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The Center for the Research of Early Christian Documents

EIN 30-0121808 · Plano, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts (CSNTM), under the umbrella of The Center for the Research of Early Christian Documents (CRECD), exists for the following purposes: 1. To make digital photographs of extant Greek New Testament manuscripts so that such images can be preserved, duplicated without deterioration, and accessed by scholars doing textual research. 2. To utilize developing technologies (OCR, MSI, etc.) to read these manuscripts and create exhaustive collations. 3. To analyze individual scribal habits in order to better predict scribal tendencies in any given textual problem. 4. To publish on various facets of New Testament textual criticism. 5. To develop electronic tools for the examination and analysis of New Testament manuscripts. 6. To cooperate with other institutes in the great and noble task of determining the wording of the autographa of the New Testament.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
10
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$161,146, ceo/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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 36% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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

Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 7 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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, 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 (3)
  1. $741,838 spent. Resourcing: The Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts' (CSNTM) core program is to provide scholars, scholarly institutions, and the wider public with manuscript images, digital tools for textual research, and other useful resources using emerging technologies. In 2024, CSNTM visited 14 institutions in 6 countries to examine 414 manuscript artifacts, totaling 144,840 pages. After examination, we digitized (including manuscripts and microfilm images of manuscripts) 280 manuscript artifacts totaling 95,212 pages. We continue to work with the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in digitizing their collection of historic documents related to the International Greek New Testament Project (IGNTP.)
  2. $31,568 spent. Educating: CSNTM trains new generations of scholars and a wider audience in the history of the New Testament text. We fulfilled this academic and educational mission in three areas. (1) In 2024, CSNTM staff and interns presented papers at two academic conferences. (2) In 2024, four masters-level students completed their academic internships, including the opportunity to attend two academic conferences. (3) In 2024, CSNTM completed the development of its first Biblion Lecture Series, "Text to Translation: The Story of the New Testament." It was delivered to 87 unique students who filled 248 seats at the sessions.
  3. $15,784 spent. Collaborating: CSNTM engages with other institutions and scholars in the academic discipline of New Testament textual scholarship. In 2024, CSNTM hosted its second CSNTM Text & Manuscript Conference, a biennial gathering of the world's leading New Testament textual scholars. The conference was held in Plano, Texas on May 30-31, featuring presentations from 18 world-renowned academics from Europe and the United States, and drew more than 50 attendees. As with the first conference, Hendrickson Publishers will publish a collection of the papers tentatively titled, Intersection: Interdisciplinary Approaches to New Testament Text and Manuscripts. Additionally, CSNTM has completed the arduous process of redesigning its database and website to accommodate a broader range of relevant New Testament resources. The site is currently in beta testing with the full launch scheduled for the third quarter of 2025.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 2003.

    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.