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Waterfront Rescue Mission Inc

EIN 59-0838106 · Pensacola, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DEMONSTRATING GOD'S GOODNESS BY PROVIDING RESCUE AND RECOVERY SERVICES IN JESUS' NAME.

Income
$17.7 million
Spending
$15.3 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
10.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
433
Volunteers
2,023
Highest pay
$215,398, president

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.8 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 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 44% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).

  • 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 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 (3)
  1. $7.0 million spent. IN-KIND DONATIONS PROCESSED AND RESOLD THROUGH WATERFRONT RESCUE MISSION'S SUPPORTING THRIFT STORES MINISTRY AFFORDS SHOPPERS WITHIN THE MISSIONS' COMMUNITIES TO PURCHASE AFFORDABLE, HIGH-QUALITY CLOTHING, SHOES, HOUSEHOLD GOODS, AND GENTLY-USED HOME FURNISHINGS AT EXCEPTIONAL VALUES. IN TURN, THE PROCEEDS GENERATED FROM THE THRIFT STORES ARE USED TO PROVIDE TRANSFORMATIVE SERVICES FOR THE UNDERSERVED AND THOSE STRIVING TO OVERCOME SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND OTHER LIFE-DOMINATING ISSUES AS PARTICIPANTS WORK THROUGH THE MISSION'S LIFE-CHANGING PROGRAMS. ADDITIONALLY, THE MANAGEMENT AND STAFF OF THE THRIFT STORES WORK CLOSELY WITH PROGRAM CLIENTS, EMPLOYEES, VOLUNTEERS, AND COURT-ORDERED COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS TO TEACH JOB SKILLS, CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND TEAMWORK, AS WELL AS TO MODEL CHRISTIAN INTEGRITY AND STRONG WORK ETHIC AS AN INVESTMENT BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY. THE WATERFRONT THRIFT STORES HAVE EARNED SEVERAL CUSTOMER CHOICE AWARDS FOR "BEST THRIFT STORES" ON THE GULF COAST.
  2. $4.3 million spent. FOUNDED IN 1949, WATERFRONT RESCUE MISSION PROVIDES REHABILITATIVE SERVICES TO UNDERSERVED PEOPLE AND THOSE SUFFERING FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND OTHER LIFE-DOMINATING ISSUES. IN 2025, THE MISSION SERVED 210,590 MEALS, PROVIDED 84,588 NIGHTS OF SHELTER, DISTRIBUTED OVER 4,500 PIECES OF CLOTHING, AND 2,500 HOUSEHOLD ITEMS TO FAMILIES IN NEED. WATERFRONT RESCUE MISSION HELPS MEN AND WOMEN ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES OF LIFE-DOMINATING ISSUES. HEALING AND RESTORATION ARE THE GOALS OF THIS BIBLE-BASED MODEL THAT PROMOTES TRANSFORMED, PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. THROUGH THE LIFEBUILDER RECOVERY PROGRAM, THE MISSION HELPS MEN OVERCOME LIFEDOMINATING ADDICTIONS THROUGH THE FAITH-BASED ADDICTION RECOVERY CURRICULUM, THE GENESIS PROCESS, AS WELL AS THROUGH INTENSIVE COUNSELING, JOB TRAINING, FINANCIAL LITERACY CLASSES, AND HOUSING ASSISTANCE TO ENSURE PARTICIPANTS ARE EQUIPPED TO BECOME AND REMAIN PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. THE MISSION'S VETERANS CARE PROGRAM SERVES HOMELESS MILITARYVETERANS BY COORDINATING WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE IN OBTAINING BENEFITS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE MISSION'S ARUKAH RESPITE CENTER OFFERS A SAFE ENVIRONMENT WITH MEDICAL BEDS FOR ILL OR INJURED HOMELESS MEN AND WOMEN TO RECUPERATE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING A HOSPITAL DISCHARGE. THE MISSION'S DAY RESOURCE CENTER PROVIDES SERVICES TO HELP UNDERSERVED MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN WITH MAIL AND PHONE SERVICES, BAG STORAGE, CLOTHING AND HYGIENE ITEMS, SPIRITUAL COUNSELING, MEALS, AND LAUNDERING AND SHOWER PROVISIONS. THROUGH THE MISSION'S VARIOUS SITES AND PROGRAMS, MEN AND WOMEN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN VALUABLE WORK SKILLS SUCH AS FORKLIFT CERTIFICATION, MERCHANDISING, PRODUCTION, REGISTER TRAINING, CUSTOMER SERVICES, AND COOKING. THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF WATERFRONT RESCUE MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A HAND UP, AND NOT JUST A HAND OUT, TO MEN AND WOMEN SUFFERING FROM LIFE-DOMINATING ISSUES.
  3. $1.1 million spent. WATERFRONT RESCUE MISSION'S RECYCLING & DONATION CENTER PROCESSES, ONAVERAGE, 1,650 TONS OF IN-KIND DONATED RECYCLABLE MATERIALS ANNUALLY. MATERIALS ARE DONATED ON-SITE AND COLLECTED FROM THRIFT STORES AS AN INTENTIONAL EFFORT TO REDUCE THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT IMPACTS CAUSED BY THE OVER USAGE OF AREA LANDFILLS. THE MISSION MAKES EVERY EFFORT TO REDUCE, REUSE, AND RECYCLE. IN-KIND DONATIONS WHICH ARE NOT DEEMED SAFE OR RESALABLE AT ITS THRIFT STORES ARE IMMEDIATELY EVALUATED, DISMANTLED AS NECESSARY, AND SORTED INTO RECYCLABLE COMPONENTS. IN TURN, SALVAGED MATERIALS ARE RESOLD AT CURRENT MARKET VALUES TO PROVIDE TRANSFORMATIVE SERVICES FOR THE UNDERSERVED AND THOSE STRIVING TO OVERCOME SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND OTHER LIFE-DOMINATING ISSUES AS PARTICIPANTS WORK THROUGH THE MISSION'S LIFE-CHANGING PROGRAMS. ADDITIONALLY, THE MANAGEMENT AND STAFF OF THE RECYCLING & DONATION CENTER WORK CLOSELY WITH PROGRAM CLIENTS AND EMPLOYEES TO IMPROVE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND TO PROVIDE JOB SKILLS TRAINING AS THEY MODEL CHRISTIAN INTEGRITY, STRONG WORK ETHIC, AND STEWARDSHIP AS AN INVESTMENT BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY.

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 January 1964.

    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.