Living Waters Bible Camp Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
REACH, TRAIN, AND EQUIP INDIVIDUALS TO BECOME SERVANT LEADERS THROUGH THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD, INTENTIONAL GODLY RELATIONSHIPS, AND ADVENTURES IN HIS CREATION. OUR VISION IS TO BE A CHRISTIAN RESOURCE FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND CREATION EXPERIENCE IN THE MIDWEST. OUR ENDS STATEMENT IS THAT CAMPERS WILL BECOME CHRIST FOLLOWERS WHO ARE SERVANT LEADERS AND LIVE OUT A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW. THE CORPORATION OPERATES THE CAMP FOR CHARITABLE, RELIGIOUS, AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES. TRAINING IS PROVIDED FOR STAFF TO EQUIP THEM TO SERVE AT CAMPS AND IN VARIOUS MISSION ACTIVITIES. CAMPERS ARE TAUGHT THE WONDERS OF CREATION THROUGH A WELL-EQUIPPED NATURE CENTER MUSEUM, A PLANETARIUM, A TELESCOPE, AND HANDS-ON STUDIES OF ROCKS,CAVES, TREES, VEGETATION, LAKES AND STREAMS.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 68%
- Reserves
- 4.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 55%
- Employees
- 23
- Volunteers
- 302
- Highest pay
- $60,800, 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
Good: 85 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 24% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1568% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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
Good: 82 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
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)
- $770,314 spent. LIVING WATERS BIBLE CAMP CONDUCTED THROUGH 13 SUMMER CAMP SESSIONS, HELD FROM JUNE THROUGH AUGUST, THAT SERVED 743 CAMPERS WHO SPENT 4,351 CAMPER DAYS AT CAMP. EACH SESSION WAS CONDUCTED FOR THE SPIRITUAL, EMOTIONAL,SOCIAL, AND PHYSICAL BENEFIT OF THE CAMPERS AS THEY LEARNED ABOUT THE LORD THROUGH BIBLE STUDY, NATURE PROGRAMS THAT REFLECT THE BIBLICALACCOUNT OF CREATION, AND CHALLENGE COURSE/TEAM-BUILDING ACTIVITIES. EACH SESSION ALSO PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW IN SERVING OTHERS, PREPARING CAMPERS TO BE LEADERS AND ROLE MODELS THROUGH SERVICE IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, AND AT HOME. 20 LIVING WATERS SPONSORED EVENTS WERE CONDUCTED THAT SERVED 969 CAMPERS WHO SPENT 1,647 CAMPER DAYS AT CAMP. EACH SESSION WAS CONDUCTED WITH THE FOCUS OF INDIVIDUALS GROWING IN THEIR PERSONAL WALK WITH THE LORD, STRENGTHENING FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, AND SERVICE, SUCH AS, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: YOUNG ADULT RETREAT, LADIES RETREAT, FATHER/SON RETREAT, MOTHER/DAUGHTER RETREAT, AND MEXICO MISSION TRIP. CAMP HOSTED 19 SCHOOL GROUPS, PRIMARILY PRIVATE SCHOOLS, THAT SERVED 1,007 STUDENTS WHO SPENT 1,050 CAMPER DAYS AT CAMP. EACH SCHOOL SELECTED EITHER A NATURE PROGRAM OR SERVANT LEADERSHIP TRACK TO DEVELOP THEIR STUDENTS FURTHER EDUCATIONALLY, SPIRITUALLY, AND SOCIALLY THROUGH TIMES OF BIBLE STUDY, NATURE PROGRAMS, CHALLENGE COURSE, AND TEAM-BUILDING ACTIVITIES.CAMP HOSTED 23 GUEST GROUPS THAT SERVED 1,021 GUESTS WHO SPENT 1,849 CAMPERS DAYS AT CAMP. EACH GROUP WAS AFFORDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEACHING, ACTIVITIES, NATURE PROGRAMS, AND TIME TO DEVELOP INTENTIONAL GODLY RELATIONSHIPS AMONGST THEIR GROUP.
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 December 1970.
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.