Mission Gate Christian Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROVIDES IN-PRISON SERVICES,LIFE SKILLS CLASSES AND RESIDENTIAL HOUSING AND AFTERCARE FOR PAROLEES,PROBATIONERS (AND THEIR CHILDREN IN WOMEN'S FACILITIES) AND OTHERS IN NEED OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL RECOVERY, ENABLING THEM TO TRANSITION INTO SOCIETY. PROVIDES SUPPORT AND MINISTRY TO INMATES AND PROGRAM GRADUATES AND TO THEIR FAMILIES. MISSION GATE EQUIPS FATHERS TO REUNITE WITH THEIR CHILDREN.
- Income
- $1.6 million
- Spending
- $1.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 5.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 43%
- Employees
- 27
- Volunteers
- 475
- Highest pay
- $65,324, pres, tres,
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 69 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 255 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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)
- $1.4 million spent. MISSION GATE PROVIDES SERVICES AND REENTRY PRESENTATIONS IN MISSOURI PRISONS AND JAILS AND OWNS AND OPERATES AFTERCARE PROGRAMS IN FACILITIES OWNED IN CUBA AND TROY, MISSOURI AND IN THE ST LOUIS CITY AREA FOR FEDERAL,STATE,COUNTY AND CITY FORMER PRISONERS WHO ARE ON PROBATION OR PAROLE OR NEWLY RELEASED FELONS WHO ARE NOT ON STATE SUPERVISION AND FOR MEN AND WOMEN WITH DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTIONS. MISSON GATE'S AFTERCARE HOMES SERVE OVER 350 MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN PER YEAR. ALL RESIDENTS IN THE MISSION GATE PROGRAM RECEIVE EMPLOYMENT PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE, TRANSPORTATION, INITIAL FOOD AND CLOTHING,INSTRUCTION IN SPIRITUAL, EMOTIONAL AND NUTRITIONAL HEALTH, BIBLE STUDIES, EMPLOYMENT SOFT SKILLS, COMPUTER TRAINING, FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP AND OTHER LIFE SKILLS SUCH AS PARENTING, INTERVIEWING SKILLS AND ANGER MANAGEMENT. RESIDENTS WITHOUT A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA RECEIVE GED/HISET TRAINING AND TESTING. MISSION GATE VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE IN-PRISON CHURCH SERVICES, BIBLE STUDIES AND ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING TO AN ESTIMATED 3,000 INMATES PER YEAR. MISSION GATE WORKS CLOSELY WITH INSTITUTIONAL AND FIELD PAROLE OFFICERS, CASE MANAGERS AND CHAPLAINS TO SCREEN APPLICANTS FOR RESIDENCY AT MISSION GATE. ALL APPLICANTS ARE INTERVIEWED BY MISSION GATE STAFF PRIOR TO APPROVAL. MISSION GATE PROVIDES SERVICES AND REENTRY PRESENTATIONS IN MISSOURI PRISONS AND JAILS AND OWNS AND OPERATES AFTERCARE PROGRAMS IN FACILITIES OWNED IN CUBA AND TROY, MISSOURI AND IN THE ST LOUIS CITY AREA FOR FEDERAL,STATE,COUNTY AND CITY FORMER PRISONERS WHO ARE ON PROBATION OR PAROLE OR NEWLY RELEASED FELONS WHO ARE NOT ON STATE SUPERVISION AND FOR MEN AND WOMEN WITH DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTIONS. MISSON GATE'S AFTERCARE HOMES SERVE OVER 350 MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN PER YEAR. ALL RESIDENTS IN THE MISSION GATE PROGRAM RECEIVE EMPLOYMENT PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE, TRANSPORTATION, INITIAL FOOD AND CLOTHING,INSTRUCTION IN SPIRITUAL, EMOTIONAL AND NUTRITIONAL HEALTH, BIBLE STUDIES, EMPLOYMENT SOFT SKILLS, COMPUTER TRAINING, FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP AND OTHER LIFE SKILLS SUCH AS PARENTING, INTERVIEWING SKILLS AND ANGER MANAGEMENT. RESIDENTS WITHOUT A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA RECEIVE GED/HISET TRAINING AND TESTING. MISSION GATE VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE IN-PRISON CHURCH SERVICES, BIBLE STUDIES AND ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING TO AN ESTIMATED 3,000 INMATES PER YEAR. MISSION GATE WORKS CLOSELY WITH INSTITUTIONAL AND FIELD PAROLE OFFICERS, CASE MANAGERS AND CHAPLAINS TO SCREEN APPLICANTS FOR RESIDENCY AT MISSION GATE. ALL APPLICANTS ARE INTERVIEWED BY MISSION GATE STAFF PRIOR TO APPROVAL.
