Allentown Rescue Mission announced it has achieved the coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s leading charity evaluator. The Allentown Rescue Mission is a local ministry to homeless men, providing emergency shelter, drug and alcohol treatment, life skills/transitional living and permanent housing.The Mission received this highest rating for efficiently managing and growing its finances. Approximately a quarter of the charities evaluated will receive this rating. According to a letter from Ken Berger, Charity Navigator’s President and Chief Executive Officer, the rating indicates that the “Allentown Rescue Mission executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way, and outperforms most other charities in America. This ‘exceptional’ designation…differentiates Allentown Rescue Mission from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.”
According to Gary Millspaugh, the Mission’s Executive Director, “The news is unexpected, but not a surprise. We have been working very hard for years to improve our programs and keep fund raising costs under control. Our funding comes mainly from private sources, and our typical donor is an individual who gives an average of about $45.00. The work we do for our homeless clients is, I believe, remarkable. In addition to shelter, we have excellent programs, paying jobs and workforce training and low cost housing to assure that a man can return to the community. Supporting all of these is a ministry that builds faith and a relationship to God and church.”
Millspaugh said that the rating comes at a crucial time. “The Mission’s emergency shelter saw a spike in its usage in early August, with 35 men using the services on a given night. That usage is more typical of November through February. More men are citing job loss and prolonged unemployment as the main factors contributing to their homelessness, now, more than in previous years.”
“It has us bracing for the coming months, and very concerned,” Millspaugh said. “Although homelessness is not a ‘cold weather problem’ we’re expecting usage to continue to increase through fall and winter. It was exciting to get this vote of confidence from Charity Navigator, because we work hard to make the most of what we are given from the public.” Millspaugh added that the charity receives 91% of its funding from private sources.
The Mission’s programs consist of the Gateway Center (emergency shelter) the Life Recovery Treatment Program (a state-licensed residential drug and alcohol treatment program), the Christian Living and Values Program (life skills and transitional living), the Clean Team (workforce development/jobs program) and Housing. Last year, the Mission spent more than $2,106,800 on programs, jobs and housing for homeless men.
Charity Navigator evaluates charities of financial health and organizational efficiency and capacity. Basing their evaluations on financial information provided in IRS Forms 990, they analyze each charity’s performance in program expenses, administrative expenses, fundraising expenses, fundraising efficiency, primary revenue growth and program expenses growth, and working capital ratio.
