Shelby Kennedy Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE SHELBY KENNEDY FOUNDATION IS TO HELP FAMILIES STRENGTHEN THEIR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD AND DYNAMICALLY IMPACT THE WORLD AS AMBASSADORS OF JESUS CHRIST.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $2.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- -6.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 62%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 200
- Highest pay
- $96,207, executive director of operations
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: 30 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 174% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 132% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% 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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 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 (2)
- $1.9 million spent. NATIONAL BIBLE BEE CONTESTSHELBY KENNEDY FOUNDATION, INC. HOSTED AND EXECUTED THE NATIONAL BIBLE BEE CONTEST HELD IN BLACK MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA, WHERE HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH, AGES 7 TO 18, WERE INVITED FROM THE LOCAL CONTESTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS NATIONAL EVENT. THE EVENT WAS HELD NOVEMBER 2024. THE COMPETITORS WERE DRAWN FROM EACH OF THREE AGE GROUPS: PRIMARY (AGES 7-10), JUNIOR (AGES 11-14), AND SENIOR (AGES 15-18). THE CONTESTANTS COMPETED FOR PRIZE MONEY WITH THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE BIBLE, BOTH IN MEMORIZED BIBLE VERSES AND BIBLE FACTS. ELECTRONIC AND ORAL TESTING DETERMINED MULTIPLE WINNERS IN THESE CATEGORIES. AT THE END OF THE NATIONAL BIBLE BEE COMPETITION, PRIZES TOTALING OVER $228,000 IN THE FORM OF CASH AND/OR SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED TO THE TOP COMPETITORS IN EACH AGE GROUP.
- $193,204 spent. SUMMER STUDY PROGRAMTHE SUMMER STUDY IS AN 8 UNIT BIBLE STUDY FROM JUNE TO AUGUST WHERE CHILDREN AGES 5-18 EXPLORE AND MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE IN A FUN AND EDUCATIONAL WAY. THE SUMMER STUDY IS ALSO THE FIRST STEP TOWARD QUALIFYING FOR THE NATIONAL BIBLE BEE COMPETITION. AT THE HEART OF THE NATIONAL BIBLE BEE'S SUMMER STUDY PROGRAM IS THE DISCOVERY JOURNAL, AN INDUCTIVE STUDY THAT LAUNCHES CHILDREN ON A JOURNEY THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES. THE STUDY TEACHES CHILDREN TO EXPLORE THE BIBLE USING 11 DIFFERENT STUDY TOOLS AND METHODS SUCH AS: KEYWORDS, CROSS-REFERENCES, BACKGROUND STUDY, PERSONAL APPLICATION, AND ORIGINAL LANGUAGE WORD STUDIES.
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 March 2009.
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.