Moody Bible Institute of Chicago
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Moody Bible Institute is a higher education and media ministry that exists to equip people with the truth of God's word to be maturing followers of Christ who are making disciples around the world. Moody is best known for its education branch, which includes a fully accredited undergraduate school and seminary, as well as distance learning. Other primary ministries include Moody Radio and Moody Publisher.
- Income
- $129.6 million
- Spending
- $134.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 13.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 48%
- Employees
- 1,804
- Volunteers
- 17
- Highest pay
- $398,176, president & 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: 83 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.6 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 33% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 13 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 (4)
- $62.1 million spent. Education: The mission of Moody Education is to educate students to think biblically, live Christianly, and serve the church effectively. Number of Students (2024-2025 school year): Undergraduate School 1,834 Graduate School 790 50 states and the District of Columbia and 49 Countries are currently represented by international students throughout Moody. 6% of Undergraduate students are international, and 8.6% of Graduate students are international. 6.8% of students are international, both Undergraduate and Graduate students. These following majors or emphases are offered: Undergraduate Certificates: Ministry Leadership, Ministry to Women, Biblical and Theological Studies, Biblical Studies, Children and Family Ministry, Disability Ministry, Human Services, Intercultural Studies and Worship Leading. Associate degrees: Biblical Studies, Children and Family Ministry, CRISIS AND TRAUMA CARE, Human Services and Intercultural Studies and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). Bachelor of Science Degrees: Christian Psychology, Crisis and Trauma Care, Cultural Engagement, (HUMAN SERVICES - COUNSELING, CRISIS AND TRAUMA, PSYCHOLOGY), Integrated Ministry Studies, (Ministry Leadership -Children and Family Ministry, Disability Ministry, Human Services, Leadership, Ministry to Women, Preaching), (Missionary Aviation Technology - Flight or Maintenance), Biblical Studies, (Theological Studies - Christian Thought or Spiritual Formation),. Bachelor of Arts Degrees: Biblical Languages, Biblical Studies, Biblical Studies-Music Emphasis, CRISIS AND TRAUMA CARE, Ministry to Women, (Missional Leadership - Nonprofit Management or Interdisciplinary), Pastoral Studies, Pastoral Studies - Biblical Preaching, Youth Ministry, Theology, Children and Family Ministry, Elementary Education with Association of Christian Schools International Certification, Human Services, Applied Linguistics, Intercultural Studies, Jewish Studies, TESOL, and Communications, (Music - Music Ministry or Worship and Media Arts). These programs include the following emphases: Graduate certificate in biblical preaching, biblical spiritual formation and discipleship, Christian community development, Christian counseling, Church Planting, ministry leadership, nonprofit administration and leadership, Pastoral Studies, TESOL, biblical foundation, biblical languages - New Testament or Old Testament, biblical studies, New Testament studies, Old Testament studies, theological studies, marriage, family, and couples counseling and trauma-informed counseling. Master of arts in: biblical spiritual formation and discipleship, ministry leadership, (ministry studies Christian counseling, leadership, missions, ministry entrepreneurship, interdisciplinary), nonprofit administration and leadership, [pastoral studies - biblical preaching, pastoral ministry, or advanced track], [TESOL], [biblical and theological studies], [biblical studies], clinical mental health counseling, (marriage, family, and couple counseling, trauma-informed counseling), counseling psychology. Master of Divinity in: Biblical Languages, Biblical Preaching, Biblical Spiritual Formation and Discipleship, Interdisciplinary Studies, Ministry Leadership, Nonprofit Administration and Leadership, and Pastoral Studies. Master of Theological Studies - New Testament, Master of Theological Studies - Old Testament Doctor of Ministry - Biblical Preaching, CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP AND MINISTERIAL MANAGEMENT, INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES, PASTORAL CARE AND COUNSELING. (Expenses $ 7,317,044 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 2,169,622) Other Programs include our conference Ministries and various programs that support our mission.
- $23.0 million spent. Moody Global Radio is one of the oldest Christian radio and media networks in the U.S., having aired its first broadcast in 1926 in Chicago. Respected as an industry leader and a trusted voice, Moody Global Radio has 70 full power stations and translators, 19 digital channels, a podcast network, and more than 1,800 outlets that carry its programming, reaching millions of listeners through terrestrial stations and digital platforms in both English and Spanish. Moody Global Radio addresses today's issues from a biblical worldview and helps listeners take the next step in their journey with Jesus Christ by creating and delivering practical and life-changing content, so that our listeners become Biblically grounded, practically trained, and able to engage the world through Gospel-centered living. For more information about Moody Global Radio, please visit www.moodyradio.org.
- $20.5 million spent. Publishing: The mission of Moody Publishers (MP) is to resource the Church's work of discipling all people. Its vision is for readers to know, love, and serve Jesus Christ. In doing so, MP provides resources for MBI to train future Christian leaders. Each year MP seeks to add approximately 50 new titles to its collection, which now includes more than 1,300 titles in print. The most successful publications are from MP authors Gary Chapman, Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth, John MacArthur, and A.W. Tozer. Gary Chapman is the author of the #1 New York Times Bestseller "The 5 Love Languages" with over Twenty million copies sold. Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth is the host and teacher for the Moody Radio Daily Program, "Revive our Hearts". John MacArthur was pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in California and host and teacher of Moody Radio daily program "Grace to you". (Expenses $ 7,317,044 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 2,169,622) Other Programs include our conference Ministries and various programs that support our mission.
- $7.3 million spent. Other Programs include our conference Ministries and various programs that support our mission.
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 December 1933.
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.