Empowering Lives International
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Empowering Lives International (ELI) ignites world changers. We equip families and orphans to crush poverty, embrace Christ, and share their transformation with others through their God-honoring income, their deepening relationship with Jesus, and their skills to empower others.
- Income
- $2.3 million
- Spending
- $2.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 1.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 13
- Volunteers
- 49
- Highest pay
- $132,146, ceo
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: 72 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 0% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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
Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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 (4)
- $1.0 million spent. Kenya - ELI works strategically alongside gifted national leaders emphasizing collaboration, decentralization, and multiplication to break the cycle of poverty and "Ignite World Changers." Real change takes place in countless villages around East Africa through trained World Changers who have been equipped with life, communication, and leadership skills, as well as deepening relationships with God. Because life-skills, income-generating ideas, and agribusiness are dynamically integrated with trauma healing and the Gospel, former alcoholics, former brewers, widows, orphans, elders, chiefs, police officers, and many others are living transformed lives, impacting families, neighborhoods, communities, and villages! Additionally, ELI operates two orphanages which serve as homes for over 330 orphans, as well as a school that offers primary education to over 200 children from the orphanage and local community. Empowering orphans (the ultimate victims of poverty) and other vulnerable children to become World Changers is critical to ensure that future generations are trained and equipped to continue the real change taking place through Godly, life-giving influence on communities. In South Sudan, war has been a way of life for over 20 years. With the establishment of the new country of South Sudan, ELI has been able to provide life-changing skills through extension training. In 2005, ELI helped establish a Christian school 20 miles from Bor, near the upper Nile River. The elementary school, averaging around 200 children from kindergarten through 8th grade, is now managed by the local leadership and community. All programs for South Sudan are now financed through programs in Kenya. South Sudanese community leaders are trained, equipped, empowered, and commissioned through ELI's International Extension Program based out of Kenya.
- $698,030 spent. USA/General Fund - The US-based staff are much more than administrators. They are active participants in ELIs mission and ministry. Through advising, consulting, and overseeing work in Africa, as well as communicating with sponsors, partners, and donors in the USA, ELIs US staff fuels the dynamic ministry and relationship building happening domestically. Though some staff hours are spent processing donations and engaging in necessary administrative functions, the majority of US human resource time is spent directly investing in, participating in, and advancing the mission in Africa and in the hearts and lives of ELIs wonderful partners who help to finance this special and unique ministry.
- $134,854 spent. Tanzania - For the majority of people in Tanzania the daily struggle for water impacts every other area of life. Where there is water, it is often contaminated with bacteria and parasites, leading to debilitating sicknesses and draining peoples energy and lives. To address this widespread problem, ELI is drilling and establishing clean water wells in communities and schools around the Lake Region. With a training base in Ramadi, ELI staff build relationships with suffering communities and work with the Mighty Men Drilling team to research and provide the best locations for safe water sources. The ELI Extension Training Program complements the water drilling program with short workshops in business, agriculture, and spiritual growth to help suffering families gain poverty-breaking knowledge and skills to better utilize the clean water sources for holistic transformation.
- DR Congo - In the heart of the bustling city of Bukavu in the war-torn nation of DR Congo, ELI established the Empowering Lives Christian Academy. The school, located in the Keredi slum, provides a Christian education and a nutritious lunch to over 650 children (K-12) who would otherwise not have access to education or nutrition. The ELI Extension Training Program complements the school program with short workshops in business and agriculture to help suffering families gain vital knowledge and skills to break the cycle of poverty.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1995.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.