Beyond the Sanctuary
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
BTS IS A COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATION ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE ROCHESTER COMMUNITY. WE SERVE HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS EVERY MONTH THROUGH OUR VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, INCLUDING FOOD PANTRY, CLOTHING CLOSET, RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, JOB READINESS SUCCESS PROGRAM, OUR CLIENT MANAGEMENT TEAM, AND SOCIAL WORKERS. BY OPERATING OUT OF THE HISTORIC MEMEORIAL A.M.E. ZION CHURCH, BTS IS CENTRALLY LOCATED, WHICH HELPS US PROVIDE AID TO A WIDE-RANGE OF ROCHESTER RESIDENTS.
- Income
- $699,971
- Spending
- $896,152
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- -1.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 77%
- Employees
- 14
- Volunteers
- 80
- Highest pay
- $22,200, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2023, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 30 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 214% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 28% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 50% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2023, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 12 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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, 2023, 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 (3)
- $277,764 spent. EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER PROGRAM PROVIDES RENTAL AND FOOD ASSISTANCE. RENTAL ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED TO 23 CLIENTS AND FOOD TO OVER 1,000.
- $177,858 spent. NEIGHBORHOOD COLLABORATIVE PROJECT IS AN EFFORT TO COLLABORATE ACROSS NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY CENTERS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS TO STREGTHEN THE COMMUNITY WITHIN. SERVICES INCLUDE RENTAL ASSISTANCE, UTILITIES, INSURANCE, FOOD AND CLOTHING. OVER 100 CLIENTS SERVED.
- $162,244 spent. JOB READINESS SUCCESS PROGRAM ENSURES PARTICPANTS GET A JOB AND KEEP THE JOB LONG-TERM, ENABLING THEM TO BECOME THRIVING, SELF-SUFFICIENT, WORKING ADULTS. TARGET POPULATION IS UNEMPLYED, UNDEREMPLOYED, HARD TO EMPLOY, PRIMARILY AFRICAN AMERICAN AND OTHER DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE BUSINESSCOMMUNITY, UNIQUE WERAP AROUND SUPPORT SERVICES, STIPENDS, SOCIAL SERVIVCE REFERRALS AND CAREER/SKILLS TRAINING. SERVED 16 INDIVIDUALS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2023, 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 December 2023.
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 June 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.