- $22,563 spent. CHRISTMAS ANGEL PROGRAM PROVIDING 2,500 CHILDREN OF PRIMARILY PRISONERS'FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY NEEDY WITH GIFTS, GOSPEL WITNESSING AND CHURCH REFERRALS.UPWARDS OF 125 AREA CHURCHES AND BUSINESSES ARE INVOLVED. COMMUNITY,RESIDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES PARTICIPATE BY DONATING THEIR TIME.
- $27,199 spent. EQUINE AND CANINE THERAPY FOR PROGRAM CLIENTS UTILIZES DOGS,CATS,HORSES AND SMALL LIVESTOCK AT MISSION GATE'S FORT GOOD SHEPHERD, STL CITY GUEST HOMES, HANNAH'S RANCH AND PROMISES OF HOPE RANCH FOR RESIDENTS, CHILDREN AND GRADUATES. THE PROGRAM HAS A HEALING EFFECT ON PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS' MENTAL HEALTH. PARTICIPANT FEEDS AND CARES FOR ANIMALS WHICH PROMOTES RESPONSIBILITY, TRUST AND WORTH. HORSEBACK RIDING BRINGS A NEW WAY OF RECREATION THAT EXCLUDES DRUGS AND ALCOHOL. PARTICIPANTS' FAMILIES VISIT AND PARTAKE IN EQUINE AND CANINE INTERACTION.
- ALL MISSION GATE AFTERCARE FACILITIES ARE RUNNING AT FULL CAPACITY AND ARE CREDENTIALED THROUGH MCRSP (MISSOURI COALITION OF RECOVERY SUPPORT PROVIDERS) WHICH MEETS NARR (NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR RECOVERY RESIDENCES) NATIONAL STANDARDS. MISSION GATE SERVES 350 OR MORE EX-OFFENDERS AND CHILDREN YEARLY. ALL CLIENTS IN THE PROGRAM MAINTAIN A 95% OR HIGHER EMPLOYMENT RATE. VOLUNTEERS FROM 135 LOCAL CHURCHES HELP WITH MAINTENANCE AND PROGRAMMING IN THE PRISONS AND JAILS, AFTERCARE AND CHRISTMAS ANGEL MISSION. FORMAL MENTORING AND TRAINING PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED TO VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF. TRAINING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH FOR ALCOHOL AND DRUG RECOVERY, MRSS (MISSOURI RECOVERY SUPPORT SPECIALIST) AND CPS (CERTIFIED PEER SPECIALIST) IS PROVIDED FOR STAFF AND KEY VOLUNTEERS. MISSION GATE CONTINUED TO WORKED CLOSELY WITH CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF PROBATION AND PAROLE, MISSOURI DIVISION OF FAMILY SERVICES, NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF RECOVERY RESIDENCES, LOCAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, CHURCHES AND LOCAL EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE A CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR OUR RESIDENTS ONSITE SUCH AS GED/HISET, SATOP (SUBSTANCE AWARENESS TRAFFIC OFFENDER PROGRAM), AND FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP ONSITE WITH LOCAL BANKS AND OTHER ENTITIES. MISSION GATE HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN BUILDING STRONG REALTIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY. QUARANTINE UNITS HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED AND AVAILABLE TO ACCOMMODATE RESIDENTS. TRISH MATHES, PRESIDENT, WAS AWARDED THE 2024 HELEN B. MADDEN AWARD FROM PREVENT+ED IN ST. LOUIS FOR APPRECIATION OF AN EXCEPTIONAL CAREER DEVOTED TO THE TREATMENT OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. JOYCE FIELDS, HANNAH'S RANCH PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND GREG SMITH, DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, WERE INVITED TO PRESENT NEEDS TO IMPACT 100 FOR HANNAH'S RANCH IMPROVEMENTS AND RECEIVED A GRANT OF 10,000. MISSION GATE RECEIVED THE 35,000 CRAWFORD OPIOID GRANT FOR TRANSPORTATION OF RESIDENTS IN CRAWFORD COUNTY BENEFITING HANNAH'S RANCH AND FORT GOOD SHEPHERD. MISSION GATE RECEIVED THREE COMMUNITY REENTRY FUNDING AWARDS FROM THE STATE OF MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS OF 50,000 EACH FOR FORT GOOD SHEPHERD,PROMISES OF HOPE AND ST LOUIS CITY OUTREACH TO AID RESIDENTS BY PROVIDING HOUSING AND WRAP AROUND SERVICES INCLUDING COUNSELORS, INITIAL NEEDS, ETC. IN NOVEMBER 2024 THE LOWER PART OF FORT GOOD SHEPHERD NEXT TO THE MERAMEC RIVER WAS FLOODED CAUSING DAMAGE TO 14 CABINS. TEN WERE RECONSTRUCTED AND 4 HAD TO BE DEMOLISHED. VOLUNTEERS AND A LOCAL CONTRACTOR COMPLETED THE CONSTRUCTION. THIS WAS THE WORST FLOOD EVER AT FORT GOOD SHEPHERD. MEN HAD TO DOUBLE UP IN OTHER CABINS ON THE PROPERTY IN ORDER TO BE HOUSED. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF MISSION GATE VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO CONSTRUCT A 19 MAN RESIDENCE ON HIGHER GROUND DUE TO THE FLOODING AND ADDITIONAL REQUESTS FOR HOUSING FROM CORRECTIONAL CENTERS AND THOSE ADDICTED TO DRUGS OR ALCOHOL. THE RESIDENCE IS SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION IN 2026. 3-1/2 ACRES OF PROPERTY WAS PURCHASED ADJACENT TO THE MAIN LODGE OF FORT GOOD SHEPHERD FOR FUTURE USE.
