Partners for Sacred Places Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SUPPORT FOR CARE AND FULL USE OF OLDER RELIGIOUS PROPERTIES AS CENTERS OF CONGREGATIONAL LIFE AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.
- Income
- $4.9 million
- Spending
- $4.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 7.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 59%
- Employees
- 37
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $258,004, 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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.8 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 83% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 48% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% 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
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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 (3)
- $3.2 million spent. PROGRAMS AND CONSULTING. THIS PROGRAM OFFERS IN-PERSON AND REMOTE TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO CONGREGATIONS AND OTHERS WITH OLDER RELIGIOUS PROPERTIES. OUR SIGNATURE PROGRAM, NEW DOLLARS/NEW PARTNERS, HAS HELPED LEADERS FROM OVER 1,000 SACRED PLACES BUILD THEIR CAPACITY, FORM NEW COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, AND RAISE NEW FUNDS FROM OUTSIDE THEIR CONGREGATIONS. IN ADDITION, WE ALSO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT SERVICES, WORKING ONE-ON- ONE WITH CONGREGATIONS TO MEASURE THEIR COMMUNITY IMPACT, FACILITATE SPACE SHARING, RAISE FUNDS, DEEPEN ENGAGEMENT WITH THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND MORE.
- $83,445 spent. RESEARCH. THE ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN A RESEARCH LEADER, DEFINING AND ENERGIZING THE STUDY OF THE PUBLIC VALUE OF RELIGIOUS ASSETS WITH OUR 1999 LANDMARK STUDY, SACRED PLACES AT RISK: NEW EVIDENCE ON HOW ENDANGERED OLDER CHURCHES AND SYNAGOGUES SERVE COMMUNITIES, AND OUR 2016 STUDY, THE ECONOMIC HALO EFFECT OF SACRED PLACES, AND UPDATED WITH OUR 2022 ECONOMIC HALO EFFECT IN RURAL CHURCHES. BECAUSE OF THESE STUDIES, WHICH DOCUMENTED DOZENS OF WAYS SACRED PLACES CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL ECONOMIES, THE PROGRAM ENABLES CONGREGATIONS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO ADVOCATE FOR INCREASED COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
- $638,881 spent. RE-GRANTS. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES CAPITAL GRANTS TO SACRED PLACES, WHICH HAVE BEEN LEVERAGED BY RECIPIENTS TO SECURE ADDITIONAL FUNDING. IN 2016, THE ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED THE NATIONAL FUND FOR SACRED PLACES IN COLLABORATION WITH THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION. THE NATIONAL FUND FOR SACRED PLACES IS A GRANT-MAKING AND CAPACITY-BUILDING PROGRAM TO HELP SIGNIFICANT HISTORIC SACRED PLACES SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS AND TO BRING GREATER ATTENTION TO THE ROLE OF SACRED PLACES IN AMERICA. IN ADDITION, PARTNERS FOR SACRED PLACES PROVIDES CAPITAL GRANTS TO CHURCHES IN CENTRAL APPALACHIA AND THE UPPER MIDWEST.
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 July 1989.
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.
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