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Ithaca Welcomes Refugees Inc

EIN 82-1987282 · Ithaca, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceFair52 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Ithaca Welcomes Refugees is a volunteer-led community initiative that fosters a welcoming and fair environment for refugees and immigrants who come to our region. Our hope is that these efforts will continue the development of Ithaca as a welcoming host community in times of great global need.

Income
$349,328
Spending
$258,425
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
9.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 76%
Employees
11
Highest pay
$47,180, 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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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: 52 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $96,698 spent. GLOBAL ROOTS PLAY SCHOOL - IWRs Global Roots Play School was established to allow parents of children aged 18 month to 5 years to attend English as a Second Language ESL classes. This part-time school is a play-based, trauma-informed early childcare environment which primarily serves refugee and immigrant families. It is staffed by a part-time program director and part-time teachers. In 2024, 22 children were enrolled, allowing 41 caregivers to pursue their goals during school hours, most commonly by attending ESL classes. Children develop trusting relationships with adults outside the home, self-confidence, peer relationships, and kindergarten readiness.
  2. $67,853 spent. RESPONSE PROJECTS - Response Projects are teams of 1-4 IWR volunteers assigned to each family or individual with whom IWR works. Each Response Team works with new arrivals towards self-expressed resettlement goals for a period ranging most commonly from 6 months to 2 years and represents the bulk of IWRs work. In 2024, Response Team volunteers supported 95 people. While volunteers are unpaid, through this program IWR provides newcomers with welcome cash assistance when they first arrive 9,000 in 2024, housing aid 29,524.21 in 2024, and miscellaneous financial support, most commonly used for driving lessons 7,144.20 in 2024.
  3. $8,082 spent. IWR established a crisis fund in 2023 to respond to the loss of a father of a family of 6 who had arrived in the US mere weeks earlier. The father was meant to be the familys sole income earner. All four children were still in grade school in 2024. We continued to use the fund to cover some of the familys basic living expenses utilities, medical expenses, costs of paying for a pro bono lawyers fees related to court documents in the suit against the driver involved in the fathers accident in 2024 and the fund is available to help others in our service population during times of crisis.
  4. Program Service Expenses 7,832, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 0 WELCOME HOME - Volunteers of IWR help gather supplies and furniture to set up apartments and living spaces for refugees when they first arrive.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2018.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.