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Pioneer Bible Translators

EIN 23-7433923 · Dallas, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PIONEER BIBLE TRANSLATORS EXISTS AS A TEAM TO DISCIPLE BIBLE-LESS PEOPLES, MOBILIZING GOD'S PEOPLE EVERYWHERE BOTH TO PROVIDE ENDURING ACCESS TO GOD'S WORD TRANSLATED INTO THEIR LANGUAGES AND TO MAXIMIZE ITS IMPACT TO GROW THE CHURCH.

Income
$23.9 million
Spending
$24.1 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
-0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
345
Volunteers
245
Highest pay
$132,860, chief people officer

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

Financial health

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (religion, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (religion, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 16 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 December 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 (3)
  1. $18.2 million spent. BIBLE TRANSLATION, LITERACY, AND RELATED MOBILIZATION AND DISCIPLESHIP ACTIVITIES - PIONEER BIBLE CONSISTS OF 701 TEAMMATES COOPERATING WITH 350 LOCAL COLLEAGUES WORLDWIDE MINISTERING TO 510 MILLION PEOPLE IN 116 DIFFERENT LANGUAGE GROUPS IN 41 COUNTRIES. DURING 2025, WE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF LANGUAGE GROUPS ENGAGED FROM 106 TO 116 WITH A HISTORICAL PORTFOLIO OF 146 LANGUAGE PROGRAMS (INCLUDING ACTIVE AND INACTIVE PROGRAMS). TEAMS TRANSLATED 39,265 VERSES OF SCRIPTURE WHICH ARE READY FOR FIRST PUBLICATION AND CONTINUED BUILDING A CAPACITY FOR SIGN LANGUAGE TRANSLATION WORLDWIDE. FINALLY, WE NOTE THAT IN THE 49-YEAR HISTORY OF PIONEER BIBLE, OUR TEAMS HAVE DRAFTED 1,094,009 VERSES OF THE BIBLE, THE EQUIVALENT NUMBER OF VERSES AS 137 NEW TESTAMENTS. OUR TEAMS NOW HAVE PUBLISHED A TOTAL OF 5 COMPLETE BIBLES AND 25 NEW TESTAMENTS.
  2. $589,688 spent. MOBILIZATION - THE ORGANIZATION WELCOMED 58 NEW TEAMMATES. MOBILIZERS ATTENDED 30+ EVENTS, DURING WHICH THEY FACILITATED 50 SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS. THROUGH THESE EVENTS, AROUND 2,500+ PEOPLE BECAME FAMILIAR WITH THE MINISTRY OF PIONEER BIBLE TRANSLATORS. AROUND 100 OF THESE ARE SERIOUS INQUIRERS.TRAINING - TRAINING NEW AND CURRENT MISSIONARIES IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF PIONEER BIBLE'S MISSION. IN 2025, PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL COACHING WAS PROVIDED TO AT LEAST 133 INDIVIDUALS PREPARING FOR CROSS-CULTURAL WORK. A PROGRAM PRACTICUM AND PLANNING COURSE WAS OFFERED IN THE FALL, AND WEEKLY CHAPEL SERVICES WERE CONDUCTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. VARIOUS WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS WERE ALSO PROVIDED, INCLUDING TEAM ORIENTATION AND SPIRITUAL FORMATION. ONGOING TRAINING ACTIVITIES CONTINUED DAILY WITH NEW REPRESENTATIVES AND ASSOCIATES. IN 2025, 20 MISSIONARIES COMPLETED TRAINING AND BEGAN THEIR FIRST ASSIGNMENT.
  3. $301,083 spent. MISSIONARY CARE OUR ORGANIZATION VALUES A CULTURE OF CARE AMONG OUR EXPATRIATE AND NATIONAL COWORKERS. OUR CARE DEPARTMENT DESIRES TO BE A CATALYST OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND HOLISTIC NURTURING THAT LEADS TO PHYSICAL, SPIRITUAL, SOCIAL, MENTAL, PROFESSIONAL, AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING. IN 2025, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF CLINICAL THERAPY FOR OUR TEAMMATES. WE ALSO PROVIDED HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF PASTORAL CARE THROUGH HEALING PRAYER AND DEBRIEFING SERVICES FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN. FOR TEAMMATES TRANSITIONING BETWEEN COUNTRIES, CULTURES, AND LANGUAGES, WE PROVIDED PERSONAL AND GROUP DEBRIEFING OPPORTUNITIES TO DEAL WITH CHANGES AND OTHER STRESSORS. IN ADDITION TO IN-PERSON AND ONLINE ACTIVITIES FOR CROSS-CULTURAL KIDS, WE PROVIDED SEVERAL AGE-APPROPRIATE SERVICES IN THE USA AND ABROAD. WE ALSO TRAINED PARENTS TO BETTER ASSIST THEIR CHILDREN. THE CARE TEAM MOBILIZED DAILY PRAYER, SENT THOUSANDS OF EMAILS AND SOCIAL MEDIA EXCHANGES, USED TELECONFERENCING, HOSTED FOUR WEBINARS INCLUDING ONE LED BY A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AUTHOR, AND LED OUR US-BASED AND OVERSEAS TEAMMATES IN MONTHLY PRAYER AND FASTING EVENTS. WE TRAINED NEARLY 50 PEOPLE IN CARE PRACTICES. THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THE CARE DEPARTMENT WAS BLESSED TO FACILITATE IN 2025.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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? Worth knowing.

    The IRS does not require this organization to file annual returns.

    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 March 1975.

    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.