Refuge for Women 
The information on this page was last updated 3/25/2025. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Refuge for Women is a non-profit, faith based organization providing specialized long-term housing and emergency housing for women who have escaped human trafficking or sexual exploitation. With multiple locations across the U.S., Refuge for Women offers up to twelve months of safe housing, at no charge to the resident, with around the clock care as clients progress through evidence-based, trauma-informed programming. We strive to help each woman complete the program with a vision for her future, equipped to succeed and sustain a life marked with dignity and hope.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Refuge for Women
1001 S Edmonds Lane
Suite 900
Lewisville, TX 75067
Website: refugeforwomen.org
Phone: 940-331-0042
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 264388243
CEO/President: Abby Germer
Chairman: David Diers
Board size: 6
Founder: Ked and Michelle Frank
Ruling year: 2010
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2016
Purpose
Vision: That every woman who is sexually exploited will have the hope, support, and tools needed to pursue her dreams and live a life of freedom.
Mission statement
To empower sexually exploited women to live a life of freedom through faith-based, residential healing programs.
Statement of faith
We believe in one God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19-20 John 14:910
We believe God is Creator, Sustainer and Ruler of all things. Genesis 1:1 Acts 17:2428, Colossians 1:13-20
We believe in Jesus Christ, perfectly God and perfectly human, God's only Son and Savior of the world. John 3:16 Matthew 1:18 John 20:2431, Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:17-18
We believe the Holy Spirit dwells within each believer so that they may dwell in unity with Christ and other
believers as well as produce good fruit. John 16:5-16; Ephesians 4:1-6; Galatians 5:22-26
We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God and the final authority for all matters of faith and practice.
Romans 15:4 Hebrews 4:12 2 Timothy 3:16
We believe that humanity willfully sinned and as a result is lost and without hope apart from Jesus Christ. Acts
4:12 Romans 3:23 1 John 1:7
We believe Jesus Christ has by his death on the cross made atonement for all so that each one who believes may
be saved and receive the gift of eternal life. Matthew 26:28 Romans 5:811 Ephesians 2:89, John 3:16-17
We believe salvation comes through the person of Jesus Christ, repentance of sin, acknowledgment of Christ as
Lord, and union to the church as the body of Christ. Luke 24:4547 Acts 2:38 Romans 6:17, 10:10-17 2 Peter 3:9; Ephesians 4:1-7
We believe in a final judgement of all humanity and that each person will be accorded eternal life or death
according to the Word of God. Romans 8:1011 Daniel 12:2 John 6:47; 1 Corinthians 15:51-57, Revelations 20:11-
15
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Anti-Trafficking
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 998 of 1117 | 11 of 11 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 797 of 1118 | 9 of 11 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 1029 of 1118 | 10 of 11 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 760 of 1117 | 10 of 11 |
According to the organization's Form 990, it received $360,249 in government grants in 2023.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 9% | 14% | 13% | 6% | 9% | 16% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 8% | 13% | 11% | 6% | 8% | 13% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 95% | 94% | 85% | 97% | 85% | 84% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 8% | 11% | 12% | 9% | 10% | 17% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 5% | 6% | 15% | 3% | 15% | 16% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 80% | 71% | 74% | 74% | 71% | 66% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 105% | 118% | 94% | 74% | 80% | 80% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 86% | 83% | 69% | 55% | 57% | 53% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | -5% | -18% | 6% | 26% | 20% | 20% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | -5% | -15% | 8% | 35% | 25% | 24% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 9% | 18% | 14% | 17% | 19% | 17% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.06 | 0.76 | 0.81 | 0.70 | 0.70 | 0.97 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 2.07 | 3.27 | 2.58 | 2.52 | 2.89 | 2.43 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.10 | 2.49 | 2.09 | 1.76 | 2.01 | 2.36 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 18.08 | 75.35 | 20.58 | 22.91 | 3.05 | 8128.52 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.06 | 0.01 | 0.05 | 0.04 | 0.33 | 0.00 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.93 | 4.76 | 5.46 | 6.51 | 4.01 | 5.08 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 10% | 25% | 29% | 28% | 30% | 0% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 24% | 24% | 26% | 19% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 90% | 98% | 88% | 103% | 101% | 103% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Cash | $1,624,131 | $2,159,401 | $2,017,503 | $1,378,325 | $896,936 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $107,221 | $149,667 | $143,435 | $16,762 | $5,330 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $1,731,352 | $2,309,068 | $2,160,938 | $1,395,087 | $902,266 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $3,460,476 | $3,344,992 | $3,268,670 | $2,524,856 | $1,284,860 |
| Other long-term assets | $467,335 | $309,710 | $12,446 | $112,000 | $5,100 |
| Total long-term assets | $3,927,811 | $3,654,702 | $3,281,116 | $2,636,856 | $1,289,960 |
| Total assets | $5,659,163 | $5,963,770 | $5,442,054 | $4,031,943 | $2,192,226 |
| Liabilities | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $22,978 | $112,174 | $94,330 | $457,830 | $111 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $22,978 | $112,174 | $94,330 | $457,830 | $111 |
| Debt | $1,363,581 | $1,413,777 | $1,427,293 | $756,021 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $55,025 | $186,512 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $1,418,606 | $1,600,289 | $1,427,293 | $756,021 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $1,441,584 | $1,712,463 | $1,521,623 | $1,213,851 | $111 |
| Net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Without donor restrictions | $4,001,530 | $4,068,657 | $3,704,931 | $2,802,592 | $2,192,115 |
| With donor restrictions | $216,049 | $182,650 | $215,500 | $15,500 | $0 |
| Net assets | $4,217,579 | $4,251,307 | $3,920,431 | $2,818,092 | $2,192,115 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Total contributions | $3,451,269 | $4,401,885 | $5,025,146 | $2,965,690 | $2,233,501 |
| Program service revenue | $16,297 | $39,598 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $79,196 | $709,209 | $42 | $66,283 | $22 |
| Other revenue | $110,400 | $7,006 | $141,699 | $468,854 | $420,344 |
| Total other revenue | $205,893 | $755,813 | $141,741 | $535,137 | $420,366 |
| Total revenue | $3,657,162 | $5,157,698 | $5,166,887 | $3,500,827 | $2,653,867 |
| Expenses | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Program services | $3,041,693 | $3,557,066 | $2,832,845 | $1,990,121 | $1,411,056 |
| Management and general | $796,954 | $691,971 | $648,501 | $533,114 | $363,850 |
| Fundraising | $470,825 | $577,785 | $325,331 | $280,427 | $356,950 |
| Total expenses | $4,309,472 | $4,826,822 | $3,806,677 | $2,803,662 | $2,131,856 |
| Change in net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($652,310) | $330,876 | $1,360,210 | $697,165 | $522,011 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($652,310) | $330,876 | $1,360,210 | $697,165 | $522,011 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Leslie Nikki Instone | Vice President | $94,402 |
| Abby Germer | President | $31,312 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2023
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 3/25/2025. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Refuge for Women, Incorporate, a 501(c)3 organization, formed in January, 2009 in Lexington, KY, and was founded by Ked and Michelle Frank. During the time prior to starting Refuge, Ked had a series of pivotal conversations with the leader of a group doing outreach to women in local strip clubs. Although the outreach had been ongoing for three years, the women who wanted help with escaping had no long-term places to go. In response to this need, Refuge for Women opened its first location in Kentucky in 2009. It is a non-profit, faith-based organization that provides long-term care for women who are survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, offering them a new beginning. Since that time, Refuge for Women has served more than 100 women and received $3 million in donations contributed by more than 3,000 supporters.