John Jay Institute for Faith Society and Law Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PREPARE PRINCIPLED LEADERS FOR FAITH-INFORMED PUBLIC SERVICE.
- Income
- $504,220
- Spending
- $674,565
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 7
- Highest pay
- $132,458, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.0 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 47% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 34% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 25% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 98% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (1)
- $497,895 spent. "TEACH THE RISING GENERATION TO BE FREE." JOHN JAY"IT IS A PRINCIPLE ON WHICH FOR MANY YEARS I HAVE ACTED. IT IS THAT OF BRINGING TOGETHER ALL MEN WHO ARE LIKE-MINDED, AND WHO MAY PROBABLY AT SOME TIME OR OTHER COMBINE AND CONCERT FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD." WILLIAM WILBERFORCEFOR A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF OUR PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS SEE SCHEDULE O. ABOUT THE JOHN JAY INSTITUTE: THE MISSION AND VISION OF THE JOHN JAY INSTITUTE IS THIS: TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARD THE RENEWAL OF AMERICAN CIVILIZATION BY DEVELOPING YOUNG LEADERS OF INTEGRITY, INSIGHT AND INFLUENCE. TOWARDS THIS END, IT HAS BEEN THE INSTITUTE'S FIRST TASK TO RECOVER OUR RICHLY DIVERSE CIVILIZATIONAL INHERITANCE; SECONDLY, TO INSTILL AN APPRECIATION OF THAT CULTURAL MEMORY IN EMERGING LEADERS; AND THIRDLY, TO EQUIP AND EMPOWER EACH RESIDENT FELLOW TO COMMUNICATE THE IDEALS AND VALUES OF OUR AMERICAN CIVILIZATIONAL HERITAGE IN AN IMAGINATIVE, ATTRACTIVE, CONTEMPORARY AND COMPELLING WAY FOR ADDRESSING THE PROFOUND ETHICAL, SOCIAL, AND POLITICAL ISSUES OF OUR TIMES. JOHN JAY INSTITUTE ALUMNI AND THOSE OF ITS FORERUNNER PROGRAM, THE WITHERSPOON FELLOWSHIP, LITERALLY SPAN THE GLOBE FROM NORTH AMERICA TO EASTERN EUROPE AND FROM AFGHANISTAN TO EAST AFRICA EXCERCISING LEADERSHIP AS PUBLIC SERVICE AND MILITARY PROFESSIONALS. HERE IN THE U.S., ALUMNI ARE SERVING IN GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES AT LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS. THEY ARE IN EVERY BRANCH OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES. THEY WORK IN CIVIL SOCIETY OR THE "THIRD SECTOR" IN AN ARRAY OF NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING PUBLIC INTEREST LAW AND ADVOCACY GROUPS, CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS CHARITIES, PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATIONS, RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL THINK-TANKS, AND IN PRIVATE, PAROCHIAL , AND PUBLIC CHARTER PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. ADDITIONALLY, ALUMNI PROVIDE LEADERSHIP IN THE FOR-PROFIT SECTOR, WHERE THEY WORK AS ENTREPRENEURS IN SMALL AND LARGE BUSINESSES, IN BANKING AND FINANCE, AND IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND COMMERCE. SINCE 2011, THE INSTITUTE HAS BEEN OPERATING ITS RESIDENTIAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS JUST OUTSIDE OF PHILADELPHIA, THE METROPOLIS OF AMERICA'S FOUNDING. THE CITY IS A VITAL COMPONENT, EVEN LABORATORY, OF THE JOHN JAY INSTITUTE'S CURRICULUM. NO OTHER CITY IN AMERICA RIVALS PHILADELPHIA FOR ITS HISTORIC LANDMARKS AND VITAL ROLE IN THE BIRTH OF AMERICA. PHILADELPHIA IS INTEGRAL TO THE AMERICAN STORY AND ITS ANIMATING IDEALS AND INSTITUTIONS. INDEED, THE VERY FOUNDATIONS OF MODERN AMERICAN SOCIETY WERE LAID IN PHILADELPHIA. THE JOHN JAY INSTITUTE IS REVIVING TRADITIONAL LEARNING AS KEY TO ITS INNOVATIVE LEADERSHIP FORMATION. ITS HIGH-TOUCH, HANDS-ON APPROACH TO GREAT BOOKS WITH LOW-TECH, FACE-TO-FACE CONVERSATION ABOUT THEM IS CENTRAL TO THE CURRICULUM. THE