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City of Refuge Inc

EIN 58-2194642 · Atlanta, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CITY OF REFUGE OFFERS LIFE SAVING RESOURCES AND LIFE BUILDING TOOLS TO THOSE IN ATLANTA WHO ARE LIVING ON THE MARGIN.

Income
$22.9 million
Spending
$19.9 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
144
Volunteers
1,500
Highest pay
$469,130, 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (religion, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (religion, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 14 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, 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 (5)
  1. $3.1 million spent. COR HOUSING PROGRAMS INCLUDE 40 ROOMS ON CAMPUS WITH FULL WRAP-AROUND SUPPORT FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS; A MEN'S SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM WITH 31 UNITS FOR VETERANS, RE-ENTERING CITIZENS, AND YOUTH AGES 18-24; MASTER LEASES ON 15 AFFORDABLE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET, A WELCOME HOME WITH 4 ROOMS FOR SURVIVORS, AND THREE ADDITIONAL HOMES AVAILABLE AS CO-HOUSING JUST AROUND THE CORNER. IN 2024, COR HOUSED 256 MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN, PARTNERED TO HELP HOUSE AN ADDITIONAL 217 WOMEN AND CHILDREN, AND FIELDED MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND HOUSING REQUESTS EACH MONTH. WE CELEBRATED 45 GRADUATES MOVING INTO STABLE, INDEPENDENT HOUSING.
  2. $1.9 million spent. HEALTH & WELLNESS: COR SERVES NUTRITIOUS MEALS THREE TIMES DAILY AND PROVIDES PHYSICAL FITNESS AND LIFE SKILLS TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. A PARTNERSHIP WITH MERCY CARE GIVES ONSITE ACCESS TO MEDICAL, DENTAL, AND HEALTH SERVICES. IN 2024, COR SERVED 281,578 MEALS AND PARTNERED TO PROVIDE 11,902 MEDICAL SERVICES. CITY OF REFUGE SOUTH ALSO ENABLED PARTICIPANTS TO BENEFIT FROM 1,916 THERAPEUTIC HOURS.
  3. $3.1 million spent. VOCATIONAL TRAINING: COR OFFERS VOCATIONAL TRAINING CLASSES, JOB READINESS SERVICES, AND REGULAR JOB FAIRS TO HELP PEOPLE FIND MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT. REENTRY PROGRAMMING PROVIDES ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUALIZED SERVICES FOR THOSE INVOLVED WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. IN 2024, COR SUPPORTED 100 RETURNING CITIZENS, GRADUATED 381 STUDENTS FROM VOCATIONAL TRAINING, AND PLACED 819 COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN JOBS.
  4. $3.3 million spent. COR PROVIDES YEAR-ROUND ACADEMIC, ENRICHMENT, AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN FROM BIRTH THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL. COR ALSO PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS FOR NEIGHBORHOOD STUDENTS PURSUING COLLEGE AND POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION. IN 2024, COR DELIVERED TUITION-FREE SCHOOL FOR 150 STUDENTS IN GRADES 3-12, PROVIDED SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMMING FOR 236 CHILDREN AND AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOR 191 STUDENTS IN GRADES K-12, HELPED 88 CHILDREN BENEFIT FROM FULL-DAY PRESCHOOL, AND AWARDED 19 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION. (PLEASE NOTE SOME STUDENTS WERE SERVED IN SCHOOL, AFTERSCHOOL, AND SUMMER PROGRAMS.) OUR SCHOOL MAINTAINED A 100% GRADUATION RATE.
  5. $3.7 million spent. HUMAN SLAVERY: CITY OF REFUGE PARTNERS AND SUPPORTS HOUSE OF CHERITH FOR THE HUMAN SLAVERY PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF AN EMERGENCY AND LONG-TERM RESIDENTIAL TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE PROGRAM FOR RESCUED SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND TRAFFICKING, WITH A FOCUS ON RECOVERY AND RESTORATION. IN 2021, HOUSE OF CHERITH HOUSED WOMEN AND PROVIDED FOOD, NUTRITION, COUNSELING, CASE MANAGEMENT, SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING. THEY ACHIEVED HEALING AND LIFE SUCCESS.

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 April 1996.

    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.