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Wheaton College Billy Graham Center

EIN 36-2982217 · Wheaton, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF WHEATON COLLEGE BILLY GRAHAM CENTER IS TO DEVELOP AND MOBILIZE JESUS-FOLLOWERS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNAL WITNESS. OUR VISION IS TO SEE A WORLD TRANSFORMED BY THE GOSPEL.

Income
$3.6 million
Spending
$4.6 million
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 45%
Employees
23
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$595,698, president, chair

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

Weak: 39 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 52% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% 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: 88 out of 100.

  • 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 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 (1)
  1. $4.4 million spent. IN ADVANCE OF OUR MISSION, THE BILLY GRAHAM CENTER MAINTAINS ARCHIVES RELATED TO EVANGELISM AND MISSION AND A MUSEUM THAT CELEBRATES THE GOSPEL MESSAGE AND THE HISTORY OF EVANGELISM IN NORTH AMERICA. IN COOPERATION WITH WHEATON COLLEGE GRADUATE SCHOOL, WE ENCOURAGE A CONCERN FOR MISSIONS AND EVANGELISM BY OFFERING NONACADEMIC PROGRAMS FOR PASTORS, MINISTRY LEADERS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO HELP THEM REVITALIZE A PASSION FOR EVANGELISM IN THEIR MINISTRIES. SCHOLARSHIPS. THE BILLY GRAHAM CENTER PROVIDES "BILLY GRAHAM SCHOLARS" WITH SCHOLARSHIPS FROM ENDOWMENT PROCEEDS FOR WHEATON COLLEGE GRADUATE SCHOOL AND AN UNDERGRADUATE "COLSON SCHOLARSHIP" FOR FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE. INITIATIVES. WE IDENTIFY SPECIAL NEEDS IN THE CHURCH AND -THROUGH OUR CURRENT INITIATIVES - SUPPORT EFFORTS TO HELP CHRISTIAN COLLEGES PREPARE STUDENTS TO SHARE THEIR FAITH, EQUIP CHRISTIANS TO USE NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN EVANGELISM, CONVENE EVANGELISM MINISTRY LEADERS THROUGH OUR EVANGELISM LEADERS FELLOWSHIP, AND SERVE AS THE NORTH AMERICAN OFFICE FOR THE GLOBAL EVANGELISM MOVEMENT, LAUSANNE. INSTITUTES. OUR NINE INSTITUTES STIMULATED THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW EVANGELISM STRATEGIES, CONDUCTING RESEARCH, CONVENING LEADERS, AND HOSTING PUBLIC EVENTS TO ENCOURAGE THE COOPERATION AMONG CHRISTIANS WHO SHARE OUR CENTER'S GOALS. THESE INCLUDE THE CHURCH EVANGELISM INSTITUTE, AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCH EVANGELISM INSTITUTE, CHURCH MULTIPLICATION INSTITUTE (FORMERLY THE SEND INSTITUTE), CORRECTIONAL MINISTRIES INSTITUTE (FORMERLY THE INSTITUTE FOR PRISON MINISTRIES), GLOBAL DIASPORA INSTITUTE, PREACHING INSTITUTE, RESEARCH INSTITUTE, AND RURAL CHURCH INSTITUTE (FORMERLY RURAL MATTERS INSTITUTE) AND MOSAIX MULTIETHNIC CHURCH INSTITUTE (FORMERLY MOSAIX INSTIUTE). AMPLIFY CONFERENCE. WE HOST AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE FOR CHURCH LEADERS CALLED AMPLIFY TO HELP DISSEMINATE LEADING IDEAS IN EVANGELISM STRATEGY. EACH INSTITUTE HOSTS EVENTS FOR WHICH DONORS HAVE CONTRIBUTED OR ADMISSION FEES ARE CHARGED, AND IT IS UNDERWRITTEN BY SPONSORS AND DONORS. OUR CORRECTIONAL MINISTRIES INSTITUTE INCLUDES THE CORRECTIONAL MINISTRIES AND CHAPLAINS' ASSOCIATION (CMCA), A PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION FOR WHICH ANNUAL DUES ARE CHARGED. EVANGELISM LEADERS FELLOWSHIP ALSO CHARGES ANNUAL FEES.

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

  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 November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 June 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 1976.

    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 November 4, 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.