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Brite Divinity School

EIN 23-7121060 · Fort Worth, TX

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BRITE DIVINITY SCHOOL EDUCATES AND INSPIRES PEOPLE TO SERVE GOD'S DIVERSE WORLD AS LEADERS IN CHURCHES, THE ACADEMY, AND PUBLIC LIFE.

Income
$12.3 million
Spending
$11.5 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
9.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 47%
Employees
87
Volunteers
27
Highest pay
$342,594, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 34% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 23 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, 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)
  1. $4.5 million spent. BRITE DIVINITY SCHOOL EDUCATES AND INSPIRES PEOPLE TO SERVE GOD'S DIVERSE WORLD AS LEADERS IN CHURCHES, THE ACADEMY, AND PUBLIC LIFE. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR MORE. BRITE DIVINITY SCHOOL EDUCATES AND INSPIRES PEOPLE TO SERVE GOD'S DIVERSE WORLD AS LEADERS IN CHURCHES, THE ACADEMY AND PUBLIC LIFE. APPROXIMATELY 154 INDIVIDUALS FROM MORE THAN 32 DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS AND 5 COUNTRIES ACROSS THE GLOBE ATTEND BRITE. DEGREES OFFERED INCLUDE MASTER OF DIVINITY (M.DIV.), MASTER OF ARTS IN THEOLOGY AND MINISTRY (M.A.T.M.), MASTER OF THEOLOGICAL STUDIES (M.T.S.), MASTER OF THEOLOGY (TH.M.), DOCTOR OF MINISTRY (D.MIN.), DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PH.D.), AS WELL AS COLLABORATIVE DEGREES WITH THE NEELEY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AT TCU (M.DIV./M.B.A., M.A.T.M./M.B.A. AND M.T.S./M.B.A.) AND THE TCU DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK (M.DIV./M.S.W., M.A.T.M./M.S.W., AND M.T.S./M.S.W.). BRITE ALSO OFFERS SEVEN CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS THAT CAN BE INCORPORATED INTO THE M.DIV., M.T.S., M.A.T.M. AND CERTIFICATE OF THEOLOGICAL STUDIES PROGRAMS. ESSENTIAL TO AND IN SUPPORT OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMS AND FACULTY RESEARCH IS OUR LIBRARY WITH OVER 178,000 PRINTED VOLUMES AND 51,000 BOUND PERIODICALS, PLUS E-BOOKS, JOURNALS AND RELATED INDICES. ALL FACULTY MEMBERS HAVE A TERMINAL DEGREE IN THEIR FIELD. A LONG-TERM GOAL OF THE SCHOOL HAS BEEN TO MAKE THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE.
  2. $2.2 million spent. IN ADDITION TO AND IN SUPPORT OF GRANTING DEGREES, BRITE PROVIDES FIELD EDUCATION TRAINING THROUGH ITS SUPERVISED MINISTRY PROGRAM. STUDENTS ARE PLACED IN A VARIETY OF CHURCHES AND AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE AREA TO ENHANCE THE INTEGRATION OF CLASSROOM LEARNING AND MINISTERIAL PRACTICE. THE EXPERIENCE OF STUDENTS IS FURTHER ENRICHED BY RELEVANT SPEAKERS AT WEEKLY CHAPEL SERVICES AND OTHER SPECIALIZED EVENTS. CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES ARE PROVIDED FOR AREA MINISTERS AND LAY LEADERS, INCLUDING MINISTRY WEEK AND STALCUP SCHOOL FOR THE LAITY.MORE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN PROGRAM SERVICE INCLUDE THE CENTER FOR THEOLOGY AND JUSTICE (CTJ), WHICH IS AN INSTITUTIONAL INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO INTEGRATE THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION WITH PRACTICAL ENGAGEMENT IN JUSTICE-ORIENTED ISSUES IN THE CHURCH, ACADEMY, AND SOCIETY.
  3. $1.5 million spent. BRITE'S LEIBROCK VILLAGE APARTMENTS PROVIDE CONVENIENTLY LOCATED AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE VILLAGE CONSISTS OF 56 UNITS IN THREE SEPARATE BUILDINGS ARRANGED TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY TO THE FULLEST. TWO FULL-TIME STAFF ARE EMPLOYED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FACILITY.
  4. $298,370 spent. RESEARCH AND RELATED PROGRAMS ENHANCE THE LIFE OF BRITE AND ITS CONSTITUENTS. THE RESEARCH AND RELATED PROGRAM SERVICES ARE PROJECTS ORGANIZED SPECIFICALLY TO ENHANCE THE MISSION OF THE DIVINITY SCHOOL. WORK IS INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY FUNDED, OFTEN BY MULTI-YEAR GRANTS. FACULTY RECEIVE REGULAR RESEARCH LEAVES AND TRAVEL SUPPORT THAT ASSISTS IN THE PRESENTATION AND PUBLICATION OF PAPERS AND BOOKS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending May 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1935.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.