Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Meryls Safe Haven Inc

EIN 92-1498053 · Worcester, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceFair68 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

MERYL'S SAFE HAVEN, INC. (MSH) IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PROVIDING AND CONNECTING FAMILIES AND YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE AGED OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM WITH SHELTER AND RESOURCES IN OUR COMMUNITY AND BEYOND. WE FOCUS ON THE WHOLE PERSON FOR HOLISTIC SUPPORT TO ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING ISSUES. MSH AIMS TO BE AN IMPETUS FOR CHANGE THAT RECOGNIZES HUMANITY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY. THROUGH SUPPORT IN PROVIDING FINANCIAL BUDGETING AND MANAGEMENT, IDENTIFYING CHILDCARE AND MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES, EDUCATION, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, WHILE MEETING THE BASIC NEEDS OF FOOD, SAFETY, AND SHELTER. OUR MISSION IS TO LEVEL THE FIELD OF OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE WHO ENTER OUR DOORS.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
3.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 55%
Employees
21
Volunteers
4
Highest pay
$110,423, president & ceo

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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 71% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 68 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (3)
  1. $517,937 spent. ON JANUARY 26, 2024, MERYL'S SAFE HAVEN OPENED ITS DOORS TO FAMILIES IN CRISIS THROUGH THE SAFETY NET SHELTER PROGRAM, PROVIDING EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATIONS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING UNITED WAY OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY, SEVEN HILLS FOUNDATION, UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS, AND CATHOLIC CHARITIES WORCESTER COUNTY. THIS RAPID RESPONSE PARTNERSHIP DEMONSTRATED MSH'S CAPACITY TO ADDRESS URGENT, UNMET NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY. FROM JANUARY 26, 2024, TO MAY 23, 2025, THIS INITIATIVE SUPPORTED 137 PEOPLE, INCLUDING 34 FAMILIES; 28 CHILDREN AGE FIVE AND UNDER; 47 CHILDREN AGES 6-18; AND 62 ADULTS AS HEADS OF HOUSEHOLD. AFTER STAYING WITH SAFETY NET, 24 FAMILIES TRANSITIONED TO OTHER EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE (EA) SHELTER PLACEMENTS; NINE EXITED TO NON-EA PLACEMENTS; AND ONE TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER SAFETY NET FACILITY. THE PROGRAM WAS HONORED BY WORCESTER CITY COUNCIL DURING NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK.
  2. $451,429 spent. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND LIVABLE COMMUNITIES, MSH PROVIDES EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILIES IN CRISIS. THIS PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE BY REFERRAL ONLY THROUGH THE STATE'S EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE SYSTEM. OUR CONGREGATE AND SCATTERED SITE LOCATIONS OPENED ON APRIL 9, 2024. SINCE LAUNCH, MERYL'S SAFE HAVEN HAS SUPPORTED 82 INDIVIDUALS: 26 CHILDREN AGES FIVE AND UNDER, 20 CHILDREN AGES 6-18, TWO YOUTH AGES 19-21, AND 34 ADULTS. DURING THE EARLY MONTHS OF THIS PROGRAM, MSH HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOST THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS WHO VOLUNTEERED THEIR TIME IN OUR PLAY SPACE ASSEMBLING PLAY STRUCTURES, COLORING WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, AND BAKING COOKIES. OUTCOMES FOR THIS PROGRAM, TO-DATE, INCLUDE 11 FAMILIES EXITING INTO PERMANENT HOUSING.
  3. $55,922 spent. ON OCTOBER 31, 2024, MSH HOSTED A RIBBON CUTTING FOR OUR TYEP PROGRAM. JANUARY 2025, MSH BEGAN INTEGRATING MENTORING, EMERGENCY HOUSING, AND TRANSITIONAL SUPPORT FOR YOUTH AGES 18-24 TRANSITIONING OUT OF FOSTER CARE IN SEARCH OF SHELTER AND RESOURCES.

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 2025.

    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 January 2023.

    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.