Serenity Inns Inc

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
412034019
IRS 990 coverage
2013–2025
Forms available
Form 990 2025, Form 990-EZ 2011
Location
Milwaukee, WI, USA
Phone
4148735474
Rating
82
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Residential Care & Adult Day Programs

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$2,487,453
Expenses
$2,149,302
Assets
$4,693,862
Liabilities
$2,244,339

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2025. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

14 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • KENNETH GINLACK (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR)

Highest reported compensation

  • KENNETH GINLACK (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR): $158,379 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2025. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

To provide quality housing and supportive health, educational and vocational services for those moving from addiction and homelessness to continued recovery and independent living.

What it reported doing in 2025

Serenity inns provides a holistic continuum of care for men seeking recovery from substance use disorder. Our program includes: drop-in clinic: (beginning in february of 2025) providing accessible care for all, regardless of insurance status. Our drop-in services offer a welcoming and flexible entry point for individuals facing significant barriers to traditional treatment programs. In a supportive and non-judgmental environment, we provide essential resources and build genuine connections, fostering trust and engagement.residential treatment: a supportive environment where men begin their journey to recovery, addressing diverse health needs. Our residential treatment program is designed to provide a comprehensive and structured environment for men beginning their recovery journey. Rooted in evidence-based practices, our program is guided by a dedicated team of professionals who are committed to supporting each individual's path to lasting sobriety. The program includes services provided through a medical director, clinical director and counselors. Group and individual therapy sessions are part of the program providing both peer and personalized guidance.transitional living: offering continued structure and guidance as men progress towards independent living. Serenity inns' transitional living program offers a supportive bridge between residential treatment and independent living, providing structure and guidance as men continue their recovery journey. This phase of our continuum of care is designed to help residents build on their progress while fostering independence and responsibility.alumni house: ensuring ongoing support and connection for program graduates. The buehler alumni house at serenity inns provides a vital lifeline for our program graduates. This facility offers safe, clean, and affordable sober apartments, enabling individuals to continue their journey to recovery beyond the residential program. With the option to stay for up to 12 months, the alumni house creates a supportive community that fosters lasting connections and empowers graduates to maintain their newfound sobriety while successfully reintegrating into society. This environment encourages personal growth, responsibility, and continued engagement in recovery activities.

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 99% 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 - The filed numbers largely add up and a large share of available resources goes toward mission work. Fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised and some filing-based governance responses are negative or unanswered.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 69
  • Transparency & Controls: 94
  • Accountability: 90
  • Sustainability: 54
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 67.6%; rating input score 68
  • Program expense ratio: 78.2%; rating input score 78
  • Fundraising efficiency: $12.98 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 45; 45th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 75th percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 6 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 75
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Fail
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 13.6%; rating input score 63; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.18; rating input score 60; 60th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.48; rating input score 17; 17th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 7.4%; rating input score 43; 43rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 16.8% per year; rating input score 100; 79th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 16.6% per year; rating input score 100; 82nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 20% per year; rating input score 100; 84th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 67.6% of revenue deployed · 78.2% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 13 of 13 board members independent · 6 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $1.7M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $158K · 14 people listed
  • Consistency: 38 of 38 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 9 filed schedules · includes major donors and grants
  • Filing history: 13 filing years from 2013 to 2025
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 5 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.

  • Moderate — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 45/100.
  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: 2 of 8 not reported.
  • High — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 17/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 43/100.