Terebinth Refuge
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
A CHRIST-CENTERED NONPROFIT SHELTER AND SAFE HOME THAT BRINGS HOPE, HEALING SERVICES, AND FREEDOM TO SEXUALLY EXPLOITED AND TRAFFICKED WOMEN. WE PROVIDE LONG-TERM HOLISTIC SERVICES WITH THE GOAL OF TRANSITIONING THE WOMEN FROM BONDAGE TO A LIFE OF HEALTH, STABILITY, AND INDEPENDENCE.
- Income
- $928,896
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- 1.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 94%
- Employees
- 27
- Volunteers
- 45
- Highest pay
- $58,053, executive director (end 11/18/25)
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
Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 17% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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
Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
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, 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 (4)
- $480,214 spent. SHELTER - TEREBINTH REFUGE SHELTER PROGRAM IS SEVERAL PHASES OF HOLISTIC HEALING IN FOUR AREAS: 1) BODY (PHYSICAL WELLNESS AND REGISTERED NURSE CARE), 2) MIND (MENTAL AND CHEMICAL WELLNESS, SUPPORT AND EDUCATIONAL GROUPS), 3) SOUL (SELF-DISCOVERY-EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT SKILLS, RECREATION/LEISURE) AND 4) SPIRIT (FAITH DISCOVERY). WOMEN IDENTIFY GOALS IN EACH AREA AND WORK WITHIN AN INDIVIDUAL CASE PLAN.SINCE WE OPENED OUR DOORS IN APRIL 2018, WE HAVE SUPPORTED 158 WOMEN AND 7 CHILDREN WHO RECEIVED EMERGENCY SHELTER AND SERVICES. OF THESE 158, THERE HAS BEEN A TOTAL OF 212 INTAKES REPRESENTING 54 MULTIPLE ENTRIES. WE HAVE HAD 17 WOMEN RECEIVE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING SERVICES AND HAVE RESPONDED TO 977 CRISIS CALLS.2025 HIGHLIGHTS- RECEIVED 84 CRISIS CALLS.- 15 WOMEN SERVED IN THE SHELTER.- 15 WOMEN DEVELOPED A SAFETY PLAN AND CASE PLAN.- 5 RESIDENTS RECEIVED LEGAL ADVOCACY SUPPORT SERVICES.
- $118,963 spent. HEALTH/WELLNESS - THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAM INCLUDES A REGISTERED NURSE, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, TRAUMA THERAPIES, SUPPORT GROUPS, INDEPENDENT LIFE SKILLS, RECREATION, AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES.2025 HIGHLIGHTS- 11 WOMEN PARTICIPATED IN HORSE THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMMING.- 15 WOMEN BENEFITED FROM THERAPEUTIC DOG INTERACTIONS.- 15 RESIDENTS ENGAGED IN LEARNING VARIOUS HOUSEHOLD INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS.- 15 RESIDENTS RECEIVED AN ASSESSMENT FROM OUR REGISTERED NURSE AND HAD ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.- 15 RESIDENTS RECEIVED EDUCATION ON HEALTH CONCERNS AND MEDICATION REGIMENS.- 15 RESIDENTS HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW IN THEIR FAITH AND SPIRITUAL LIVES.- 15 RECEIVED IN-HOUSE THERAPY AND PARTICIPATED IN THERAPEUTIC GROUPS.
- $107,858 spent. EMPLOYMENT READINESS - EMPLOYMENT READINESS TEACHES EMPLOYMENT SKILLS STARTING AT THE BASICS AND ADVANCING TO RESUME BUILDING AND MOCK INTERVIEWS. FROM THERE WOMEN WORK IN THE ORGANIZATION'S SOCIAL ENTERPRISE,THE HOPE & HEALING STORE, GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE SKILLS LEARNED AND STRENGTHEN THEIR RESUMES. 5 WOMEN COMPLETED THIS PROGRAM DURING 2025.
- $58,729 spent. TRANSITIONAL - THE TRANSITIONAL PROGRAM IS THE FOURTH PHASE OF PROGRAMMING. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE WOMEN TO LIVE IN A SEPARATE HOME WITH MORE INDEPENDENCE, BUT STILL WORK WITH SOME STAFF AND CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT. IN THIS HOME, WOMEN ARE EITHER WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY OR ATTENDING SCHOOL, SAVING, AND PLANNING FOR FULL INDEPENDENCE WHICH IS THEIR NEXT STEP. 5 WOMEN HAVE LEFT TEREBINTH REFUGE INTO STABLE HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT DURING 2025. DURING 2025, WE WITNESSED AN INCREASE IN LENGTH OF STAY AT TEREBINTH REFUGE AND HAD 4 WOMEN MOVE INTO THE TRANSITIONAL PROGRAM. PRIOR TO THIS, THERE HAD BEEN A "DRY" SPELL AT THE TRANSITION HOUSE, WITH NO OCCUPANTS BETWEEN 2022-2023 AND 1 IN 2024. THERE ARE WOMEN WHO CHOOSE TO GRADUATE FROM SHELTER AND MOVE INTO INDEPENDENCE WITHOUT TRANSITIONAL PROGRAMMING. TRANSITION GIVES THE WOMEN A CHANCE TO PRACTICE AND SAVE MONEY, INCREASING SUCCESS AND STABILITY. WE ATTRIBUTE SOME OF THIS YEAR'S SUCCESS TO OUR IN-HOUSE THERAPIST, WHO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE HER SKILLS AND TRAIN THE ADVOCATES IN WORKING WITH HIGHER LEVELS OF TRAUMA SUCH AS FAMILIAL TRAFFICKING. ALL THE SURVIVORS HAVE BENEFITED FROM THESE SKILLS LEARNED. WE TOOK IN FEWER WOMEN THIS YEAR DUE TO FINANCIAL CONCERNS AND LIMITED OUR NUMBER OF INTAKES IN THE FALL.AFTERCARE/OUTREACH:THE PURPOSE OF THE AFTERCARE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE COLLABORATIVE SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING TO PAST RESIDENTS OF THE ORGANIZATION AND ASSIST THEM TOWARD SUSTAINABLE INDEPENDENCE. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH MENTORSHIP, COACHING, ADVOCACY, AND EDUCATION. AFTERCARE SEEKS TO BUILD ON THE PAST RESIDENT'S STRENGTHS AND SKILLS TURNING SURVIVORS INTO SURVIVOR LEADERS. AFTERCARE IS A SURVIVOR LED PROGRAM AND IS ASSISTED BY THE ORGANIZATION'S STAFF AND CASE MANAGEMENT. 5 RESIDENTS RECEIVED AFTERCARE SERVICES UPON EXITING THE SHELTER PROGRAM. 16 REGULARLY PARTICIPATED IN AFTERCARE PROGRAMMING WITH AN AVERAGE STABILITY SCORE OF 7.73 OUT OF 9.0.THE OUTREACH PROGRAM IS TO CONNECT WITH ORGANIZATIONS, COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO OFFER EDUCATION AND RESOURCES FOR VICTIMS OF SEX TRAFFICKING AND OR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION, ALONG WITH INCREASING COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF THE ISSUE. PRESENTATIONS, CLASSES AND INTENTIONAL RELATIONSHIP BUILDING ARE SOME OF THE WAYS THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED.
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
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 November 6, 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 2025.
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 December 2016.
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 November 4, 2026.
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