San Diego Rescue Mission Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE SAN DIEGO RESCUE MISSION, INC.'S (THE ORGANIZATION") MISSION IS TO LOVINGLY ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, BY SHARING THE GOOD NEWS OF SALVATION AND PROVIDING A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO REHABILITATION AND RECOVERY. THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES A DONATION PROCESSING CENTER S DEDICATED TO THE REHABILITATION OF MEN AND WOMEN IN THE WORK PLACE. THEY ARE TRAINED AT PRICING, SORTING, RECEIVING AND DISTRIBUTING DONATED MATERIALS.
- Income
- $27.9 million
- Spending
- $30.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- -6.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 93%
- Employees
- 222
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $235,262, president & ceo
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
Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 69% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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
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 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 (4)
- $13.9 million spent. MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN'S SEVICES:FOUR PROGRAMS WITHIN THE MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN SERVICES:MISSION ACADEMY: THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM IS A HOLISTIC YEAR LONG PROGRAM. IT SERVES SINGLE MEN, WOMEN AND SINGLE PARENTS. THOSE IN THE PROGRAM ARE REFERRED TO AS STUDENTS. IT IS STRUCTURED AROUND THREE SEMESTERS AND FIVE GOALS. SEMESTER ONE IS FOCUSED ON WELLNESS. SEMESTER TWO IS FOCUSED ON JOB TRAINING AND PLACEMENT AND SEMESTER THREE IS DESIGNED FOR THE STUDENT TO FIND HOUSING AND PREPARE TO TRANSITION TO A LIFE OF STABILITY. THE FIVE GOALS ARE TO ENCOUNTER GOD, EXPERIENCE RECOVERY, ENGAGE IN JOB TRAINING, ESTABLISH HOUSING AND ENLIST A SUPPORT NETWORK. UPON GRADUATION THEY ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN AN ALUMNI PROGRAM WHERE THEY ARE INVITED TO VOLUNTEER AND SERVE IN THE COMMUNITY.NUEVA VIDA HAVEN: NUEVA VIDA HAVEN PROVIDES EMERGENCY SHELTER SERVICES FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES. EACH NIGHT, UP TO 60 WOMEN AND CHILDREN USE NUEVA VIDA HAVEN FACILITY FOR A WARM, SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP, A PLACE TO SHOWER AND OBTAIN CLEAN CLOTHES AND A NUTRITIOUS BREAKFAST. RESIDENTS ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO THERAPISTS AND SOCIAL WORKERS TO HELP THEM TO DETERMINE THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION FOR LIFE IMPROVEMENT. THIS OFTEN INCLUDES ENTRY INTO THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION ACADEMY.THERAPY SERVICES: THERAPEUTIC SERVICES ARE OFFERED TO PEOPLE SERVED IN ALL THE MISSION'S PROGRAMS. TREATMENT IS PROVIDED BY LICENSED THERAPISTS, OR BY INTERNS AND TRAINEES UNDER THEIR SUPERVISION.CHILDREN'S RESOURCE CENTER: THE CHILDREN'S RESOURCE CENTER (CRC) PROVIDES ASSISTANCE IN CONNECTING FAMILIES TO EDUCATIONAL AND CHILDCARE SERVICES THAT THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR. THIS INCLUDES SCHOOL ENROLLMENT AND BENEFIT MANAGEMENT. IN ADDITION, THE CRC HELPS FAMILIES ACCESS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND PROVIDES TRAINING AND MENTORSHIP ON TOPICS OF PARENTING AND PLANNING.
- $3.2 million spent. PARTNERS FOR HUNGER RELIEF: PARTNERS FOR HUNGER RELIEF IS A PROGRAM OF SDRM WHICH WAS FORMED TO BOLSTER FOOD RECOVERY EFFORTS IN SAN DIEGO AND SERVE A BROAD BASE OF AGENCIES AND PEOPLE. SDRM HAS DEVELOPED A SUCCESSFUL SYSTEM OF LOCATING, RECOVERING, AND DISTRIBUTING DONATED FOOD. THIS FOOD IS NOT ONLY USED BY SDRM PROGRAM MEMBERS, BUT A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THIS FOOD IS SHARED AT NO COST WITH A NETWORK OF NONPROFIT FEEDING PROGRAMS AND FOOD PANTRIES THROUGHOUT SAN DIEGO COUNTY.
