384 CLIENTS. MAPP ADVOCATES ALSO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL TRAININGS TO HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND THEIR STAFF MEMBERS. PROVIDING EDUCATION TO HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS IS A LARGE PART OF THIS DEPARTMENT'S MISSION AS WELL AS TABLING WELLNESS OR OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS.
  3. $457,556 spent. THE LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM IS ALSO FREE AND AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. IN FY 2024-25, SAFE BERKS PROVIDED 5,498 COUNSELING/ADVOCACY HOURS TO 1,931 ADULT SURVIVORS, 231 HOURS OF COUNSELING/ADVOCACY HOURS TO 177 CHILD SURVIVORS AND 287 HOURS OF COUNSELING/ADVOCACY HOURS TO 236 SIGNIFICANT OTHERS OF SURVIVORS. ADDITIONALLY, 484 CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE CRISIS RESPONSE WERE HANDLED. THE COUNSELING SERVICES PROGRAM IS FREE, AND AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
  4. $428,088 spent. THE COUNSELING DEPARTMENT PROVIDES SUPPORT TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND THEIR FAMILIES IN UNDERSTANDING THE DYNAMICS AND EFFECTS OF ABUSE. THE COUNSELING SERVICES PROGRAM IS FREE, AND AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING QUALITY LEGAL SERVICES AND ADVOCACY TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL ASSAULT. SAFE BERKS ATTORNEYS REPRESENT VICTIMS ON PROTECTION FROM ABUSE (PFA) ACTIONS. LEGAL ADVOCATES PROVIDE ACCOMPANIMENT TO PERSONS SEEKING EMERGENCY OR TEMPORARY PFA'S AS WELL AS TO CRIMINAL COURT HEARINGS AND POLICE INTERVIEWS.
  5. $373,675 spent. THE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS & EDUCATION DEPARTMENT INCLUDES COMMUNITY RESPONSE SPECIALISTS ("CRS"). CRS ADVOCATES PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES AND ADVOCACY TO SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC OR SEXUAL VIOLENCE ON THE LOCAL COLLEGE CAMPUSES, AT THE BERKS COUNTY JAIL, AND MAINTAIN SATELITE OFFICES AT OTHER COMMUNITY SOCIAL SERVICE AGENICIES AND ORGANIZATIONS. THE CRS ADVOCATES PROVIDE ON-SITE ASSESSEMENT, SAFETY PLANNING SERVICES, AND REFERRALS FOR OTHER SAFE BERKS SERVICES AND COMUMMITY RESOURCES AS REQUESTED. CRS ADVOCATES PROVIDE PREVENTION AND AWARENESS PROGRAMMING, ATTEND TABLING EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, AND OVERSEE THE LAP INITIATIVE. ADVOCATES PROVIDE SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY TO SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT WITHIN THE VARIOUS SYSTEMS, ATTEND THE FORENSIC INTERVIEWS OF CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY TO THEIR SUPPORTIVE CAREGIVERS, AND OFFER SPECIALIZED TRAINING OF THE LETHALITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAM TO BERKS COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

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 May 1979.

    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.