The Union Mission Ministries 
The information on this page was last updated 6/10/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
For more than 130 years The Union Mission Ministries has compassionately served men, women, and children without a home and with nowhere else to turn.
Contact information
Mailing address:
The Union Mission Ministries
P.O. Box 3203
Norfolk, VA 23514
Website: www.unionmissionministries.org
Phone: (757) 627-8686
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 540506427
CEO/President: Rev. John Gray
Chairman: John Devan
Board size: 14
Founder:
Ruling year: 1947
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
We are dedicated to serving God by serving the most vulnerable people in our community: the homeless.
Mission statement
To aid the poor and needy; to reform the erring; to help those that are out of the way; to feed the hungry; to shelter the homeless; to preach the gospel; and to rescue the perishing.
Statement of faith
WE BELIEVE ... the Bible is the literal, verbal, and inspired Word of God. (Isa. 8:20, 2 Tim. 3:16-17, 1 Thess. 5:21)
WE BELIEVE ... there is one God eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (John 4:24, John 10:30, Ex. 15:11, Ps. 83:18, Matt. 28:19, Eph. 2:18)
WE BELIEVE ... in the Deity of Christ; His virgin birth, His shed blood for atonement, His bodily resurrection, His ascension, and His personal pre-millennial return to establish His kingdom on Earth. (Heb. 1:8, John 1:1-3, Luke 1:26-35, John 1:7, Matt. 28:1-6, Mark 16:19, Matt. 24:27-30)
WE BELIEVE ... all are sinners by nature and are lost. Salvation through Jesus Christ is the only remedy for this condition. We are saved through faith alone in the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross. (Isa. 53:6, Rom. 3:23, Eph. 2:1-3, John 14:6, Eph. 2:8-10)
WE BELIEVE ... the hope and promise of every believer is to be in the presence of the Lord immediately upon death or at the gathering of believers at the second coming of Christ, ultimately living in glorified bodies in heaven with Him. (1 Thess. 4:13-18, Rev. 21:1-22:5)
WE BELIEVE ... Satan is real and an enemy of God and His people. We also believe that one day he will be judged and eternally condemned in the lake of fire also called Hell. Further, we believe all who die having rejected the offer of salvation will suffer eternal conscious punishment in Hell. (Rev. 12:10, 20:1-3, John 3:18, 36, Rev. 20-11-15)
WE BELIEVE ... the Holy Spirit convicts of sin, makes believers children of God through a new birth, assuring them of Heaven, and that His indwelling enables them to live godly lives. (John 16:8-11, 1 Cor. 3:16, 6:19-20, 2 Cor. 3:18, Gal. 2:20)
WE BELIEVE ... the New Testament Church is an organized body of baptized believers practicing scriptural ordinances and are actively engaged in fulfilling The Great Commission. (Matt. 28:19-20, Acts 2:41-42, 1 Tim. 3)
Donor confidence score
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Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 1098 of 1366 | 112 of 151 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 1026 of 1366 | 121 of 151 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 1067 of 1366 | 116 of 151 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 705 of 1367 | 69 of 151 |
To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 11% | 19% | 21% | 22% | 16% | 19% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 9% | 14% | 17% | 17% | 14% | 16% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 93% | 71% | 81% | 77% | 89% | 87% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 10% | 17% | 15% | 17% | 17% | 16% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 7% | 29% | 19% | 23% | 11% | 13% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 80% | 73% | 75% | 74% | 73% | 75% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 97% | 81% | 112% | 100% | 81% | 100% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 79% | 59% | 84% | 75% | 59% | 75% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 3% | 19% | -12% | 0% | 19% | 0% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | 13% | -8% | 0% | 11% | 0% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 9% | 10% | 10% | 9% | 10% | 8% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.56 | 0.53 | 0.71 | 0.73 | 0.47 | 0.54 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 2.90 | 2.05 | 2.25 | 1.98 | 2.63 | 3.54 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.01 | 1.10 | 1.59 | 1.44 | 1.23 | 1.92 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 9.69 | 59.50 | 38.40 | 38.09 | 35.66 | 29.13 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.10 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.03 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.37 | 10.77 | 7.33 | 8.10 | 9.45 | 6.04 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 10% | 1% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 7% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 5% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 145% | 184% | 136% | 133% | 207% | 172% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Cash | $4,860,475 | $3,630,025 | $4,902,560 | $4,163,123 | $2,960,477 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $172,368 | $181,023 | $325,383 | $209,182 | $209,183 |