- $3.2 million spent. THE SOUTH COUNTY LIGHTHOUSE (SCL) PROVIDES EMERGENCY SHELTER SERVICES FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THE SAN DIEGO RESCUE MISSION FUNDS THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS THROUGH DONATIONS AND GRANTS. SCL IS DESIGNED TO SERVE SINGLE MEN, SINGLE WOMEN AND FAMILIES. THOSE BEING SERVED ARE REFERRED TO AS GUESTS. EACH NIGHT, UP TO 125 MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN USE THE FACILITY FOR A WARM, SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP, A PLACE TO SHOWER AND OBTAIN CLEAN CLOTHES AND A PLACE TO RECEIVE NUTRITIOUS MEALS. RESIDENTS ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO CASE MANAGERS TO HELP THEM DETERMINE THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION FOR LIFE IMPROVEMENT. THE SCL PARTNERS WITH OTHER AGENCIES AND GOVERNMENT ENTITIES SUCH AS THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR THE GUESTS. THIS INCLUDES ENTRY INTO THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION ACADEMY.
- $3.6 million spent. OCEANSIDE NAVIGATION CENTERTHE OCEANSIDE NAVIGATION CENTER (ONC) PROVIDES EMERGENCY SHELTER SERVICES FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF OCEANSIDE. THE SAN DIEGO RESCUE MISSION FUNDS THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS THROUGH DONATIONS AND GRANTS WHILE THE CITY OWNS THE BUILDING. ONC IS DESIGNED TO SERVE SINGLE MEN, SINGLE WOMEN AND FAMILIES. THOSE BEING SERVED ARE REFERRED TO AS GUESTS. EACH NIGHT, UP TO 50 MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN USE THE FACILITY FOR A WARM, SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP, A PLACE TO SHOWER AND OBTAIN CLEAN CLOTHES AND A PLACE TO RECEIVE NUTRITIOUS MEALS. RESIDENTS ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO CASE MANAGERS TO HELP THEM DETERMINE THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION FOR LIFE IMPROVEMENT. THE ONC PARTNERS WITH OTHER AGENCIES AND GOVERNMENT ENTITIES SUCH AS THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR THE GUESTS. THIS INCLUDES ENTRY INTO THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION ACADEMY. BREAD OF LIFE WAS RELOCATED AND RESTRUCTURED TO BE PART OF THE ONC.CHURCH PARTNERSHIP:THE CHURCH PARTNERSHIPS DEPARTMENT ENGAGES WITH HUNDREDS OF CHURCHES TO CARRY OUT A VISION TO UNITE THE LOCAL CHURCH AROUND HEALING OUR REGION FROM HOMELESSNESS. CHURCHES GIVE FINANCIALLY, HOLD DONATION DRIVES, LEAD CHAPEL SERVICES, AND VOLUNTEER BOTH ON AND OFF-SITE. THE CHURCH PARTNERSHIPS DEPARTMENT HAS GROWN SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2019 TO INCLUDE OVERSIGHT OF OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, CHAPEL SERVICES, CHAPLAINCY PROGRAM, HOLIDAY OUTREACH MEALS, WALK WITH ME OUTREACH INITIATIVE AND OUR NEW MOBILE SHOWER MINISTRY.OUTREACH SERVICESTHE OUTREACH DEPARTMENT OPERATES TWO SHOWER TRAILERS. ONE OPERATES IN NORTH COUNTY PRIMARILY IN OCEANSIDE. THE SECOND ONE OPERATES IN THE SOUTH BAY SERVING THE CITIES OF CHULA VISTA, NATIONAL CITY, SAN DIEGO AND IMPERIAL BEACH. THESE TRAILERS OFFER SHOWERS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH SERVICES. FOOD AND CLOTHING ARE ALSO PROVIDED. THE OUTREACH DEPARTMENTS ALSO PROVIDES STREET CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN THE NORTH COSTAL REGION AND THE LITTLE ITALY ASSOCIATION IN SAN DIEGO.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1957.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
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