Phoenix Rescue Mission 
The information on this page was last updated 8/25/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Phoenix Rescue Mission provides comprehensive, Christ-centered solutions for men, women and children trapped in cycles of homelessness, addiction and poverty.
The centerpiece of our ministry is a residential recovery program for men, women and women with children who need help overcoming one or more life-controlling crises. By addressing our guests' physical, emotional, financial and spiritual needs, they are well-prepared to lead positive, productive lives once they leave the Mission and become a contributor to our community.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Phoenix Rescue Mission
1540 W. Van Buren Street
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Website: phoenixrescuemission.org
Phone: (602) 346-3336
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 866057771
CEO/President: Ken Brissa
Chairman: Ted Guy
Board size: 17
Founder: LeRoy and Grace Davidson, Jimmy Carr
Ruling year: 1960
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2002
Purpose
Vision: Love, hope and transformation to every neighbor in the Valley.
Mission statement
We provide Christ-centered, life-transforming solutions to persons facing hunger, homelessness, addiction, and trauma.
Statement of faith
Those individuals associated with carrying out the purpose of Phoenix Rescue Mission shall follow these Scripture principles, to best align with our Mission, Vision and Values:
We believe God is Love:
To know true love is to know Jesus Christ. His love promises to heal and not to harm. His love offers hope and light in darkness. His love is perfect. The demonstration of His love is revealed through His word, His deity and His son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe the Bible to be the inspired, infallible, ultimately authoritative Word of God. (2 Timothy 3:16)
We believe there is one God, eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (1 Peter 1:2)
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, He was born of a virgin. (Matthew 1:23)
We believe in God's Grace:
All humanity came into the world as lost sinners needing salvation. Grace, the undeserved love of God, did what no man could and reconciled mankind back to God. This kind gift presented to humanity the opportunity for eternal life through Jesus Christ.
We believe man is redeemed by Jesus' atoning death through His shed blood. (Revelation 5:9)
We believe Jesus was bodily resurrected and ascended into heaven, and that He will come again in power and great glory. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
We believe individuals are saved through a direct, personal encounter with the risen Lord, at which time the Holy Spirit regenerates them. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
We believe the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whom Christ indwells each believer, enabling him or her to live a godly life of obedience as he or she reaches for maturity. (Acts 2:1-4)
We believe God Restores:
Unconditional forgiveness is offered to all who choose to accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior. His forgiveness is enveloped with restoration. He restores the brokenness of man by offering peace and joy as a suitable replacement. A spiritual heart transformation is the end result.
We believe every person is to be given compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31)
We believe the Holy Spirit unites all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and that together they form one body, one church. (Philippians 2:2)
We believe God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. (Acts 3:19-21; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
We believe God Transforms:
The gift of being transformed into the image of Jesus Christ is given to all humanity. Although we will never be perfect in our earthly bodies, we can be presented faultless before the Father by living a lifestyle which strives to reflect Jesus Christ in every area.
We believe we are instruments of God's love on the earth and we are to deliberately seek to love our neighbor. (Matthew 22:36-40)
We believe in the gift of Christ's forgiveness, which we are to reciprocate in our forgiveness of others. (Luke 23:34)
We believe is striving to live holy, blameless lives before God by seeking the mind of Christ daily. (Romans 12:1-2)
We believe in the Sanctity of Marriage:
The ministry of marriage is the divine institution of man and woman sharing a life together in holy matrimony. The beauty of marriage, in the uniting of two hearts, illustrates Christ's intentionality of being married to the church.
We believe God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. (Genesis 1:26-27)
We believe the term "marriage" has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. (Genesis 2:18-25)
We believe God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. (1 Corinthians 6:18; 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4)
Final Authority for Matters of Belief and Conduct
The Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of Phoenix Rescue Mission's faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Board of Directors is Phoenix Rescue Mission's final interpretive authority on the Bible's meaning and application.