| Short-term investments | $2,940,921 | $2,646,862 | $2,359,767 | $2,609,080 | $1,291,904 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $7,973,764 | $6,457,910 | $7,587,710 | $6,981,385 | $4,461,564 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $47,603 | $47,603 | $39,904 | $39,904 |
| Fixed assets | $1,172,359 | $1,147,682 | $1,173,865 | $1,233,528 | $1,421,814 |
| Other long-term assets | $7,185,078 | $6,859,442 | $6,211,442 | $10,080,681 | $9,880,321 |
| Total long-term assets | $8,357,437 | $8,054,727 | $7,432,910 | $11,354,113 | $11,342,039 |
| Total assets | $16,331,201 | $14,512,637 | $15,020,620 | $18,335,498 | $15,803,603 |
| Liabilities | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $134,022 | $168,193 | $199,219 | $195,758 | $153,162 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $134,022 | $168,193 | $199,219 | $195,758 | $153,162 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $711,900 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $102,464 | $323,752 | $234,088 | $302,464 | $215,877 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $102,464 | $323,752 | $234,088 | $302,464 | $927,777 |
| Total liabilities | $236,486 | $491,945 | $433,307 | $498,222 | $1,080,939 |
| Net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Without donor restrictions | $8,406,128 | $6,130,803 | $7,055,965 | $6,010,620 | $3,814,510 |
| With donor restrictions | $7,688,587 | $7,889,889 | $7,531,348 | $11,826,656 | $10,908,154 |
| Net assets | $16,094,715 | $14,020,692 | $14,587,313 | $17,837,276 | $14,722,664 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Total contributions | $7,709,817 | $7,443,464 | $8,441,626 | $9,441,930 | $7,504,654 |
| Program service revenue | $1,553,281 | $754,870 | $833,189 | $832,176 | $890,301 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $632,551 | $144,715 | $1,158,577 | $55,229 | ($108,776) |
| Other revenue | $914,464 | $839,741 | $476,170 | $288,861 | $313,346 |
| Total other revenue | $3,100,296 | $1,739,326 | $2,467,936 | $1,176,266 | $1,094,871 |
| Total revenue | $10,810,113 | $9,182,790 | $10,909,562 | $10,618,196 | $8,599,525 |
| Expenses | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Program services | $6,397,265 | $7,736,285 | $8,132,780 | $6,301,687 | $6,434,238 |
| Management and general | $878,780 | $997,219 | $968,339 | $835,666 | $724,363 |
| Fundraising | $1,460,045 | $1,559,788 | $1,842,027 | $1,482,805 | $1,399,035 |
| Total expenses | $8,736,090 | $10,293,292 | $10,943,146 | $8,620,158 | $8,557,636 |
| Change in net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $2,074,023 | ($1,110,502) | ($33,584) | $1,998,038 | $41,889 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $2,074,023 | ($1,110,502) | ($33,584) | $1,998,038 | $41,889 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| John W Gray Jr | Executive Di | $130,540 |
| Frank C White | CFO | $125,081 |
| Douglas D Preston | Sr. Dir of P | $91,103 |
| Linda B Vaugh | Exe. Dir. Em | $11,189 |
Compensation data as of: 6/30/2025
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 6/10/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
The Union Mission was founded in 1892 by a group of Methodist businessmen who had a vision to provide for the physical and spiritual needs of those who were poor or homeless. From that vision, the original Union Mission opened its doors, and to this day continues to provide help and hope for homeless people in our community.
In 1956, Rev. Theodore A. Bashford, became our Executive Director. For more than 50 years, "Brother Ted" led and guided The Union Mission, strengthening our relationships with local churches and city officials and expanding our outreach capacity.
His daughter Linda Bashford Vaughan succeeded him as Executive Director after he passed away in October 2008. Having worked alongside with her father for years, Mrs. Vaughan ran the day-to-day operations until February 2016. She now serves as Executive Director Emeritus.
Rev. John W. Gray, Jr., our current Executive Director, served under both Rev. Bashford and Mrs. Vaughan.
Over the years, the Men's and Women's Shelters moved five times until 2009 when a permanent campus was established on Virginia Beach Blvd. in Norfolk. The Union Mission Ministries have included numerous resources for and outreaches to the South Hampton Roads, Virginia community. As our region's needs have changed, so have The Union Mission's ministries. We continue to look for the most effective ways to share the love of Christ with those in need and to serve those experiencing homelessness in our community.
Program accomplishments
189,941 cafeteria meals served to shelter guests
72,756 nights of emergency shelter and RECLAIM lodging
9,514 case management and counseling sessions