Buffalo City Mission 
The information on this page was last updated 6/25/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
The Buffalo City Mission exists to restore hope and dignity to the hurting and homeless through the transforming grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. The vision of the Buffalo City Mission is to reduce homelessness for men, women, and moms with children in Western New York through the provision of emergency shelter, food, transitional housing, education, medical and behavioral health care and linkages to other supportive services, and in this process transform souls for Jesus Christ.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Buffalo City Mission
100 East Tupper St
Buffalo, NY 14203
Website: buffalocitymission.org
Phone: (716) 854-8181
Email: buffalocitymission.org/contact-us/
Organization details
EIN: 160743965
CEO/President: Mark Jentsch
Chairman: Dr. Grace Huff
Board size: 9
Founder: Billy Sunday, Rev. and Mrs. Edward Clark
Ruling year: 1947
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 09/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1988
Purpose
The vision of the Buffalo City Mission is to reduce homelessness for men, women, children and families in Western New York through the provision of emergency shelter, food, transitional housing, education, and linkages to other supportive services, and in this process transform souls for Jesus Christ.
Our purpose is to proclaim and demonstrate the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ, caring for the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of men, women and children in need of hope.
Mission statement
The Buffalo City Mission exists to restore hope and dignity to the hurting and homeless through the transforming grace and mercy of Jesus Christ.
Statement of faith
Buffalo City Mission is a non-denominational Christian organization. We are committed to the following essential truths of biblical Christianity.
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God and therefore our only authority.
We believe in the Trinity of the Godhead.
We believe in the creation of man by the direct act of God.
We believe in the fall of man and his need for redemption.
We believe in the Deity, incarnation and virgin birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
We believe in Christ's vicarious atonement for the sins of mankind by the shedding of His blood on the cross.
We believe in Christ's bodily resurrection from the tomb and His Ascension into Heaven.
We believe in Jesus Christ's personal, imminent return.
We believe in the Personality and Deity of the Holy Spirit.
We believe in the justification of the believer by grace through faith.
We believe in a literal Satan who is our adversary.
We believe in a literal Heaven for the redeemed and a literal hell for the lost.
(Adopted in 1917, from the Statement of Christian Faith by the founding committee and used by the Board of Directors as the foundation for work.)
Donor confidence score
Show donor confidence score details
To understand our donor confidence score, click here.
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 1428 of 1435 | 162 of 162 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 1319 of 1435 | 156 of 162 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 1358 of 1435 | 159 of 162 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 1407 of 1436 | 161 of 162 |
According to the organization's Form 990, it received $219,776 in government grants in 2024.
To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 10% | 26% | 30% | 24% | 18% | 23% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 8% | 22% | 26% | 13% | 17% | 23% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 93% | 85% | 87% | 55% | 94% | 98% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 9% | 21% | 21% | 19% | 19% | 24% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 7% | 15% | 13% | 45% | 6% | 2% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 81% | 65% | 67% | 68% | 69% | 69% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 97% | 107% | 123% | 68% | 87% | 95% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 79% | 69% | 82% | 47% | 60% | 65% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 3% | -7% | -23% | 32% | 13% | 5% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | -3% | -11% | 24% | 10% | 3% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 9% | 14% | 12% | 13% | 12% | 8% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.56 | 0.37 | 0.41 | 0.37 | 0.41 | 0.40 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 3.05 | 26.33 | 15.44 | 9.63 | 4.81 | 3.79 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.08 | 9.83 | 6.28 | 3.59 | 1.97 | 1.51 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 10.26 | 1.98 | 2.26 | 10.46 | 21.11 | 7.68 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.09 | 0.51 | 0.44 | 0.10 | 0.05 | 0.13 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.14 | 0.60 | 1.07 | 3.02 | 5.79 | 6.91 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 9% | 28% | 31% | 28% | 36% | 44% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 26% | 27% | 27% | 34% | 39% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 145% | 193% | 169% | 192% | 155% | 142% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Cash | $241,739 | $1,154,237 | $1,836,090 | $2,299,152 | $2,802,933 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $704,009 | $602,445 | $885,909 | $2,026,533 | $3,046,180 |
| Short-term investments | $85,514 | $56,163 | $326,271 | $933,417 | $717,858 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $1,031,262 | $1,812,845 | $3,048,270 | $5,259,102 | $6,566,971 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $17,441,151 | $18,910,800 | $19,354,049 | $19,952,642 | $17,693,942 |
