Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Safe Shelter Center for Domestic Violence Services Inc

EIN 58-1392664 · Savannah, GA

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

TO PREVENT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, PROTECT VICTIMS, AND PROMOTE CHANGE IN LIVES, FAMILIES, AND OUR COMMUNITY. SINCE 1980, SAFE SHELTER HAS BEEN SAVANNAH'S ONLY SHELTER DEDICATED TO VICTIMS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AND THEIR UNDERAGE CHILDREN. OPEN 24-HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK, THE SHELTER PROVIDES SAFE, CONFIDENTIAL SERVICES TO ALL VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 55%
Employees
42
Volunteers
69
Highest pay
$104,014, ceo (outgoin

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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 December 31, 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. $1.6 million spent. IN 2025, THE SHELTER PROVIDED SERVICES TO 1,083 VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, INCLUDING 195 CHILDREN. MORE THAN 13,218 BED NIGHTS WERE PROVIDED AND 51,000 MEALS WERE SERVED, ALL AT NO COST TO THE VICTIMS. THE SHELTER OPERATES 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, AND ASSISTED 879 INDIVIDUALS WITH CRISIS CALLS. THE SHELTER'S OUTREACH CENTER PROVIDED SERVICES TO THOSE THAT NEED ASSISTANCE BUT DO NOT NEED SHELTER HOUSING. ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED TO VICTIMS TO FILE 193 TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE ORDERS; ADVOCATES MADE 599 COURT APPEARANCES, AND LICENSED THERAPISTS FACILITATED 607 HOURS OF INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING. 15 CHILDREN ATTENDED AN 8-WEEK SUMMER CAMP WHERE THEY VISITED THE NATURAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, MUSEUMS, A WATER PARK, RODE A HORSE, AND MANY OTHER EXCITING ACTIVITIES, ALSO AT NO COST TO THE FAMILIES. IN ADDITION, 69 VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED 1,015 HOURS OF INVALUABLE ASSISTANCE. IN 2025, THE SHELTER PROVIDED SERVICES TO 1,083 VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, INCLUDING 195 CHILDREN. MORE THAN 13,218 BED NIGHTS WERE PROVIDED AND 51,000 MEALS WERE SERVED, ALL AT NO COST TO THE VICTIMS. THE SHELTER OPERATES 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, AND ASSISTED 879 INDIVIDUALS WITH CRISIS CALLS. THE SHELTER'S OUTREACH CENTER PROVIDED SERVICES TO THOSE THAT NEED ASSISTANCE BUT DO NOT NEED SHELTER HOUSING. ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED TO VICTIMS TO FILE 193 TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE ORDERS; ADVOCATES MADE 599 COURT APPEARANCES, AND LICENSED THERAPISTS FACILITATED 607 HOURS OF INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING. 15 CHILDREN ATTENDED AN 8-WEEK SUMMER CAMP WHERE THEY VISITED THE NATURAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, MUSEUMS, A WATER PARK, RODE A HORSE, AND MANY OTHER EXCITING ACTIVITIES, ALSO AT NO COST TO THE FAMILIES. IN ADDITION, 69 VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED 1,015 HOURS OF INVALUABLE ASSISTANCE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 November 6, 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 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 March 1980.

    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 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.