Salem for Refugees Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO BRING PEOPLE & RESOURCES TOGETHER TO EMPOWER REFUGEES TO THRIVE.
- Income
- $6.4 million
- Spending
- $5.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 72%
- Employees
- 40
- Volunteers
- 400
- Highest pay
- $121,106, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 34% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 36% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 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
7 of 7Has a 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
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 September 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 (3)
- $2.5 million spent. RECEPTION, PLACEMENT & CULTURAL ORIENTATION, AND EXTENDED SERVICES THE US STATE DEPARTMENT REQUIRES ALL REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT AGENCIES TO COMPLETE A LIST OF SERVICES WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF ARRIVAL. SERVICES SUCH AS SECURING HOUSING, ENGLISH ENROLLMENT, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, ETC. CULTURAL ORIENTATION IS A SERIES OF INTERACTIVE CLASSES WHERE NEW FAMILIES CAN LEARN ABOUT IMPORTANT TOPICS SUCH AS US LAWS, FINANCES, LANGUAGE RESOURCES, MENTAL HEALTH, ETC. EXTENDED CASE MANAGEMENT IS A STATE FUNDED PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS RESETTLEMENT AGENCIES TO EXTEND THEIR SERVICES FOR UP TO 24 MONTHS. AT SFR WE PROVIDE LIMITED SERVICES FOR UP TO 5 YEARS. EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, AND AWARENESS WE TAKE OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVOCATE FOR THE CLIENTS WE SERVE AND HELP RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT ISSUES AFFECTING REFUGEES.
- $1.5 million spent. DIRECT ASSISTANCE SALEM FOR REFUGEES PROVIDES DIRECT FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO FAMILIES RESETTLED IN SALEM. THIS FUND COVERS EXPENSES SUCH AS RENT AND UTILITIES AS NEEDED. SALEM FOR REFUGEES ALSO COORDINATES DONATIONS OF FURNITURE AND HOME GOODS TO SETUP HOMES FOR NEWLY ARRIVING FAMILIES.
- RESIDENT SUPPORT SERVICES. SALEM FOR REFUGEE PROVIDES SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO REFUGEES RESIDING AT A 90 UNIT APARTMENT COMMUNITY IN NORTHEAST SALEM, WHICH THE ORGANIZATION ACQUIRED IN FEBRUARY 2025 AND PLACED IN OPERATION IN APRIL 2025 THROUGH A RELATED ENTITY. UNDER AN ANNUAL SERVICES AGREEMENT, SALEM DELIVERS CASE MANAGEMENT, RESETTLEMENT AND ACCLIMATION ASSISTANCE, ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND JOB READINESS SUPPORT, AND REFERRALS TO HEALTH, LEGAL, AND SOCIAL SERVICE RESOURCES TO HELP NEWLY ARRIVED REFUGEES ACHIEVE STABILITY AND SELF SUFFICIENCY. SINCE OPERATIONS BEGAN IN APRIL 2025, SALEM HAS SERVED APPROXIMATELY 140 RESIDENTS ACROSS 55 HOUSEHOLDS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 September 2021.
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.