Ritter Center

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
942675517
IRS 990 coverage
2010–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Location
San Rafael, CA, USA
Phone
4154578182
Rating
80
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Emergency Assistance

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$13,160,539
Expenses
$10,621,480
Assets
$16,452,917
Liabilities
$5,792,792

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

22 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • MICHAEL RALSTON (PRESIDENT)
  • MARK SHOTWELL (CEO)

Highest reported compensation

  • MARK SHOTWELL (CEO): $209,582 total reported compensation
  • KIM BAENISCHM (CHIEF OF STAFF): $185,155 total reported compensation
  • FRANCISCO SIGUENZA (PSYCH MH NP): $170,587 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

Ritter center's mission is to reduce the negative impacts of homelessness and poverty by providing comprehensive health and social support services to individuals, families, and the greater community of marin county, California.

What it reported doing in 2024

Food pantrythe center maintains the largest food pantry in marin county. Over the last few years, the center has distributed an average of more than 20,000 bags of groceries to over 3,000 households per year. The pantry serves both housed and homeless clients with nutritious supplementary food items on a weekly basis. The majority of the pantry's food is delivered by the san francisco/marin food bank with smaller contributions from stores and individuals in the community. Improved reporting processes (validated by sf/marin food bank and usda compliance). Increased volunteer participation and food donations from multiple organizations. Our leadership in numerous community events throughout the year. During the year, the organization served 1,799 patients and provided 12,853 visits. Day service centerthe day service center is a clean, safe and nurturing environment primarily for use by persons who are homeless. The center provides emergency medically necessary showers, hygiene supplies, laundry facilities, and restrooms. Our reporting is now solid, and we've built strong partnerships that enhance both service delivery and compliance. The upward trend in unique clients demonstrates that we're reaching more households, not just increasing repeat visits. During the year, the organization served 207 patients and provided services to 678 people.clothingsince its inception in 1980, the center has been supporting those experiencing poverty and homelessness by distributing clothes. The center maintains a stock of emergency clothing items and survival gear on site for their homeless clients including rain gears, sleeping bags, and warm socks.

Operating model

Revenue model
Mixed. Its operating money came from several sources; no one source provided a clear majority.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised and total assets are small relative to annual expenses; liquid coverage is unknown.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 70
  • Transparency & Controls: 79
  • Accountability: 100
  • Sustainability: 60
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 67.2%; rating input score 67
  • Program expense ratio: 83.1%; rating input score 83
  • Fundraising efficiency: $14.15 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 48; 48th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
    • Compensation committee: Missing
    • Independent consultant: Missing
    • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
    • Written employment contract: Pass
    • Compensation survey or study: Pass
    • Board or committee approval: Pass
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: Limited
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 19.3%; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.55; rating input score 52; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.35; rating input score 41; 41st percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 12%; rating input score 14; 14th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 9.9% per year; rating input score 100; 70th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 11% per year; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 17.6% per year; rating input score 100; 86th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 67.2% of revenue deployed · 83.1% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 13 of 13 board members independent · 9 of 9 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 4 filed program accomplishments · $8.8M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $210K · 22 people listed · 3 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
  • Highest-paid contractors: 5 contractors listed · $1.2M reported
  • Consistency: 34 of 34 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 6 filed schedules · includes major donors and executive pay
  • Filing history: 14 filing years from 2010 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 8 filed money-flow records
  • Related organizations: Filed and resolved organization relationships.
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

Grant-readiness screening is separate from the live rating, not a measure of program quality. Review the source records before making a grant decision.

  • Moderate — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 48/100.
  • Review — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 52/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 14/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 41/100.
  • High — Grant Readiness: Federal audit findings: this organization reported findings in its latest federal Single Audit.