INSTITUTE DOES THIS THROUGH ITS TWO FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS: THE JOHN JAY FELLOWS PROGRAM AND THE SARATOGA FELLOWS PROGRAM. THE JOHN JAY FELLOWS PROGRAM IS THE INSTITUTE'S FLAGSHIP FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AND SERVES ASPIRING PUBLIC LEADERS WHO ARE COLLEGE GRADUATES. IN DOING SO, IT HOSTS TWO COHORTS OF EIGHT FELLOWS EACH YEAR, ONE IN THE FALL AND ONE IN THE SPRING. ITS CURRICULUM IS AN INTEGRATED OFFERING OF THEOLOGY, PHILOSOPHY, ETHICS, HISTORY, POLITICS, CONSTITUTIONAL STUDIES, AND NATURAL LAW JURISPRUDENCE. THE SARATOGA FELLOWS PROGRAM OPERATES EACH SUMMER AND SERVES UP TO EIGHT JUNIOR OFFICERS BY AUGMENTING THEIR MILITARY TRAINING WITH STUDIES IN AMERICAN CULTURE, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS; THE JUST WAR TRADITION; CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY AND JURISPRUDENCE; AND THE VIRTUE ETHICS REQUISITE FOR NOBLE CHARACTER, LEADERSHIP AND COMMAND. IN THE FALL OF 2016, THE JOHN JAY INSTITUTE'S FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT, THE REVEREND ALAN CRIPPEN, RESIGNED FROM THE ORGANIZATION. AFTER AN EXHAUSTIVE SEARCH, THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS BROUGHT IN MR. GREG SCHALLER, A PROFESSOR OF POLITICS AT COLORADO CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY, TO TAKE THE HELM. SINCE COMING ON AS PRESIDENT IN JUNE OF 2017, MR. SCHALLER GRADUATED TWO JOHN JAY FELLOWS CLASSES AND TWO SARATOGA FELLOWS CLASSES, WITH HIS THIRD CLASS OF JOHN JAY FELLOWS NOW IN SESSION. AMID THE SEARCH FOR A NEW LEADER, THE INSTITUTE MOVED ITS HOME FROM BALA CYNWYD, PA TO LANGHORNE, PA AND IN JANUARY 2017, BEGAN RENTING ITS NEW HOME, FAIRVIEW MANOR, FROM CAIRN UNIVERSITY. THIS 4000+ SQUARE FOOT LATE-18TH CENTURY TUDOR MANSION HAS PROVEN TO THE PERFECT HOME FOR OUR FELLOWS, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE ADDITION OF A FULLY-FUNCTIONAL KITCHEN AND LAUNDRY ROOM IN EARLY 2018. VITALLY ESSENTIAL TO THE JOHN JAY INSTITUTE'S RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMMING IS HOLISTIC LIVING AND LEARNING IN A SMALL COMMUNITY OF PEERS. FAIRVIEW MANOR HAS PROVEN TO BE VITALLY IMPORTANT FOR FOSTERING THE COMMUNITY, RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, AND NETWORKING OBJECTIVES OF THE JOHN JAY INSTITUTE. FELLOWS STUDY, WORSHIP, REFLECT, LIVE, EAT AND SERVE EACH OTHER TOGETHER IN A SINGLE FACILITY THAT FOSTERS FRIENDSHIP, INTIMACY, AND THE FRATERNAL BONDS FOR WORKING TOGETHER IN THE FUTURE. FURTHERMORE, THEY EXTEND HOSPITALITY TO OTHERS THROUGH WEEKLY TEAS AND DINNERS FOR SPECIAL GUESTS AND DIGNITARIES. ALUMNI ALSO VISIT THE CAMPUS FOR RENEWING FRIENDSHIPS, CONNECTING WITH OTHER CLASSES, AND COLLABORATING IN THEIR SHARED VOCATIONS AND ASPIRATIONS. THE PROGRAM CONTINUES TO ATTRACT BRIGHT, YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN INTO BOTH OF ITS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS AND OUR APPLICATION NUMBERS ARE INCREASING EACH SEMESTER. WITH MR. SCHALLER'S LEADERSHIP AND THE HELP OF FUNDRAISING CONTRACTORS, THE JOHN JAY INSTITUTE IS ALSO BRINGING IN LARGE FOUNDATION GRANTS AND IS WORKING TO INCREASE INDIVIDUAL, ALUMNI AND PARENT GIVING EACH YEAR. PLANS TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM TO 12 FELLOWS ARE IN THE WORKS, INCLUDING A PLAN FOR ADDITIONAL RENOVATIONS TO THE THIRD FLOOR AND BATHROOM FACILITIES TO ACCOMODATE THESE LARGER CLASSES. OUR PAST EXPERIENCE: SINCE ITS CHARTER IN 2005, THE JOHN JAY INSTITUTE HAS COME TO UNDERSTAND ITSELF FUNDAMENTALLY AS A NETWORK OF PEOPLE IN RELATIONSHIPS WHO ARE UNITED IN A SHARED UNDERSTANDING OF AND VISION FOR THE GOOD SOCIETY. RATHER THAN BEING
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2006.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.