City of Refuge Baltimore Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
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 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 64% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 32% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% 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 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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)
- $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.
- $121,786 spent. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
- $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.
- $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
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 October 13, 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 June 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 March 2019.
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 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.