Tom Short Campus Ministries
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
We exist to communicate the message of Christianity on America's campuses.
- Income
- $561,293
- Spending
- $299,159
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 41.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 85%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 5
- Highest pay
- $129,316, 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
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 41.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 47% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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
Weak: 31 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 251 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (4)
- $209,624 spent. CAMPUS AND MEDIA OUTREACH. This has ever been our vision and purpose - to reach the most strategic and needy place in the world, the students at America's universities. Our programs here include public presentations of the gospel, apologetics, and Christian beliefs. This happens across more than 15 campuses each year. Additionally, TSCM is finding ways to outreach through modern technologies using the internet, video, books, and other digital media.
- INTERN PROGRAM. Our intern program is a significant part of both the mission of TSCM and helping accomplish our goals at TSCM. As we invest in the next generation, a simple and powerful way to do this is to invite a handful of people to join us on the mission field to gain evangelism experience and grow in discipleship skills. Not only is this beneficial to them, it fills a mission that we have to raise up new, strong believers. All this happens while they help our outreach efforts to reach more people, engage in conversation, and help transport and setup our campus outreach. This is a volunteer program with no revenue or expenses incurred; however, we did not run this program in 2024.
- TOURS AND CONFERENCES. TSCM hosts a trip to Israel including a time of Biblical teachings and community-building for the attendees. We did not run this event in 2024 due to unrest in the country.
- $14,000 spent. INTERNATIONAL - We support like-minded missionaries in India.
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 September 2007.
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.