Good Shepherd Ministries of Wilmington Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of Good Shepherd is to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless and foster transition to housing.
- Income
- $6.9 million
- Spending
- $6.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 4.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 79%
- Employees
- 59
- Volunteers
- 500
- Highest pay
- $184,881, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 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, 2026, 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)
- $6.3 million spent. The mission of Good Shepherd Ministries, Inc. is to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless and foster transition to housing. Established as a modest Soup Kitchen in 1983, Good Shepherd Center has evolved over the years to provide an array of programs addressing hunger and homelessness. The Day Shelter provides the chronically homeless with a low-demand safe haven where they may receive mail and clean clothing, and access restrooms and showers. Guests also benefit from an on-site medical clinic, operated in partnership with the New Hanover County Health Department, which provides free, non-threatening access to health screenings, prescriptions, wound care, vaccinations, and health education.Annually, our Second Helpings program redistributes more than 500 tons of salvaged food that would otherwise have been thrown away to area programs serving food insecure households, in addition to enabling our Soup Kitchen to serve as many as 120,000 meals a year to the hungry.Already the largest provider of homeless services in the Tri-County area, Good Shepherd opened a Night Shelter in 2005 to better respond to unmet need for emergency overnight beds. Open every night, year-round, the shelter accommodates up to 118 homeless men, women, and families with children each night, providing them not only a bed, but access to food, clothing, restrooms, showers, individual case management and housing facilitation. On average, as many as 100 individuals seek shelter with us each night, including a number of families experiencing a housing crisis. In a typical year, 150 homeless guests are assisted in transitioning from the shelter to housing through the financial assistance and intensive case management offered by our Rapid Rehousing program. Good Shepherd is heavily volunteer-driven, with more than 500 individuals from around the community donating their time and talent to the success of our work.The Sgt. Eugene Ashley Center provides short-term, transitional Bridge Housing for up to 16 homeless Veterans at a time. Bridge housing is a short-term solution for Veterans who have been offered and accepted a permanent housing intervention but are still working on access to that housing. The program is based on the low-barrier Housing First model to end homelessness among Veterans. Length of stay is individually determined based on need, but in general, is not expected to exceed 90 days. In addition, eight units of Permanent Supportive Housing provide affordable housing with supportive services to chronically homeless men with disabilities.SECU Lakeside Reserve provides 40 units Permanent Supportive Housing -- a Best Practice housing intervention for the chronically homeless -- and common spaces, including a lobby, case manager's office, communal kitchen, TV room, and laundry facilities. Residents pay no more than 30% of their income for rent, ensuring they can still afford groceries, medications, and other household necessities. Together, these programs serve as an essential safety net of emergency services while also proving housing-based solutions that end the homelessness of our neighbors in crisis.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2026, 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 June 2026.
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 1987.
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.
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.