Real Escape From the Sex Trade
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WE EXIST TO PROVIDE PATHWAYS TO FREEDOM, SAFETY, AND HOPE FOR VICTIMS OF SEX TRAFFICKING AND PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE SEX TRADE.
- Income
- $3.6 million
- Spending
- $3.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 71%
- Employees
- 56
- Volunteers
- 230
- Highest pay
- $127,777, finance director
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: 48 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 41% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 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 (3)
- $793,569 spent. REST EMERGENCY SERVICES INCLUDES OUTREACH, A 24/7 HOTLINE, AND AN EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR SURVIVORS ENGAGED IN THE SEX TRADE. IN FY 2025, REST CONDUCTED 70 STREET OUTREACH EFFORTS, 19 TEXT OUTREACH CAMPAIGNS, AND 56 PARTNER OUTREACH ACTIVITIES. THE HOTLINE SERVED 513 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH 3,446 CALLS AND TEXTS, PROVIDING EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, SAFETY PLANNING, REFERRALS, AND SHELTER SCREENING. REST'S LOW-BARRIER SHELTER OFFERS 7 PRIVATE BEDROOMS WITH STAYS OF 3090 DAYS AND PROVIDED 52 INDIVIDUALS WITH 2,200 BED NIGHTS IN FY 2025.
- $1.5 million spent. REST'S COMMUNITY SERVICES PROGRAM PROVIDES TRAUMA-INFORMED, PERSON-CENTERED CASE MANAGEMENT AND HOUSING SUPPORT FOR YOUTH, ADULTS, AND SENIOR SURVIVORS OF THE SEX TRADE. ADVOCATES HELP CLIENTS ACCESS RESOURCES AND ACHIEVE INDIVIDUALIZED GOALS, WHILE HOUSING SERVICES SUPPORTS CLIENTS WITH HOUSING APPLICATIONS, MOVE-IN COSTS, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, LANDLORD DEBT, AND EVICTION PREVENTION. IN FY 2025, ADVOCATES ASSISTED 120 CLIENTS IN ACHIEVING 285 GOALS, AND HOUSING SERVICES SUPPORTED 89 CLIENTS WITH OBTAINING AND MAINTAINING STABLE HOUSING.
- $435,181 spent. THE PATHWAYS SERVICES CENTER INCLUDES ENRICHMENT SERVICES AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. ENRICHMENT SERVICES HELPS CLIENTS MEET BASIC NEEDS, ACCESS RESOURCES, AND PARTICIPATE IN WORKSHOPS THAT SUPPORT LIFE SKILLS AND PERSONAL GOALS. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDES GROUP AND INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE. IN FY 2025, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES SERVED 95 CLIENTS THROUGH 438 TREATMENT SESSIONS, WHILE SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES ENGAGED 72 CLIENTS AND HELD 26 GROUP SESSIONS.
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
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 October 13, 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 June 2025.
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 November 2011.
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 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.