Evangelical Center for Spiritual Wisdom
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO HELP DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST BECOME INCREASINGLY LIKE HIM AND ASSIST OTHER RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS IN THE ACHIEVEMENT OF SIMILAR PURPOSES.
- Income
- $253,106
- Spending
- $257,552
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 5.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $24,000, director of operations
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
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
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
6 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 June 30, 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 (2)
- $110,899 spent. Program #1 - We continue to see the adoption of our spiritual formation resources for spiritual directors and churches as well as training new leaders for our small group resources. Total Life with God Leaders trained as of the end of the fiscal year is 219. We see exponential growth in contact requests as people are interacting with our resources online. The results are new partnerships with churches both from a top-down approach (leader-led) and a bottom-up approach (grassroots; lay-led). We worked with a marketer to help us think through an awareness plan to expand our reach to churches that are looking for spiritual formation resources. We organized staff to better serve our church partners.
- $117,209 spent. Program #2 - CSDA is our spiritual directors association. We are seeing strong growth, with 1330 members representing 48 states in the U.S. and 21 additional countries. We have continued our online delivery of professional development to our spiritual directors throughout the year, including opportunities for member soul care called Community Life Events. We were once again able to host our annual in-person gathering in February 2025 for those association members who were able to travel and meet in person. Our annual in-person gatherings are a source of ministry and encouragement for those attending. Due to the nature of spiritual direction, this type of work can have an isolating effect. Our gathering provides a much-needed source of community and relational support for those on the front lines of caring for others. The 2025 Gathering attendance was 95.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 June 2025.
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 June 2010.
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 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.