Tucson Refugee Ministry

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
263176515
IRS 990 coverage
2021–2025
Forms available
Form 990 2025, Form 990-EZ 2020
Location
Tucson, AZ, USA
Phone
5203609195
Rating
71
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Ethnic, Immigrant Centers
Affiliation
Christianity

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$561,355
Expenses
$607,363
Assets
$377,351
Liabilities
$1,391

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

Leadership & pay

7 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • LINDA GOODE (PRESIDENT)

Highest reported compensation

  • JEFFREY SIMONS (EXECUTIVE DI): $65,935 total reported compensation

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

Overview

Mission

Primary exempt purpose: tucson refugee ministry educates, equips, and mobilizes the church to serve refugees in our community and beyond.

What it reported doing in 2025

Program service accomplishments: during 2025, tucson refugee ministry (trm) provided comprehensive support services to refugees and immigrant families resettling in southern Arizona. Trm served approximately 1,400 individuals representing more than 18 countries and 30 language groups through employment assistance, youth programs, family support services, english language development, and community integration activities. Trms arrive & thrive employment program assisted 702 clients and achieved 103 job placements, earning recognition from the state of Arizona for having the highest employment placement percentage among refugee-serving agencies in the state. The organization also launched an english language program connecting refugees with volunteer tutors to improve language skills and increase independence in daily life and employment opportunities. Youth programming provided safe and supportive environments for refugee children and teens, serving approximately 100 children and 50 teens through kids club activities, educational field trips, mentorship opportunities, and recreational programming. Trm also engaged approximately 80 volunteers and 20 adult mentors to support refugee youth and families. Family support services provided monthly food and diaper assistance to approximately 60 families, supported 50 women through workshops and artisan programs, celebrated 20 new mothers through baby shower and newborn support initiatives, and hosted community events serving over 300 refugees and volunteers. In addition, trms building bridges community center served as a gathering place for educational programs, english classes, and community-building activities for refugees and volunteers throughout the year.

Operating model

Revenue model
Earned-program. 64% of the money available for current operations came from fees and other program revenue.
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.

The verdict

SUPPORTED - The filed numbers largely add up and most voting board members are independent. Some filing-based governance responses are negative or unanswered and expenses are high relative to revenue.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 58
  • Transparency & Controls: 92
  • Accountability: 69
  • Sustainability: 28
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 67.5%; rating input score 68
  • Program expense ratio: 62.3%; rating input score 62
  • Fundraising efficiency: Limited

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: Limited
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 2 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 25
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Fail
    • Document-retention policy: Fail
    • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Missing
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: -8.2%; rating input score 15; 15th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.62; rating input score 30; 30th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 67; 67th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 10.9%; rating input score 35; 35th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 28.6% per year; rating input score 100; 87th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 18.7% per year; rating input score 100; 81st percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 21.6% per year; rating input score 100; 81st percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 67.5% of revenue deployed · 62.3% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 6 of 6 board members independent · 2 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $378K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $66K · 7 people listed
  • Consistency: 27 of 27 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 4 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Filing history: 5 filing years from 2021 to 2025
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 2 filed money-flow records
  • 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.

  • High — Accountability: Governance controls: 5 of 7 not reported.
  • High — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 15/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 30/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 35/100.