Meryls Safe Haven INC

Tax-deductible

Worcester, MA501(c)(3)Since 2023HousingEIN 92-1498053Revenue $1.4M in FY2025

On file with the IRSmerylssafehaven.org1 Schussler Rd, 01609-2213 · Worcester, MATax-exempt since Jan 2023Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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Meryl's Safe Haven, INC. (msh) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing and connecting families and young people who have aged out of the foster care system with shelter and resources in our community and beyond. We focus on the whole person for holistic support to address the underlying issues. Msh aims to be an impetus for change that recognizes humanity and the importance of community through support in providing financial budgeting and management, identifying childcare and mental health resources, education, and workforce development opportunities, while meeting the basic needs of food, safety, and shelter. Our mission is to level the field of opportunity for those who enter our doors.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
81¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 30 volunteers and 37 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
1 of 2
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $70K a year · 5% of revenue · last 2 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 1 of the last 2 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 2 filings
Spent on programs
81%
of spending
Looks good: 81% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$215K
to officers and key staff · 13% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 51% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 13% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Concern: 0.4 months of spending in cash; under 2 weeks.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $28K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$588K
81% of total assets
Concern: liabilities are 81% of assets; over 80%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
3
of 5 voting members
Looks good: 3 of 5 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.4M
-5% vs prior year
Spent
$1.6M
To programs
81%
Net assets
$141K
By yearFY2024–FY2025
Revenue
$1.4M
FY2025▼ -5%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2024$1.5M
FY2025$1.4M
Expenses
$1.6M
FY2025▲ +45%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2024$1.1M
FY2025$1.6M
Net assets
$141K
FY2025▼ -61%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2024$361K
FY2025$141K

From the FY2025 Form 990 · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jan 2023.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

81 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 81% · $1.3M Management & general 14% · $224K Fundraising 5% · $82K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

6 people listed on the 990; $215K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
President & CEO
$119,189Pt VII · Sec A
$95,440Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director as of 02/25
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director Until 12/25
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Tasia Cerezo’s $119K as President & CEO is at the 51st percentile of top reported officer pay among 2036 $1–10M housing nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024
Tasia Cerezo$119,189$101,755
Marisol Cerezo$95,440$79,683

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Meryls Safe Haven INC executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Provides shelter, resources, and support for young people aging out of foster care.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $1.3M · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

In partnership with the executive office of housing and livable communities, MSH provides emergency housing assistance for families in crisis. This program is available by referral only through the state's emergency assistance system. Our congregate and scattered site locations opened on april 9, 2024.

$652Kprogram expense
02

On october 31, 2024, MSH hosted a ribbon cutting for our tyep program. January 2025, MSH began integrating mentoring, emergency housing, and transitional support for youth ages 18-24 transitioning out of foster care in search of shelter and resources. 16 families moved into permanent housing.

$526Kprogram expense
03

On january 26, 2024, meryl's safe haven opened its doors to families in crisis through the safety net shelter program, providing emergency accommodations in partnership with local organizations including united way of massachusetts bay, seven hills foundation, united way of central massachusetts, and catholic charities worcester county.

$154Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$28K

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.4M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.4M
Investment incomeLn 3$2K
Money outPt IX
$1.6M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.3M
Managementcol C$224K
Fundraisingcol D$82K
Owns and owesPt X
$141K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$58K
Total assetsLn 16$729K
LiabilitiesLn 26$588K
PeoplePt VI, VII
6
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a5
IndependentVI 1b3
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.4M
Government grantsLn 1e$1.3M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$23K
Investment incomeLn 3$2K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$21K
Total revenueLn 12$1.4M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$46
SavingsLn 2$58K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$58K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$23K
Other assetsLn 15$524K
Total assetsLn 16$729K
LiabilitiesLn 26$588K
Net assetsLn 32$141K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 537
VolunteersI 630
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$212K$58K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$50K$23K
Total assetsLn 16$1.2M$729K
LiabilitiesLn 26$884K$588K
Net assetsLn 32$361K$141K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$240K$180K$60K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$505K$397K$76K$31K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$6K$5K$634$493
Other employee benefitsLn 9$51K$40K$8K$3K
Payroll taxesLn 10$62K$48K$11K$3K
Legal feesLn 11b$9K$9K
Accounting feesLn 11c$4K$4K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$34K$34K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$117K$95K$23K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$4K$183$4K
Office expensesLn 13$36K$33K$2K$991
Information technologyLn 14$28K$2K$26K
OccupancyLn 16$490K$490K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$7K$7K$33
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$6K$6K
InsuranceLn 23$6K$6K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$12K$9K$3K$90
All other expensesLn 24e$21K$13K$2K$6K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.6M$1.3M$224K$82K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $1.4M$1.6M−$219K$141K 990 PDF
FY2024 $1.5M$1.1M$359K$361K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,418,585 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,485,897$1,437,596
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $185−$19,539
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $6,617$528
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,492,699$1,418,585
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $464,083$863,475
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $17,500$33,750
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $651,700$740,505
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,133,283$1,637,730
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $359,416−$219,145
Part VI · Governance 3 of 5 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body5
VI-1b Independent voting members3
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,418,585 across 9 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$23,395
VIII-1e Government grants$1,330,983
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$83,218
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,437,596
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $1,945$1,945
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$21,484−$21,484
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$5,724−$5,724
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $6,252$6,252
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax −$19,011$1,418,585
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,637,730 across 18 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $180,167 · Management $60,055$240,222
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $397,098 · Management $76,408 · Fundraising $31,186$504,692
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $4,553 · Management $634 · Fundraising $493$5,680
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $39,759 · Management $7,769 · Fundraising $3,056$50,584
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $48,332 · Management $11,264 · Fundraising $2,701$62,297
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $8,871$8,871
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $3,838$3,838
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $33,750$33,750
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $94,510 · Management $22,681$117,191
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $183 · Fundraising $3,836$4,019
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $32,867 · Management $2,038 · Fundraising $991$35,896
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $2,306 · Management $25,546$27,852
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $489,865$489,865
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $7,295 · Management $33$7,328
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $5,664$5,664
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $6,139$6,139
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $9,448 · Management $2,869 · Fundraising $90$12,407
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $13,291 · Management $2,319 · Fundraising $5,825$21,435
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,331,477 · Management $224,325 · Fundraising $81,928$1,637,730
Part X · Balance sheet $729,366 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $0$46
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $211,844$58,139
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $134,404$96,723
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $0$28,206
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $49,866$22,718
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $848,471$523,534
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,244,585$729,366
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $35,504$48,371
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $0$16,000
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $848,474$523,533
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $883,978$587,904
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $358,607$138,962
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $2,000$2,500
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $360,607$141,462
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,244,585$729,366
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $141,462 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,418,585
XI-2 Total expenses$1,637,730
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$219,145
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$360,607
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$141,462

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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