| Other long-term assets | $8,682,043 | $7,258,844 | $6,955,244 | $84,073 | $635,993 |
| Total long-term assets | $26,123,194 | $26,169,644 | $26,309,293 | $20,036,715 | $18,329,935 |
| Total assets | $27,154,456 | $27,982,489 | $29,357,563 | $25,295,817 | $24,896,906 |
| Liabilities | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $520,929 | $800,820 | $291,331 | $249,164 | $855,014 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $520,929 | $800,820 | $291,331 | $249,164 | $855,014 |
| Debt | $6,964,107 | $7,675,410 | $7,972,587 | $8,580,347 | $9,613,607 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $133,879 | $304,077 | $84,432 | $353,741 | $380,311 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $7,097,986 | $7,979,487 | $8,057,019 | $8,934,088 | $9,993,918 |
| Total liabilities | $7,618,915 | $8,780,307 | $8,348,350 | $9,183,252 | $10,848,932 |
| Net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Without donor restrictions | $11,782,136 | $12,340,956 | $14,292,307 | $15,178,266 | $4,550,011 |
| With donor restrictions | $7,753,405 | $6,861,226 | $6,716,906 | $934,299 | $9,497,963 |
| Net assets | $19,535,541 | $19,202,182 | $21,009,213 | $16,112,565 | $14,047,974 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Total contributions | $8,062,700 | $8,046,199 | $8,786,678 | $11,254,383 | $10,207,313 |
| Program service revenue | $1,178,786 | $1,148,536 | $897,755 | $702,590 | $401,898 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $14,624 | $82,868 | $5,329 | $18,028 | ($215,731) |
| Other revenue | $237,152 | $0 | $6,290,611 | $0 | $10,727 |
| Total other revenue | $1,430,562 | $1,231,404 | $7,193,695 | $720,618 | $196,894 |
| Total revenue | $9,493,262 | $9,277,603 | $15,980,373 | $11,975,001 | $10,404,207 |
| Expenses | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Program services | $6,591,394 | $7,586,294 | $7,464,319 | $7,137,267 | $6,811,542 |
| Management and general | $1,419,527 | $1,366,437 | $1,387,178 | $1,243,021 | $760,144 |
| Fundraising | $2,123,294 | $2,431,862 | $2,090,727 | $2,000,440 | $2,348,525 |
| Total expenses | $10,134,215 | $11,384,593 | $10,942,224 | $10,380,728 | $9,920,211 |
| Change in net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($640,953) | ($2,106,990) | $5,038,149 | $1,594,273 | $483,996 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($640,953) | ($2,106,990) | $5,038,149 | $1,594,273 | $483,996 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Aubrey Calhoun | Executive Director/Ceo (term 4/22/25) | $162,742 |
| Salvatore Durante | Chief Program Officer | $119,808 |
Compensation data as of: 9/30/2024
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 6/25/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
June 29, 1917
Baseball hero-turned-evangelist Billy Sunday makes a contribution of $8,400 to the Buffalo Evangelistic Association, directing them to open a rescue mission. Rev. and Mrs. Edward Clark initiated City Mission Society that fall.
1922
City Mission Society's board of directors purchase Fenton's Pekin Cabaret, a former nightclub, using Billy Sunday's gift as down payment. The Mission opens its doors June 11 to provide chapel services and meals for the homeless.
1922-1940
City Mission Society expands its services to include clothing and sheltering the homeless.
1940-1970
Women from 20 Western New York churches form a women's auxiliary to raise funds, improve housekeeping, formalize clothing distribution and coordinate holiday events. In addition to cash, donations during this time include gifts of milk, farm produce, meat and other foods for the Mission's dining tables and community food pantry.
1970-1984
With drug use and domestic violence on the rise, family homelessness becomes a nationwide concern. In 1981, the Mission opens a shelter and safe house in a Victorian house on Linwood for families victimized by fire, violence and other crises.
1984
City Mission Society (now known as Buffalo City Mission) moves into a new facility at 100 E. Tupper, where administrative offices and the Men's Community Center are located.
1990-2001
The Mission would go on to raise $1.3 million to build the initial Cornerstone Manor Women and Children's Shelter located at 45 Carlton Street. This facility opened in October 1990 and provided emergency shelter, recovery programs and an on-site school satellite for homeless children.
2001-2005
In 2001, a campaign to build a new and larger facility for Cornerstone Manor begins in response to the growing number of homeless women and children in Western New York.
2006
August 18, 2006, the new building opens its doors for its first year. Foundations, corporations, churches and individuals provided the means to raise $15 million dollars to build Buffalo City Mission's new Cornerstone Manor for Women and Children.
2017
The Buffalo City Mission celebrates it's 100 Year Anniversary serving those in need in the Western New York area.
2018
The Buffalo City Mission holds it's Groundbreaking Ceremony on September 19th to officially begin the construction of the new Men's Community Center.
2019
The Mission holds it's Topping Out Ceremony on April 16th, where the Board, Staff, Dignitaries and Guests were invited to sign a ceremonial white beam that was then hoisted into place to complete the steel structure of the new Community Center.
2021
The Buffalo City Mission opens it's new Community Center, the Alfiero Family Center of Hope and Promise. March - The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony is held on March 26th to officially open the doors of the brand new facility, offering many more programs and services to Buffalo's most vulnerable neighbors.
Program accomplishments
This past year:
120,549 nourishing meals served
76,667 nights of safe shelter
697 received medical care
120 residents in transitional housing
74 men and women broke free of addiction