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Passes our checks

City of Refuge Baltimore Inc

EIN 82-4416947 · Baltimore, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THROUGH SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FUELED BY INNOVATION AND A COLLECTIVE IMPACT APPROACH, CITY OF REFUGE BALTIMORE SEEKS TO LEAD INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ON A JOURNEY TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. WE DO THAT BY FOCUSING ON FIVE KEY IMPACT AREAS: 1 THE ESSENTIALS, 2 HOUSING, 3 ANI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING, 4 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND 5 YOUTH EMPOWERMENT.

Income
$3.9 million
Spending
$3.9 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
-2.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%
Employees
25
Volunteers
400
Highest pay
$78,727, executive dir.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 64% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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 June 30, 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)
  1. $3.5 million spent. ESSENTIALS - OUR ESSENTIALS PROGRAM CONSISTS OF A FOOD PANTRY, WHICH SERVES APPROXIMATELY 450 HOUSEHOLDS WEEKLY AND A SOUP KITCHEN WHICH SERVES APPROXIMATELY 1,000 PEOPLE WEEKLY. WE ALSO HAVE A REFUGE GARDEN VEGETABLES, WHICH DIRECTLY BENEFITS OUR FOOD PANTRY AND SOUP KITCHEN.
  2. $121,786 spent. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
  3. $50,852 spent. YOUTH - THE YOUTH PROGRAM SERVES 60-70 STUDENTS WEEKLY, MEETING 4-5 X A WEEK FOR YOUTH PROGRAMMING. WE ALSO ATTEND A YOUTH CONFERENCE WITH APPROXIMATELY 40 YOUTH ONCE A YEAR, FOR A TIME OF FUN AND ENRICHMENT.
  4. $47,769 spent. HOUSING - OUR HOUSING PROGRAM SERVES IN A VARIETY OF WAYS, SUCH AS: PROVIDING SUPPORTIVE HOUSING INCLUDING RENT/UTILITIES/REPAIRS FOR 37 INDIVIDUALS, PROVIDING HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR 8 INDIVIDUALS, AND PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR A HOMELESS DROP-IN CENTER WHICH SERVED APPROXIMATELY 25 PEOPLE WEEKLY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 2025.

    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 March 2019.

    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.