- ALL MISSION GATE AFTERCARE FACILITIES ARE RUNNING AT FULL CAPACITY AND ARE CREDENTIALED THROUGH MCRSP (MISSOURI COALITION OF RECOVERY SUPPORT PROVIDERS) WHICH MEETS NARR (NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR RECOVERY RESIDENCES) NATIONAL STANDARDS. MISSION GATE SERVES 350 OR MORE EX-OFFENDERS AND CHILDREN YEARLY. ALL CLIENTS IN THE PROGRAM MAINTAIN A 95% OR HIGHER EMPLOYMENT RATE. VOLUNTEERS FROM 135 LOCAL CHURCHES HELP WITH MAINTENANCE AND PROGRAMMING IN THE PRISONS AND JAILS, AFTERCARE AND CHRISTMAS ANGEL MISSION. FORMAL MENTORING AND TRAINING PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED TO VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF. TRAINING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH FOR ALCOHOL AND DRUG RECOVERY, MRSS (MISSOURI RECOVERY SUPPORT SPECIALIST) AND CPS (CERTIFIED PEER SPECIALIST) IS PROVIDED FOR STAFF AND KEY VOLUNTEERS. MISSION GATE CONTINUED TO WORKED CLOSELY WITH CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF PROBATION AND PAROLE, MISSOURI DIVISION OF FAMILY SERVICES, NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF RECOVERY RESIDENCES, LOCAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, CHURCHES AND LOCAL EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE A CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR OUR RESIDENTS ONSITE SUCH AS GED/HISET, SATOP (SUBSTANCE AWARENESS TRAFFIC OFFENDER PROGRAM), AND FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP ONSITE WITH LOCAL BANKS AND OTHER ENTITIES. MISSION GATE HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN BUILDING STRONG REALTIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY. QUARANTINE UNITS HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED AND AVAILABLE TO ACCOMMODATE RESIDENTS. TRISH MATHES, PRESIDENT, WAS AWARDED THE 2024 HELEN B. MADDEN AWARD FROM PREVENT+ED IN ST. LOUIS FOR APPRECIATION OF AN EXCEPTIONAL CAREER DEVOTED TO THE TREATMENT OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. JOYCE FIELDS, HANNAH'S RANCH PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND GREG SMITH, DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, WERE INVITED TO PRESENT NEEDS TO IMPACT 100 FOR HANNAH'S RANCH IMPROVEMENTS AND RECEIVED A GRANT OF 10,000. MISSION GATE RECEIVED THE 35,000 CRAWFORD OPIOID GRANT FOR TRANSPORTATION OF RESIDENTS IN CRAWFORD COUNTY BENEFITING HANNAH'S RANCH AND FORT GOOD SHEPHERD. MISSION GATE RECEIVED THREE COMMUNITY REENTRY FUNDING AWARDS FROM THE STATE OF MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS OF 50,000 EACH FOR FORT GOOD SHEPHERD,PROMISES OF HOPE AND ST LOUIS CITY OUTREACH TO AID RESIDENTS BY PROVIDING HOUSING AND WRAP AROUND SERVICES INCLUDING COUNSELORS, INITIAL NEEDS, ETC. IN NOVEMBER 2024 THE LOWER PART OF FORT GOOD SHEPHERD NEXT TO THE MERAMEC RIVER WAS FLOODED CAUSING DAMAGE TO 14 CABINS. TEN WERE RECONSTRUCTED AND 4 HAD TO BE DEMOLISHED. VOLUNTEERS AND A LOCAL CONTRACTOR COMPLETED THE CONSTRUCTION. THIS WAS THE WORST FLOOD EVER AT FORT GOOD SHEPHERD. MEN HAD TO DOUBLE UP IN OTHER CABINS ON THE PROPERTY IN ORDER TO BE HOUSED. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF MISSION GATE VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO CONSTRUCT A 19 MAN RESIDENCE ON HIGHER GROUND DUE TO THE FLOODING AND ADDITIONAL REQUESTS FOR HOUSING FROM CORRECTIONAL CENTERS AND THOSE ADDICTED TO DRUGS OR ALCOHOL. THE RESIDENCE IS SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION IN 2026. 3-1/2 ACRES OF PROPERTY WAS PURCHASED ADJACENT TO THE MAIN LODGE OF FORT GOOD SHEPHERD FOR FUTURE USE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1998.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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