Donor confidence score
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 | | 792 of 1092 | 99 of 144 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 760 of 1095 | 107 of 144 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 804 of 1095 | 97 of 144 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 533 of 1092 | 64 of 144 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 11% | 15% | 13% | 14% | 19% | 18% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 9% | 14% | 12% | 14% | 18% | 18% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 92% | 96% | 95% | 97% | 97% | 97% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 11% | 18% | 16% | 18% | 20% | 20% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 8% | 4% | 5% | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 79% | 75% | 78% | 76% | 75% | 75% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 86% | 79% | 75% | 78% | 93% | 87% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 68% | 59% | 59% | 59% | 69% | 65% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 14% | 21% | 25% | 22% | 7% | 13% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 9% | 17% | 22% | 22% | 7% | 12% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 9% | 7% | 6% | 6% | 5% | 5% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.52 | 0.54 | 0.55 | 0.58 | 0.72 | 0.65 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 2.61 | 2.24 | 2.26 | 1.94 | 2.80 | 2.71 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.62 | 1.21 | 1.23 | 1.12 | 2.03 | 1.75 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 14.13 | 14.13 | 9.55 | 7.11 | 14.91 | 12.18 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.10 | 0.14 | 0.07 | 0.08 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 6.85 | 9.18 | 8.71 | 9.18 | 5.53 | 6.28 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 7% | 14% | 19% | 26% | 18% | 20% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 7% | 10% | 14% | 16% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 167% | 158% | 149% | 129% | 114% | 124% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Cash | $3,047,603 | $1,980,316 | $14,779,163 | $6,485,193 | $6,785,732 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $2,845,176 | $1,486,350 | $1,692,864 | $1,101,912 | $859,420 |
| Short-term investments | $14,737,887 | $15,594,688 | $2,401,959 | $1,683,739 | $1,491,571 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $20,630,666 | $19,061,354 | $18,873,986 | $9,270,844 | $9,136,723 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $932,672 | $2,230,243 | $224,553 |
| Fixed assets | $25,599,361 | $23,993,092 | $16,821,586 | $14,348,477 | $15,333,662 |
| Other long-term assets | $10,499 | $11,999 | $18,829 | $132,251 | $108,183 |
| Total long-term assets | $25,609,860 | $24,005,091 | $17,773,087 | $16,710,971 | $15,666,398 |
| Total assets | $46,240,526 | $43,066,445 | $36,647,073 | $25,981,815 | $24,803,121 |
| Liabilities | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $1,394,888 | $1,985,385 | $2,640,735 | $603,066 | $749,991 |
| Other current liabilities | $65,231 | $11,334 | $14,351 | $18,883 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $1,460,119 | $1,996,719 | $2,655,086 | $621,949 | $749,991 |
| Debt | $17,256 | $2,815,018 | $3,562,756 | $3,765,938 | $3,923,757 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $5,222,298 | $3,183,374 | $3,128,881 | $235,694 | $231,848 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $5,239,554 | $5,998,392 | $6,691,637 | $4,001,632 | $4,155,605 |
| Total liabilities | $6,699,673 | $7,995,111 | $9,346,723 | $4,623,581 | $4,905,596 |
| Net assets | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Without donor restrictions | $36,744,816 | $34,307,448 | $21,530,753 | $19,557,959 | $19,619,313 |
| With donor restrictions | $2,796,037 | $763,886 | $5,769,597 | $1,800,275 | $278,212 |
| Net assets | $39,540,853 | $35,071,334 | $27,300,350 | $21,358,234 | $19,897,525 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Total contributions | $30,489,601 | $29,674,427 | $26,238,523 | $19,524,096 | $17,704,727 |
| Program service revenue | $1,812,877 | $590,580 | $650,969 | $534,486 | $456,388 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | ($700,202) | $773,464 | $169,161 | $58,230 | $102,468 |
| Other revenue | $8,615 | $313,591 | $121,006 | $114,075 | $59,611 |
| Total other revenue | $1,121,290 | $1,677,635 | $941,136 | $706,791 | $618,467 |
