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Shepherds Theological Seminary Inc

EIN 20-0180768 · Cary, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO TRAIN MEN AND WOMEN FOR MINISTRY.

Income
$7.6 million
Spending
$4.8 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
10.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 53%
Employees
33
Volunteers
16
Highest pay
$144,510, provost dean

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 37% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 56% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

    11 of 12 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 (2)
  1. $3.6 million spent. SHEPHERDS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IS AN ACCREDITED GRADUATE SCHOOL PROVIDING QUALITY ACADEMIC AND THEOLOGICAL TRAINING FOR STUDENTS DESIRING TO SERVE IN LEADERSHIP ROLES AT CHURCHES, NON-PROFITS, AND OTHER FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. DURING THE 2023-2024 ACADEMIC YEAR, STS WAS ENGAGED IN GRADUATE EDUCATION AT THREE SITES. AT ITS CARY, NC CAMPUS, STS PROVIDED A TOTAL OF 62 COURSES RANGING FROM 1 TO 21 STUDENTS ENROLLED. THESE COURSES INCLUDE TRADITIONAL ACADEMIC COURSES ON THEOLOGY, HISTORY, PHILOSOPHY, AND BIBLICAL LANGUAGES, THESES COURSES, PRACTICAL MINISTRY COURSES, INDIVIDUAL INTERSHIPS, AND INDEPENDENT STUDY COURSES. THE WEST INSTITUTE OF STS, A TEACHING SITE LOCATED IN LARAMIE WY, PROVIDED A TOTAL OF 17 CLASSROOM COURSES RANGING FROM 5 TO 23 STUDENTS ENROLLED. ADDITIONALLY, THE STS TEACHING SITE IN BRYAN, TX, PROVIDED A TOTAL OF 2 COURSES WITH 6 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN EACH. IN TOTAL, THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS OF STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN PROGRAMS AT STS: 132 GRADUATE STUDENTS (DEGREE/CREDIT SEEKING) AND 34 NON-DEGREE-SEEKING/AUDIT STUDENT. STS DELIVERED 2,044 TOTAL CREDIT HOURS OF INSTRUCTION, OF WHICH 298 CREDITS WERE TAUGHT VIA DISTANCE EDUCATION. STS HAD 8 GRADUATES IN MAY, 24 GRADUATES IN AUGUST, AND 1 IN DECEMBER WHO WERE PARTICIPATING IN A VARIETY OF MINISTRIES, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING: PASTORS, ASSISTANT PASTORS, CHURCH PLANTERS, MISSIONARIES, BIBLICAL COUNSELORS, LAY-COUNSELORS, NON-PROFIT WORKERS, AND LOCAL-CHURCH VOLUNTEERS. SIMILARLY, STS'S ALUMNI SERVE IN ALL AREAS OF LOCAL CHURCH MINISTRY, PARA-CHURCH MINISTRIES, FOREIGN MINISTRIES, AND DOCTORAL PROGRAMS AND ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS. SHEPHERDS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IS AN ACCREDITED GRADUATE SCHOOL PROVIDING QUALITY ACADEMIC AND THEOLOGICAL TRAINING FOR STUDENTS DESIRING TO SERVE IN LEADERSHIP ROLES AT CHURCHES, NON-PROFITS, AND OTHER FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. DURING THE 2023-2024 ACADEMIC YEAR, STS WAS ENGAGED IN GRADUATE EDUCATION AT THREE SITES. AT ITS CARY, NC CAMPUS, STS PROVIDED A TOTAL OF 62 COURSES RANGING FROM 1 TO 21 STUDENTS ENROLLED. THESE COURSES INCLUDE TRADITIONAL ACADEMIC COURSES ON THEOLOGY, HISTORY, PHILOSOPHY, AND BIBLICAL LANGUAGES, THESES COURSES, PRACTICAL MINISTRY COURSES, INDIVIDUAL INTERSHIPS, AND INDEPENDENT STUDY COURSES. THE WEST INSTITUTE OF STS, A TEACHING SITE LOCATED IN LARAMIE WY, PROVIDED A TOTAL OF 17 CLASSROOM COURSES RANGING FROM 5 TO 23 STUDENTS ENROLLED. ADDITIONALLY, THE STS TEACHING SITE IN BRYAN, TX, PROVIDED A TOTAL OF 2 COURSES WITH 6 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN EACH. IN TOTAL, THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS OF STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN PROGRAMS AT STS: 132 GRADUATE STUDENTS (DEGREE/CREDIT SEEKING) AND 34 NON-DEGREE-SEEKING/AUDIT STUDENT. STS DELIVERED 2,044 TOTAL CREDIT HOURS OF INSTRUCTION, OF WHICH 298 CREDITS WERE TAUGHT VIA DISTANCE EDUCATION. STS HAD 8 GRADUATES IN MAY, 24 GRADUATES IN AUGUST, AND 1 IN DECEMBER WHO WERE PARTICIPATING IN A VARIETY OF MINISTRIES, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING: PASTORS, ASSISTANT PASTORS, CHURCH PLANTERS, MISSIONARIES, BIBLICAL COUNSELORS, LAY-COUNSELORS, NON-PROFIT WORKERS, AND LOCAL-CHURCH VOLUNTEERS. SIMILARLY, STS'S ALUMNI SERVE IN ALL AREAS OF LOCAL CHURCH MINISTRY, PARA-CHURCH MINISTRIES, FOREIGN MINISTRIES, AND DOCTORAL PROGRAMS AND ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS.
  2. OTHER

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 September 2004.

    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.

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