United Marriage Encounter
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE A WEEKEND EXPERIENCE TO ALL MARRIAGES OF ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN, HELPING THEM BUILD A BETTER MARRIAGE THROUGH A RENEWED COMMITMENT TO JESUS CHRIST AND REGULAR COMMUNICATION BY EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING.
- Income
- $319,064
- Spending
- $297,697
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 15.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 96%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 395
- Highest pay
- $124,120, executive director
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 86% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 15.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 20 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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)
- $297,697 spent. IN 2024, WITH THE WEEKEND DONATIONS RECEIVED IN 2023 AND 170+ REGULAR DONORS, WE WERE ABLE TO HOST 221 COUPLES ON OUR WEEKENDS, OF WHICH 47% WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ATTEND WITHOUT FINANCIAL SUPPORT. WE KNOW OF NO OTHER MARRIAGE ORGANIZATIONS HELPING IN THIS CAPACITY. AFTER THE WEEKEND EXPERIENCE, OUR MISSION IS TO HELP THE COUPLES CONTINUE THEIR TRANSFORMATION BY OFFERING ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES. THIS IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE HELP OF OVER 300 VOLUNTEERS AND THE SUPPORT OF OTHER FOUNDATIONS. WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE OUR ESTIMATED 3,000 MEMBERS WITH ONGOING SUPPORT FOR THEIR MARRIAGE AND FUTURE WEEKEND OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND THE LOCAL CHURCHES. UNITED MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER (UME) CONTINUES TO HAVE A PRESENCE IN THE UNITED STATES, MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE, AND AUSTRALIA, OFFERING MARRIAGE HELP FOR LOCAL CITIZENS. UNITED MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WAS RANKED NUMBER THREE ON "THE 10 BEST CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE CONFERENCES, RETREATS AND INTENSIVES 2017-2018" BY THE THEOLOGICAL DEGREES AND IS LISTED AS ONE OF "AMERICA'S BEST CHARITIES." WWW.BEST-CHARITIES.ORG.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1977.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.