| Total revenue | $31,610,891 | $31,352,062 | $27,179,659 | $20,230,887 | $18,323,194 |
| Expenses | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Program services | $18,751,849 | $18,427,345 | $16,084,284 | $14,057,909 | $11,942,304 |
| Management and general | $1,778,635 | $1,361,688 | $1,317,707 | $1,012,026 | $830,526 |
| Fundraising | $4,533,691 | $3,715,623 | $3,795,902 | $3,705,969 | $3,244,775 |
| Total expenses | $25,064,175 | $23,504,656 | $21,197,893 | $18,775,904 | $16,017,605 |
| Change in net assets | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $6,546,716 | $7,847,406 | $5,981,766 | $1,454,983 | $2,305,589 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $6,546,716 | $7,847,406 | $5,981,766 | $1,454,983 | $2,305,589 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Ken Brissa | Chief Executive Officer | $207,122 |
| Leo Salgado | Chief Financial Officer | $135,201 |
| Nicole Pena | Chief Resource Development | $132,801 |
| Abby Muller | Senior Director of Leadership Giving | $113,290 |
| Benjamin Parker | Chief Operating Officer | $84,532 |
Compensation data as of: 6/30/2022
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 8/25/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
The Phoenix Rescue Mission had very humble beginnings. In 1952, LeRoy Davidson, a 28-year-old Phoenix house painter, attended a service where he talked with Jimmy Carr from California about the need for a Christian mission in Phoenix. Jimmy, LeRoy, and LeRoy's wife, Grace, felt that the Lord had laid it on their hearts to save the souls of the men struggling on the streets of Phoenix.
The first evening of operation, a simple meal was prepared to be served after the gospel was shared. The Davidsons' eight-year-old son, Stanley, helped his mother make plain sandwiches of bread and bologna to be served with Kool-Aid. About 15 migrant workers and vagrants attended, sitting on wooden planks supported by paint cans. Grace named their new venture the Phoenix Gospel Mission.
The Mission grew so quickly that it had to move twice within two years. In 1954, six local businessmen incorporated the Phoenix Gospel Mission at a location on South 3rd Street, on the current location of Chase Field.
Reverend Carl Spacone joined the Mission as a Board member in 1963 and became the Executive Director in 1969. That same year, the Mission moved to the former Utah Hotel at 440 W. Washington Street (now the site of Arizona Federal Theater). For 22 years at that location, the Mission provided showers, three meals per day, clothing, family events, Sunday school, food boxes, and six beds for addiction recovery. In 1991, urban renewal forced the relocation of the Mission to 35th Avenue.
Reverend Spacone passed away in 1993, leaving his wife Dorothy to carry on as Acting Director. Dorothy ran the Mission until 1994, when she hired Don Johnson as Executive Director. Under his leadership the Mission continued to grow and change.
The Phoenix Gospel Mission became the Phoenix Rescue Mission in 1997. In the spring of 1999, the Board of Directors appointed Jerry Sandvig as its Executive Director. Under Jerry's watch, the Mission expanded its services with outreach to the surrounding community, serving thousands of children and families at special events throughout the year by providing food, clothing, and other items they otherwise would not receive. Jerry ended his tenure as President and CEO with the opening of the brand new Changing Lives Center, a specialized facility for homeless women and their children.
Jay A. Cory became the new President and CEO in 2011, bringing more than 20 years of experience building and directing Christ-centered recovery programs at Atlanta Mission, in Atlanta, Georgia. With a true passion for helping the addicted heal and re-enter society as healthy Christians, Jay brought about significant change and immense growth. Under his leadership, he launched the Changing Lives Center for Women and Children, the first and only faith-based recovery program in the region offering long-term, comprehensive services to women and children. He further expanded the vision by introducing education, vocational training, life-skills, and, most importantly, spiritual guidance to those stricken with poverty and homelessness.
In 2020, the Mission invited Ken Brissa to serve as the CEO, bringing with him 25 years of executive leadership experience in for-profit and non-profit enterprises.
For a timeline, visit: phoenixrescuemission.org/history/