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Ministry on the Margins

EIN 81-3452507 · Bismarck, ND

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To foster charitable works in accord with the objectives and teachings of the Catholic Church and the Benedictine Order.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
7.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
26
Volunteers
2,023
Highest pay
$87,382, director of operations

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: 88 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 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 (1)
  1. $1.3 million spent. Ministry on the Margins began operations in 2016 to foster charitable works in accord with the objectives and teachings of the Catholic Church and the Benedictine Order. Ministry on the Margins is a volunteer-based ecumenical ministry committed to supporting those who fall through the cracks during times of transition, especially those reentering from prison to society or experiencing homelessness. Our charitable works performed for 2024 include the following:Food Pantry:We offer a food pantry which distributes basic food and household items to those in need. In 2024, we served 260,330 pounds of food to 29,504 individuals stemming from 11,456 households. We are able to do this through the 2,023 volunteers that helped serve our clients. We take a person-centered approach to all of our programs, meeting the individuals where they are and connecting them to additional services offered by the ministry and other organizations.Coffee House: We operate an overnight coffee house from 10pm to 6am in the summer and 10pm to 8am in the winter. Clients are able to come into a warm and safe environment for rest, food, and community. The Coffee House is low barrier and serves many who do not have other options. In 2024, we provided a total census of 22,614 shelter with an average nightly census of 63. We take a person-centered approach to all of our programs, meeting the individuals where they are and connecting them to additional services offered by the ministry and other organizations.Prison Reentry:We serve individuals navigating the transition from prison to society. In 2024 we served 95 unique individuals assisting them in securing housing, employment, and additional services to support their success. We take a person-centered approach to all of our programs, meeting the individuals where they are and connecting them to additional services offered by the ministry and other organizations.Open Hours:We offer open hours onsite twice a week. This time provides a time of connection where individuals are met where they are and connected to services customized to their unique needs whether provided by the ministry or other organizations. This includes providing birth certificates and other vital records, identification cards or driver's licenses, mail pick up, hygiene items, accessing totes, or assistance with housing and other applications. Additionally, outside of these services we offer free haircuts, ice cream social, vaccination clinics, STI testing, free eye clinics, acupuncture, hand & foot care, and positive table talk.

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 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 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 August 2017.

    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.