Reading Berks Conference of Churches
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
We bridge connections, identify resources, and discover solutions for communities to be transformed and to thrive.
- Income
- $323,541
- Spending
- $310,584
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- 0.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 97%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 40
- Highest pay
- $79,565, supv. chaplain-jail
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
Weak: 46 out of 100.
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 87% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% 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
Fair: 56 out of 100.
Independent board
5 of 250 of 5 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
0 of 10Did not give 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (5)
- $133,335 spent. Chaplaincy Services at Berks County Jail A team of paid chaplains coordinate religious services and programs for inmates within Berks County Jail. Services and programs are held in the jail chapel and, at times, on the blocks within the jail for smaller groups. Dozens of volunteers are coordinated and assist in religious services and programs. We also maintain a library of religious and motivational reading materials. These materials are available to inmates by request through the jail communication system or by visiting the library in person. Materials and services are made available to assist inmates in practicing the religion they profess. Chaplains respond to requests from inmates to meet for conversation regarding spiritual and religious needs. Chaplains work closely with jail staff to take the lead in communicating death and hospital notification to inmates regarding their immediate family members outside the jail. We are available to jail staff for conversation and ministry of presence, especially as any challenges come up within the workplace.
- $65,053 spent. Chaplaincy Services at Berks Heim Nursing and Rehabilitation One full-time and one part-time chaplain provide religious services and programs and visitation to residents in the facility. Services and programs are held in a community meeting space, as well as common spaces on units throughout the facility. A number of volunteers are coordinated and assist in religious services and programs. Our chaplains visit all residents on a rotating basis to encourage them and fulfill any religious needs. We are also available to Berks Heim staff for conversation and ministry of presence, especially as any challenges come up within the workplace.
- $7,321 spent. Chaplaincy Services at Berks County Youth Shelter. One part-time chaplain provides religious services and support to the youth in the shelter. Our chaplain engages residing youth on a regular basis to make sure any religious needs are accommodated. The chaplain also conducts voluntary program opportunities for youth to talk about their faith. We are also available to Shelter staff for conversation and ministry of presence, especially as any challenges come up within the facility.
- Program Service Expenses 13,227, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 0 We encourage and strengthen approximately 30-50 pastors and church community leaders in Berks County through one-on-one support meetings, bridging valuable connections for ministry and personal growth. We often share meals with pastors/leaders and their spouses providing a time where we can minister to them as they share their challenges. We refer leaders to deeper levels of support as needed. We also bridge connections between pastors/leaders for mutual benefit and support. These connections can be other community organizations, church leaders, or individuals with like-minded passions to impact the community.
- Program Service Expenses 76,839, Grants and allocations 9,900, Revenue 0 In a growing effort to address the impact of trauma on many individuals in our communities, we developed a training team to engage churches and ministries on the topic of trauma. We built upon our training with Becky Haas, an international advocate and trainer on using a trauma informed approach, the Adverse Childhood Experiences ACEs study and Positive Childhood Experiences PCEs study. to learn as well. We believe this is one pathway to community healing and transformation in the greater Reading area. After months of building a training team and imparting to them the principals needed to engage people on trauma, we launched our Trauma-Informed Community Training. We were able to bring this training to the staff at the Berks County Youth Shelter before they opened this year. We also conducted the training with a local church and a local ministry. This area of work is poised to be a focus in coming years. We continued to minister to RM Palmer Corporation for a full year following the explosion at their company that killed seven people.
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 November 6, 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 October 1948.
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 November 4, 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.