Lumen Christi Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO MAKE THE CATHOLIC INTELLECTUAL TRADITION A VITAL PART OF THE CULTURE OF UNIVERSITIES. TO ENRICH ACADEMIC COMMUNITIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, ACROSS THE NATION, AND THE WORLD WITH THE INSIGHTS OF CATHOLIC THOUGHT. TO DIALOGUE WITH SECULAR CULTURE AND RENEW CIVILIZATION BY FORMING LEADERS FOR A GLOBAL SOCIETY IN NEED OF CATHOLIC WISDOM.
- Income
- $3.9 million
- Spending
- $2.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- -2.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 95%
- Employees
- 34
- Highest pay
- $220,408, executive di
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
Fair: 51 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 23% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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
Fair: 67 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 (3)
- $1.1 million spent. THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC SCHOLARS PROGRAM DEVELOPS TEAMS OF SCHOLARS TO GENERATE A RENEWED CATHOLIC TRADITION IN THE ACADEMY THROUGH TWO PROGRAMS. THE SUMMER SEMINARS IN CATHOLIC THOUGHT GIVE DOCTORAL STUDENTS FROM MAJOR CATHOLIC AND SECULAR UNIVERSITIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY WITH A LEADING CATHOLIC SCHOLAR. THE LUMEN CHRISTI PROGRAM IN SOCIAL THOUGHT ORGANIZES MAJOR CONFERENCES ON CATHOLIC PERSPECTIVES ON LAW, ECONOMICS, POLITICS AND SOCIETY. IT SEEKS TO BUILD A NETWORK OF SCHOLARS AT MAJOR CATHOLIC AND SECULAR UNIVERSITIES WHO WILL STUDY CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHT AND DEVELOP IT IN LIGHT OF CONTEMPORARY QUESTIONS AND APPLY IT TO THE MAJOR ISSUES FACING OUR SOCIETY.
- $730,287 spent. THE UNIVERSITY PROGRAM IN CATHOLIC THOUGHT ENCOURAGES STUDENTS AND FACULTY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO TO DEEPLY ENGAGE THE CATHOLIC INTELLECTUAL AND SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS BY HOSTING BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON EVENTS WITH VISITING FELLOWS AND OFFERING LECTURES,COLLOQUIA, NON-CREDIT COURSES AND OTHER EVENTS LIKE RELIGIOUS BOOK DISCUSSIONS AND BOOK EVENTS.
- $445,493 spent. THE LUMEN CHRISTI INSTITUTE CULTURAL FORUM SEEKS TO ENGAGE THE CHURCH, THE ACADEMY AND THE PUBLIC AS A MEANS OF PROMOTING THE EVANGELIZATION OF CULTURE CALLED FOR BY POPE JOHN PAUL II. IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL EVENTS IN THIS PROGRAM HAVE INCLUDED SACRED MUSIC CONCERTS,DISCUSSIONS ON LAW AND CULTURE, CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHT AND THE ECONOMY, RELIGION AND SECULAR CULTURE IN EUROPE AND CATHOLIC EDUCATION.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1946.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.