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Passes our checks

Came to Believe Recovery Inc

EIN 47-4382037 · Pluckemin, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

WE ARE A GROUP OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE RECOVERED FROM A VARIETY OF ADDICTIONS INCLUDING DRUGS AND ALCOHOL. WE ARE COMMITTED TO HELPING OTHERS BREAK FREE FROM THEIR ADDICTIONS THROUGH RETREATS, WORKSHOPS AND OTHER EVENTS THAT PROVIDE THE TOOLS AND DIRECTIONS FOR POWERFUL SPIRITAUL AWAKENING. WE CONTINUE THE LEGACY OF RECOVERY GROUNDED IN THE SPIRITUAL AWAKENING AND EXPERIENCE THAT RESULT FROM 12 STEPS, AS PRACTICED BY THE FOUNDERS OF A.A., BEGINNING IN THE 1930'S AND CONTINUING TO THE PRESENT. CAME TO BELIVE RECOVERY PROVIDES ESSENTIAL SPIRITUAL TOOLS NEEDED TO THRIVE. WE STRIVE TO CREATE AND PROMOTE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LIFE-CHANGING SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES FOR IMDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES SUFFERING FROM ALL FORMS OF ADDICTION. WE SHARE OUR EXPERIENCE, STRENGHT AND HOPE THROUGH OUR OWN STORIES OF HOW WE "CAME TO BELIEVE".

Income
$572,735
Spending
$581,263
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
-1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
4
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$108,949, ceo

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

Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 331% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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

Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $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

    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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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, 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 (1)
  1. $408,949 spent. In 2024, CAME TO BELIEVE RECOVERY (ctbr) entered an agreement with the Western Territory of the Salvation Army to bring our retreats to their Adult Rehabilitation Centers (ARC). Since launching the initiative, we have since developed an entire multiphase curriculum which is now being adopted in all 18 ARCs with the western territory. CTBR is now the entire recovery program being used by the western Territory. The Salvation Army under the agreement is paying a monthly fee for the implementation and support for the program. We have hired a fulltime program coordinator and one parttime person to support the program territory wide. CTBR will continue under an agreement to provide a level of retreats and full support through 2026. Our expectation is to begin implementation into one of the other three territories in 2026. The Salvation Army has indicated that the intent is to adopt CTBR nationwide. This would put our program in 120 Arcs. CTBR provided public access retreats in 2024 and plans to double the offerings in 2025. A third initiative is being piloted within the Nazarene church district of Hawaii. We are retrofitting parts of the program designed for the Salvation Army to fit the needs of the churchs recovery program needs. This will be an important program as we are increasingly being solicited by faith communities for help in the addiction space with their congregations. CTBR will conduct a masterclass at the Bowery Mission in NYC in 2025 and hold its first Benefit fundraiser in Manhattan in 2025 as well.Operationally, along with hiring the west coast coordinator and parttime support person, we have hired a full-time development director in NYC. To support all the increased demands of our operations we have hired and administrative assistant (part time). We have doubled our staff in 2024 with plan to hire a regional director in 2025 to help meet the expected demands.Our podcast is now getting 3,000-4,000 downloads a week and is consistently rated number one in mental health category within podcast platforms.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 November 2015.

    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.