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Tucson Refugee Ministry

EIN 26-3176515 · Tucson, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceFair61 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PRIMARY EXEMPT PURPOSE: TUCSON REFUGEE MINISTRY EDUCATES, EQUIPS, AND MOBILIZES THE CHURCH TO SERVE REFUGEES IN OUR COMMUNITY AND BEYOND.

Income
$561,355
Spending
$607,363
Spent on programs
62%
Reserves
6.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 64%
Employees
17
Volunteers
180
Highest pay
$65,935, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    62% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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, 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 (2)
  1. $378,088 spent. PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS:DURING 2025, TUCSON REFUGEE MINISTRY (TRM) PROVIDED COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT SERVICES TO REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANT FAMILIES RESETTLING IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA. TRM SERVED APPROXIMATELY 1,400 INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING MORE THAN 18 COUNTRIES AND 30 LANGUAGE GROUPS THROUGH EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE, YOUTH PROGRAMS, FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES, ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY INTEGRATION ACTIVITIES. TRMS ARRIVE & THRIVE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM ASSISTED 702 CLIENTS AND ACHIEVED 103 JOB PLACEMENTS, EARNING RECOGNITION FROM THE STATE OF ARIZONA FOR HAVING THE HIGHEST EMPLOYMENT PLACEMENT PERCENTAGE AMONG REFUGEE-SERVING AGENCIES IN THE STATE. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO LAUNCHED AN ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROGRAM CONNECTING REFUGEES WITH VOLUNTEER TUTORS TO IMPROVE LANGUAGE SKILLS AND INCREASE INDEPENDENCE IN DAILY LIFE AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. YOUTH PROGRAMMING PROVIDED SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS FOR REFUGEE CHILDREN AND TEENS, SERVING APPROXIMATELY 100 CHILDREN AND 50 TEENS THROUGH KIDS CLUB ACTIVITIES, EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIPS, MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMING. TRM ALSO ENGAGED APPROXIMATELY 80 VOLUNTEERS AND 20 ADULT MENTORS TO SUPPORT REFUGEE YOUTH AND FAMILIES. FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES PROVIDED MONTHLY FOOD AND DIAPER ASSISTANCE TO APPROXIMATELY 60 FAMILIES, SUPPORTED 50 WOMEN THROUGH WORKSHOPS AND ARTISAN PROGRAMS, CELEBRATED 20 NEW MOTHERS THROUGH BABY SHOWER AND NEWBORN SUPPORT INITIATIVES, AND HOSTED COMMUNITY EVENTS SERVING OVER 300 REFUGEES AND VOLUNTEERS. IN ADDITION, TRMS BUILDING BRIDGES COMMUNITY CENTER SERVED AS A GATHERING PLACE FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, ENGLISH CLASSES, AND COMMUNITY-BUILDING ACTIVITIES FOR REFUGEES AND VOLUNTEERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS:DURING 2025, TUCSON REFUGEE MINISTRY (TRM) PROVIDED COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT SERVICES TO REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANT FAMILIES RESETTLING IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA. TRM SERVED APPROXIMATELY 1,400 INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING MORE THAN 18 COUNTRIES AND 30 LANGUAGE GROUPS THROUGH EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE, YOUTH PROGRAMS, FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES, ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY INTEGRATION ACTIVITIES. TRMS ARRIVE & THRIVE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM ASSISTED 702 CLIENTS AND ACHIEVED 103 JOB PLACEMENTS, EARNING RECOGNITION FROM THE STATE OF ARIZONA FOR HAVING THE HIGHEST EMPLOYMENT PLACEMENT PERCENTAGE AMONG REFUGEE-SERVING AGENCIES IN THE STATE. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO LAUNCHED AN ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROGRAM CONNECTING REFUGEES WITH VOLUNTEER TUTORS TO IMPROVE LANGUAGE SKILLS AND INCREASE INDEPENDENCE IN DAILY LIFE AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. YOUTH PROGRAMMING PROVIDED SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS FOR REFUGEE CHILDREN AND TEENS, SERVING APPROXIMATELY 100 CHILDREN AND 50 TEENS THROUGH KIDS CLUB ACTIVITIES, EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIPS, MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMING. TRM ALSO ENGAGED APPROXIMATELY 80 VOLUNTEERS AND 20 ADULT MENTORS TO SUPPORT REFUGEE YOUTH AND FAMILIES. FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES PROVIDED MONTHLY FOOD AND DIAPER ASSISTANCE TO APPROXIMATELY 60 FAMILIES, SUPPORTED 50 WOMEN THROUGH WORKSHOPS AND ARTISAN PROGRAMS, CELEBRATED 20 NEW MOTHERS THROUGH BABY SHOWER AND NEWBORN SUPPORT INITIATIVES, AND HOSTED COMMUNITY EVENTS SERVING OVER 300 REFUGEES AND VOLUNTEERS. IN ADDITION, TRMS BUILDING BRIDGES COMMUNITY CENTER SERVED AS A GATHERING PLACE FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, ENGLISH CLASSES, AND COMMUNITY-BUILDING ACTIVITIES FOR REFUGEES AND VOLUNTEERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
  2. SECTION 1 LINE 28 PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: TUCSON REFUGEE MINISTRY (TRM) BUILDS BRIDGES BETWEEN THE CHURCH AND REFUGEES. WAITING AN AVERAGE OF 17 YEARS, REFUGEES GO THROUGH A SELECTION PROCESS WITH THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR). ONCE APPROVED BY THE UNHCR, THEY THEN HAD TO PASS STRICT SECURITY SCREENINGS BY MULTIPLE U.S. AGENCIES BEFORE BEING RESETTLED IN CITIES THROUGHOUT THE U.S. WHEN REFUGEES ARRIVE IN TUCSON, TUCSON REFUGEE MINISTRY HELPS TO WELCOME THEM WITH LOVE AND COMPASSION BY PARTNERING WITH RESETTLEMENT AGENCIES, TRAINING VOLUNTEERS FROM CHURCHES, AND SUPPORTIVE OUTREACH TO BEFRIEND AND BUILD TRUST WITH REFUGEE HOUSEHOLDS. WE OPERATE THE BUILDING BRIDGES COMMUNITY CENTER THAT SERVES AS A SPACE FOR OUR MANY PROGRAMS AS WELL FOR THE RESSETTLEMENT AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO HOLD EVENTS AND MEETINGS. ARRIVE & THRIVE IS AN ONGOING PROGRAM THAT HELPS REFUGEES GAIN LIFE SKILLS INCLUDING, DRIVING, JOB INTERVIEWING SKILLS, RESUME ASSISTANCE, JOB ASSISTANCE, ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARING/PRACTICE, STARTING A BUSINESS, TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS AND MONEY MANAGEMENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since February 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.