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Safelight Inc

EIN 56-1469847 · Hendersonville, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC/INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSUALT, AND CHILD ABUSE.

Income
$4.2 million
Spending
$3.8 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
5.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
57
Volunteers
296
Highest pay
$127,908, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 September 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. $3.3 million spent. SAFELIGHT, INC. OFFERS A BROAD RANGE OF SERVICES THAT INCLUDES SHELTER, COUNSELING, COURT ADVOCACY, CAREER TRAINING, AND INDEPENDENT LIVING ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES. OUR MISSION IS CREATING HOPE, HEALING LIVES, CHANGING COMMUNITY. WE DO THIS BY PROVIDING TRAUMA INFORMED SERVICES THAT ALLOW SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, CHILD ABUSE, AND SEXUAL ASSAULT TO BUILD NEW, VIOLENCE-FREE LIVES IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY. SAFELIGHT IS KNOWN AS THE PRIMARY SERVICE PROVIDER FOR SURVIVORS OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE IN HENDERSON COUNTY. THROUGH OUR CONTINUUM OF PROGRAMS, WE HELP SURVIVORS BEGIN THE PROCESS OF OVERCOMING PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL TRAUMA; THESE INCLUDE EMERGENCY SHELTER, COUNSELING, AN ACCREDITED CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER, FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER, AND JOB TRAINING PROGRAM. OUR SERVICES INCLUDE A 24-HOUR CRISIS HOTLINE, EMERGENCY SHELTER, JOB TRAINING, CHILD MEDICAL EXAMS, FORENSIC INTERVIEWING, COUNSELING, SUPPORT GROUPS, CASE MANAGEMENT, COURT AND EMERGENCY ROOM ADVOCACY, LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCOMPANIMENT, AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY. COMMUNITY BASED EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY FOR PREVENTION AND OUR JOB TRAINING PROGRAM. BY REMOVING BARRIERS, SAFELIGHT'S SERVICES HEAL LIVES AND CREATE A SAFER, HEALTHIER COMMUNITY. DURING THE 2023-2024 YEAR - "WE ARE NOT JUST STATISTICS. THESE ARE OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR COMMUNITY." 24-HOUR SHELTER FILLED 18,318 BEDS FOR 256 SURVIVORS 24-HOUR HOTLINE ANSWERED OVER 1,087 CALLS COUNSELING CENTER SAW 255 CLIENTS FOR 2,765 SESSIONS COMMUNITY ADVOCACY AND PREVENTION EDUCATION WAS GIVEN TO 6,830 INDIVIDUALS JOB TRAINING TRAINED 21 INTERNS CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER ASSISTED 263 CHILDREN FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER HELPED 328 SURVIVORS SAFELIGHT, INC. OFFERS A BROAD RANGE OF SERVICES THAT INCLUDES SHELTER, COUNSELING, COURT ADVOCACY, CAREER TRAINING, AND INDEPENDENT LIVING ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES. OUR MISSION IS CREATING HOPE, HEALING LIVES, CHANGING COMMUNITY. WE DO THIS BY PROVIDING TRAUMA INFORMED SERVICES THAT ALLOW SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, CHILD ABUSE, AND SEXUAL ASSAULT TO BUILD NEW, VIOLENCE-FREE LIVES IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY. SAFELIGHT IS KNOWN AS THE PRIMARY SERVICE PROVIDER FOR SURVIVORS OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE IN HENDERSON COUNTY. THROUGH OUR CONTINUUM OF PROGRAMS, WE HELP SURVIVORS BEGIN THE PROCESS OF OVERCOMING PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL TRAUMA; THESE INCLUDE EMERGENCY SHELTER, COUNSELING, AN ACCREDITED CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER, FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER, AND JOB TRAINING PROGRAM. OUR SERVICES INCLUDE A 24-HOUR CRISIS HOTLINE, EMERGENCY SHELTER, JOB TRAINING, CHILD MEDICAL EXAMS, FORENSIC INTERVIEWING, COUNSELING, SUPPORT GROUPS, CASE MANAGEMENT, COURT AND EMERGENCY ROOM ADVOCACY, LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCOMPANIMENT, AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY. COMMUNITY BASED EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY FOR PREVENTION AND OUR JOB TRAINING PROGRAM. BY REMOVING BARRIERS, SAFELIGHT'S SERVICES HEAL LIVES AND CREATE A SAFER, HEALTHIER COMMUNITY. DURING THE 2023-2024 YEAR - "WE ARE NOT JUST STATISTICS. THESE ARE OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR COMMUNITY." 24-HOUR SHELTER FILLED 18,318 BEDS FOR 256 SURVIVORS 24-HOUR HOTLINE ANSWERED OVER 1,087 CALLS COUNSELING CENTER SAW 255 CLIENTS FOR 2,765 SESSIONS COMMUNITY ADVOCACY AND PREVENTION EDUCATION WAS GIVEN TO 6,830 INDIVIDUALS JOB TRAINING TRAINED 21 INTERNS CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER ASSISTED 263 CHILDREN FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER HELPED 328 SURVIVORS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 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 September 2025.

    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 October 1990.

    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.

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