Penuel Ridge Retreat Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Penuel Ridge is a retreat center located in middle Tennessee, honoring our heritage and fostering values of contemplation, silence, hospitality, rest, social justice, and communion with nature, nurturing the journey inward, to strengthen the journey outward.
- Income
- $107,905
- Spending
- $104,312
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- -1.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 54%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 60
- Highest pay
- $36,000, executive director
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
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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
Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (2)
- $89,334 spent. Penuel Ridge offered self-guided and overnight retreats in 2024. The Retreat Center welcomed 1,349 individuals, representing a vast array of spiritual traditions in support of our commitment to interfaith hospitality. Each guest was given the latitude to engage in activities unique to their individual needs while offering the tools of contemplation, silence, and rest to replenish their wellspring of strength. Penuel Ridge welcomed 28 unique groups for day and overnight retreats, representing an array of faith traditions and wellness practices. Penuel Ridge also offered uniquely themed and sponsored day retreats, open to the public, to engage in contemplative practices which nurtured their spiritual, mental, and physical wellness. Themed retreats included: Quenching a Deep Thirst...a Guided Silent Retreat offered monthly, The Way and Joy of the Painted Journal, and the annual Howard Thurman Retreat.
- $4,676 spent. The commitment to service to and social justice for the unhoused in our community is at the heart of Penuel Ridge. We held our Work Dignity Retreats, offering a fair living wage in exchange for work at the Retreat Center, focused on facilities and land management. One such retreat was held in 2024 for 10 unhoused or previously unhoused persons, supported by co-leaders, Retreat Center staff, and Volunteers. Penuel Ridge continued our collaboration in 2024 with the Living Room, a Nashville-based service organizing for the unhoused, focusing our resources on community outreach aboard public transportation and by providing meals to those in the most isolated homeless encampments. Penuel Ridge was also pleased to continue our partnership with the Nashville Rescue Mission, providing day retreat experiences for 15 women from the Life Recovery Program.
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
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 October 13, 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 December 2024.
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 November 1984.
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 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.