Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Gathering Place

EIN 80-0674914 · Brunswick, ME

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EACH YEAR, THE GATHERING PLACE (TGP) WORKS TO CREATE A CARING COMMUNITY FOR GREATER BRUNSWICK BY COLLABORATING WITH OUR GUESTS, VOLUNTEERS, STAFF, AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. TOGETHER, WE PROVIDE DAYTIME SHELTER, NOURISHMENT, ACCESS TO CRITICAL RESOURCES, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES. THE NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY REMAIN URGENT. THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONTINUES TO BE DEVASTATING, AND UNRELENTING INFLATION HAS PLACED EVEN GREATER STRAIN ON THOSE ALREADY STRUGGLING. DESPITE THESE CHALLENGES, TGP ACHIEVED SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN 2024, EXPANDING SERVICES AND DEEPENING OUR IMPACT FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, POVERTY, AND ISOLATION.

Income
$268,927
Spending
$354,352
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
11 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 70%
Employees
7
Volunteers
54
Highest pay
$67,958, executive di

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: 63 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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 74% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $183,026 spent. GUEST ENGAGEMENT & SUPPORT SERVICES SERVED AN AVERAGE OF 71 GUESTS PER DAY, REACHING 504 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS. ASSISTED 180 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH THE SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM. OF THOSE RECEIVING HOUSING VOUCHERS, 85% SECURED STABLE HOMES. ENGAGED A TEAM OF 52 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS WHO SUPPORTED DAILY OPERATIONS AND PROGRAMMING.
  2. $7,759 spent. EXPANDED FOOD RESOURCES RESPONDED TO THE LOSS OF LUNCH SERVICE AT MCHPP BY EXPANDING FOOD OFFERINGS. RESULTED IN A 5% INCREASE IN USAGE OF OUR FOOD PROGRAM ON MONDAYS AND THURSDAYS.
  3. $93,538 spent. SEASONAL SUPPLIES DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTED: 10 TENTS 250 SURVIVAL PACKAGES 72 SLEEPING BAGS 112 BLANKETS 235 PAIRS OF GLOVES 53 JACKETS 6 PAIRS OF BOOTS 545 PAIRS OF SOCKS 265 GIFT CARDS THESE SUPPLIES PROVIDED CRITICAL SUPPORT DURING EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS. SEASONAL SUPPLIES DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTED: 10 TENTS 250 SURVIVAL PACKAGES 72 SLEEPING BAGS 112 BLANKETS 235 PAIRS OF GLOVES 53 JACKETS 6 PAIRS OF BOOTS 545 PAIRS OF SOCKS 265 GIFT CARDS THESE SUPPLIES PROVIDED CRITICAL SUPPORT DURING EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS.
  4. SERVICE DELIVERY PROGRAM EXPANDED ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY RESOURCES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH: THROUGH THESE DOORS TEDFORD HOUSING SWEETSER THESE COLLABORATIONS STRENGTHENED LOW-BARRIER ACCESS TO HOUSING NAVIGATION, MENTAL HEALTH CARE, AND SAFETY SERVICES. IN 2024, THE TEMPORARY WARMING CENTER WELCOMED 131 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS SEEKING SAFETY AND SHELTER.
  5. SERVICE DELIVERY PROGRAM EXPANDED ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY RESOURCES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH: THROUGH THESE DOORS TEDFORD HOUSING SWEETSER THESE COLLABORATIONS STRENGTHENED LOW-BARRIER ACCESS TO HOUSING NAVIGATION, MENTAL HEALTH CARE, AND SAFETY SERVICES. IN 2024, THE TEMPORARY WARMING CENTER WELCOMED 131 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS SEEKING SAFETY AND SHELTER.

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 February 2014.

    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.