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Stand to Reason

EIN 33-0604522 · Signal Hill, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

STAND TO REASON'S VISION IS TO PROVIDE THE TRAINING TO BUILD A NEW GENERATION OF CONFIDENT, COURAGEOUS, YET WINSOME AND ATTRACTIVE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST CAPABLE OF RESTORING CREDIBILITY TO THE CHRISTIAN WORLD VIEW. OUR MISSION IS TO EQUIP (SEE SCHEDULE O) CONFIDENT, COURAGEOUS, CLEAR-THINKING, AND GRACIOUS CHRISTIANS WHO CAN REPRESENT JESUS TO THE WORLD. OUR PLAN HAS FIVE PARTS (BROADCAST, PUBLICATIONS, INTERNET, SELF-DIRECTED TRAINING CURRICULA, AND PUBLIC SPEAKING AND SEMINARS), AND WE ARE WORKING OUR PLAN VERY INTENTIONALLY.

Income
$3.4 million
Spending
$3.3 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
11.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
18
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$186,975, president/ceo

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.3 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 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (religion, $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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (1)
  1. $2.6 million spent. STAND TO REASON SPEAKERS TAUGHT AT OVER 142 EVENTS IN 2024, MANY OF WHICH INVOLVED MULTIPLE SESSIONS OVER MULTIPLE DAYS. STR HOSTED SIX REALITY STUDENT CONFERENCES IN CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY (LA MIRADA, CA; SEATTLE, WA; MINNEAPOLIS, MN; DALLAS, TX; PHILADELPHIA, PA; AND DAYTON, OH) WITH OVER 12,000 TOTAL ATTENDEES. STR AIRED 49 RADIO BROADCASTS ON A DOZEN AFFILIATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND NEARLY 1.4 MILLION PODCAST EPISODES WERE DOWNLOADED FROM COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD. NEARLY 3 MILLION PAGES WERE VIEWED ON STR'S WEBSITE, AND OUR YOUTUBE VIDEOS RECEIVED OVER 4.5 MILLION VIEWS. WE ALSO HAVE OVER 17K LEARNERS ENROLLED IN OUR ONLINE TRAINING COURSES AT STR UNIVERSITY.

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 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 January 1997.

    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.