Room in the Inn - Memphis
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Sheltering those experiencing homelessness in a safe environment of hospitality.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $1.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 2.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 74%
- Employees
- 41
- Volunteers
- 925
- Highest pay
- $98,209, executive dir.
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: 45 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 73% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 23% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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
Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 (1)
- $1.5 million spent. Three programs shelter and feed individuals, families, and the medically fragile experiencing homelessness while assisting with their journey toward housing in Memphis, Tennessee. Volunteers gave over 21,500 hours to shelter, feed, transport, and provide hospitality to guests experiencing homelessness. Support from private donations, businesses and corporations, private and corporate foundations, and government grants made it possible to operate three programs: 1) emergency shelter during the winter for street-level individuals, 2) year-round emergency shelter for families, and 3) respite care for medically fragile individuals. During the fiscal year, 62 households exited homelessness and 35 individuals gained new employment. Approximately 27,980 meals were served through the combined programs.Program Summaries: Congregational Shelter: A network of 38 diverse congregations opened their doors to provide food and shelter to people who are experiencing street-level homelessness from November through March each year and May through September. 5,959 warm, safe beds were provided over 240 nights. Family Inn:Families experiencing homelessness live in the comfort of a private room with an en suite bathroom as they work toward permanent housing. During their stay families receive meals and supportive services. Educational and counseling programs for adults and children are available. 115 families including 289 children were welcomed during the year.Recuperative Care:Unsheltered individuals who are medically fragile and in need of a safe place to recover from illness stay in private rooms with three meals a day. The staff coordinates care with medical providers and assists with the guests' housing goals. Opportunities for occupational coaching and counseling as well as physical strengthening are part of the recovery process. 63 individuals came to the Recuperative Care Center for respite.Impact Data:Sheltered 996 Individuals in 3 programs289 Children in 115 families 35 gained new employment62 households moved into housing63 Medically fragile guests rested, recovered, and secured needed resources 240 Nights of life-saving winter and summer shelter in host congregationsTotal volunteer hours over 21,500Approximately 27,980 meals servedHistory:Room in the Inn Memphis (RITI) began as an outreach project in the fall of 2009 at Colonial Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The congregation welcomed strangers into the warm, safe sanctuary of a building that was underused during the winter. Following three years of winter shelter by the first host congregation, an advisory committee was formed to discern the future direction of what was becoming a thriving program for those experiencing homelessness. The advisory committee recommended forming a permanent board of directors and applying for 501c3 status which was granted in 2013. RITI fulfills its mission through three programs. The first program is Congregational Shelter. During the coldest months of the year, November through March, a network of faith communities shelters small groups of individuals at their places of worship. The second and third programs, which are the Family Inn and Recuperative Care Center, began early in 2021. Both of these newer programs are housed in a 24/7 facility in Memphis Medical District. Family Inn shelters families experiencing homelessness referred by Memphis Inter-Faith Association (MIFA) and approved for MIFAs Rapid Rehousing Program. These families work with our Family Inn Director and Family Advocate as they go through the process of locating and moving into housing. The Recuperative Care Center shelters medically fragile individuals and offers case management to assist in a pathway to housing. More information about our programs can be found online at https://ritimemphis.org/RITI is actively addressing the need for emergency and temporary shelter for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. During RITIs pandemic response, it became apparent there was a gap in both temporary shelter for families and case management services to assist families during the Rapid Rehousing process. After a successful pilot period, the Family Inn became a permanent program and moved to a new location with the capacity to shelter up to 14 families. Another service gap identified was a place of respite for individuals well enough to be discharged from the hospital but still in need of a safe place to rest and recuperate. The Recuperative Care Center became a permanent program and is located at the same facility as the Family Inn. The Recuperative Care Center has the capacity to shelter up to 14 individuals.
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 August 2014.
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.