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Auburn Theological Seminary

EIN 15-0532053 · New York, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 49% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

AUBURN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IDENTIFIES AND STRENGTHENS LEADERS FROM THE PULPIT TO THE PUBLIC SQUARE TO BUILD COMMUNITY, BRIDGE DIVIDES, PURSUE JUSTICE, AND HEAL THE WORLD.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
49%
Reserves
26.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 60%
Employees
17
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$275,867, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 26.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    49% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $862,327 spent. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENTJANET PRINDLE SEIDLER CENTER FOR PROPHETIC LEADERSHIP:THIS IS THE UMBRELLA FOR LEADERSHIP FORMATION THAT IS HEALING-CENTERED AND DEEPLY ROOTED IN SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS. THE JANET PRINDLE SEIDLER CENTER FOR PROPHETIC LEADERSHIP AIMS TO EQUIP LEADERS TO BE GROUNDED IN THEIR RESPECTIVE TRADITIONS, EQUIPPED TO BUILD COMMUNITY AND BRIDGE DIVIDES, AND CONNECTED TO OTHER LEADERS. THE MAIN PROGRAM WITHIN THE CENTER IS THE EMERGING LEADERS PROGRAM.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)EMERGING LEADERS PROGRAM:- FOCUSED ON EMERGING FAITH LEADERS (AGES 18-35) EQUIPPING THEM FROM A CHRISTIAN-ROOTED SEMINARY FOR A MULTI-FAITH WORLD. THE PROGRAM IS OPEN TO ALL FAITH TRADITIONS. PARTICIPANTS ARE SELECTED THROUGH AN APPLICATION PROCESS AND GATHERED IN COHORTS.- FORMAT: BEGINS WITH IN-PERSON INTENSIVE IN A U.S. COMMUNITY, FOLLOWED BY VIRTUAL SESSIONS.- PRACTICAL FOCUS: CONFLICT NAVIGATION, COMMUNITY BUILDING, DIALOGUES ACROSS DIFFERENCE, SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS.- COST: FOR SELECTED FELLOWS, TRAVEL, LODGING, MEALS, AND PROGRAM MATERIALS ARE CURRENTLY COVERED UNDER GRANT FUNDING, THOUGH IN FUTURE YEARS THAT MODEL WILL SHIFT AS THE LARGEST GRANT FUNDING COMES TO A CLOSE IN 2028. WALTER AND JUNE WINK FELLOWSHIP ("WINKS"):AUBURN'S SECOND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS THE WALTER AND JUNE WINK FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. NAMED AFTER WALTER AND JUNE WINK WHO SERVED AT THE SEMINARY FROM THE LATE 1970S UNTIL WALTER'S PASSING IN 2012, THIS FELLOWSHIP IS FOR CHRISTIAN MINISTRY PROFESSIONALS AND RELIGIOUS EDUCATORS.- FOCUS: CHILDREN'S MINISTRY AND RELIGIOUS EDUCATION HOW TO BRING SACRED TEXTS TO LIFE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, HOW TO USE EMBODIED PEDAGOGY, HOW TO BUILD INTERGENERATIONAL WORSHIP. PARTICIPANTS ARE SELECTED THROUGH AN APPLICATION PROCESS AND INVITED THROUGH COHORTS.- FORMAT: BEGINS WITH AN IN-PERSON INTENSIVE AND THEN IS FOLLOWED BY VIRTUAL SESSIONS.- THIS SUPPORTS LEADERS WHO WANT TO INTEGRATE THEOLOGY, JUSTICE, AND IMAGINATIVE PEDAGOGY IN THEIR MINISTRIES.- COST: LILLY ENDOWMENT INC. HAS SUPPORTED THE PROGRAM THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT. IN ITS PILOT YEAR 2025, AUBURN WILL COVER ALL COSTS FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS.
  2. $217,847 spent. RESEARCH- AUBURN HAS A CENTER FOR RESEARCH (FORMERLY CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION). THE CENTER WAS ESTABLISHED AND ENDOWED IN 2007 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LILLY ENDOWMENT INC. TO GATHER, ANALYZE, AND RESEARCH TRENDS IN THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION, FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON THE 270+ ACCREDITED THEOLOGICAL SCHOOLS THROUGH THE ASSOCIATION OF THEOLOGICAL SCHOOLS (ATS).- AUBURN HAS CONDUCTED STUDIES ABOUT THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION SINCE THE LATE 1970S, ESTABLISHING ITS JOURNAL, AUBURN STUDIES, IN 1993 WITH ALL ISSUES BEING LOGGED ON AUBURN'S WEBSITE, AS WELL AS INDEXED WITH ATLA, THE AMERICAN THEOLOGICAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)- THE RESEARCH IS EMPIRICAL: AUBURN CONDUCTS STUDIES ON STUDENT DEBT, TRENDS IN CONTINUING EDUCATION, TRUSTEE ENGAGEMENT, AND OTHER CHALLENGES FACING THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTIONS.WHEELER FELLOWS:- TO ACCOMPLISH THIS RESEARCH, AUBURN SELECTS SCHOLARS (WHEELER FELLOWS) EACH YEAR TO CARRY OUT RIGOROUS RESEARCH INTO THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION.- FELLOWS ARE IDENTIFIED AND SELECTED THROUGH NOMINATION PROCESS FROM PARTNERS IN THE FIELD BASED ON RESEARCH QUESTIONS OUTLINED IN AUBURN'S MANDATE.AUBURN STUDIES:- AUBURN'S PUBLICATION THAT SINCE 1993 HAS PROVIDED RESEARCH REPORTS ON THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION.- WHEELER FELLOWS AND THEIR RESEARCH ARE FEATURED IN AN ANNUAL ISSUE.- AUBURN ALSO CONVENES CONSULTATIONS, WEBINARS, AND PUBLISHES REPORTS FOR THEOLOGICAL SCHOOLS, RELIGIOUS LEADERS, AND INSTITUTIONAL DECISION-MAKERS.
  3. $380,264 spent. STORYTELLING & NARRATIVE CHANGE- AUBURN BELIEVES IN THE POWER OF STORY TO HEAL AND TRANSFORM. AUBURN RUNS PROGRAMS THAT HELP LEADERS EXAMINE AND RESHAPE RELIGIOUS NARRATIVES THAT MAY CAUSE DIVISION, TRAUMA, OR ALIENATION.- AUBURN'S PROGRAMMING FOCUSES ON VIRTUAL GATHERINGS (CURRENTLY TITLED DEAN'S LECTURES) AND STORYTELLING CIRCLE GATHERINGS.DEAN'S LECTURE SERIES:- VIRTUAL LECTURES FEATURING STORYTELLERS, FAITH LEADERS, AND CULTURAL FIGURES (AUTHORS, ACTIVISTS) WHO EXPLORE THEMES OF HEALING, THEOLOGY, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)STORYTELLING CIRCLES:- IN-PERSON OR VIRTUAL GATHERINGS, INCLUDING WITH INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES, FOCUSED ON SHARED HISTORIES, TRAUMA, AND RECONCILIATION.LETTERS TO THE FUTURE:- A PROJECT WHERE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WRITE HOPEFUL, HEALING "LETTERS" ENVISIONING A FUTURE ROOTED IN JUSTICE AND LOVE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1971.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.