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Scepter Publishers

EIN 36-6109830 · Strongsville, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceWeak45 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PUBLICATION OF RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS. PROGRAM SERVICE REVENUE FROM SALES OF ITS BOOK INVENTORY.

Income
$3.4 million
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
35.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 76%
Employees
6
Highest pay
$95,000, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 35.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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, 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. $1.9 million spent. SCEPTER'S SELECTION OF TITLES EMPHASIZES THE FUNDAMENTAL ASPECTS OF RELIGIOUS LIFE: PRAYER, SINCERITY, SELF-DENIAL, AND A SPIRIT OF SERVICE TO OTHERS. SINCE ITS PUBLISHING FOCUS IS RELATED TO A MESSAGE THAT REMAINS OUTSIDE THE MAINSTREAM, IT MUST MAKE A GREATER EFFORT TO PROMOTE THESE MATERIALS WITH BETTER MARKETING IN ORDER TO REACH INDIVIDUALS ALREADY RECEPTIVE TO THIS MESSAGE AS WELL AS THOSE WHO MIGHT BE LED TO A GREATER AWARENESS OF ITS IMPORTANCE. DURING 2017 SCEPTER RELEASED SEVERAL NEW BOOKS THAT HELP PEOPLE IN THEIR DAY-TO-DAY STRUGGLES TO IMPROVE BOTH THEIR OWN LIVES AND THE LIVES OF OTHERS. SOME OF THE TITLES INCLUDE ORDINARY LIFE AND HOLINESS THIS WORK COMPILES THE WRITINGS OF ST. JOSEMARIA REGARDING THE UNIVERSAL CALL TO HOLINESS FOR THE LAY FAITHFUL. IT TEACHES US THAT WE ARE ALL CALLED TO BE SAINTS IN WHATEVER OUR OCCUPATION OR STATE OF LIFE. ANOTHER IS INSIDE THE MIND OF THOMAS MORE, BY DAVID OAKLEY. ST. THOMAS MORE IS THE PATRON SAINT FOR LAWYERS AND THIS BOOK RENDERS EXAMPLES OF HOW THIS GREAT SAINT WAS ABLE TO LIVE HIS FAITH FOR THE COMMON GOOD OF OTHERS IN VERY SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES. HOLINESS IN A SECULAR AGE, FR. JUAN VALEZ RELATES WHAT THE 19TH CENTURY CARDINAL NEWMAN WOULD SUGGEST REGARDING THE STATE OF AFFAIRS WE FIND OURSELVES IN OUR CURRENT TIMES. TEAM BABY, BY JULIA DEE AND IDA GAZZOLA IS A BOOK THAT HELPS YOUNG MOTHERS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE SPIRITUAL BEAUTY OF MOTHERHOOD WITH PARTICULAR ADVICE FOR NEW MOMS. SCEPTER'S SELECTION OF TITLES EMPHASIZES THE FUNDAMENTAL ASPECTS OF RELIGIOUS LIFE: PRAYER, SINCERITY, SELF-DENIAL, AND A SPIRIT OF SERVICE TO OTHERS. SINCE ITS PUBLISHING FOCUS IS RELATED TO A MESSAGE THAT REMAINS OUTSIDE THE MAINSTREAM, IT MUST MAKE A GREATER EFFORT TO PROMOTE THESE MATERIALS WITH BETTER MARKETING IN ORDER TO REACH INDIVIDUALS ALREADY RECEPTIVE TO THIS MESSAGE AS WELL AS THOSE WHO MIGHT BE LED TO A GREATER AWARENESS OF ITS IMPORTANCE. DURING 2017 SCEPTER RELEASED SEVERAL NEW BOOKS THAT HELP PEOPLE IN THEIR DAY-TO-DAY STRUGGLES TO IMPROVE BOTH THEIR OWN LIVES AND THE LIVES OF OTHERS. SOME OF THE TITLES INCLUDE ORDINARY LIFE AND HOLINESS THIS WORK COMPILES THE WRITINGS OF ST. JOSEMARIA REGARDING THE UNIVERSAL CALL TO HOLINESS FOR THE LAY FAITHFUL. IT TEACHES US THAT WE ARE ALL CALLED TO BE SAINTS IN WHATEVER OUR OCCUPATION OR STATE OF LIFE. ANOTHER IS INSIDE THE MIND OF THOMAS MORE, BY DAVID OAKLEY. ST. THOMAS MORE IS THE PATRON SAINT FOR LAWYERS AND THIS BOOK RENDERS EXAMPLES OF HOW THIS GREAT SAINT WAS ABLE TO LIVE HIS FAITH FOR THE COMMON GOOD OF OTHERS IN VERY SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES. HOLINESS IN A SECULAR AGE, FR. JUAN VALEZ RELATES WHAT THE 19TH CENTURY CARDINAL NEWMAN WOULD SUGGEST REGARDING THE STATE OF AFFAIRS WE FIND OURSELVES IN OUR CURRENT TIMES. TEAM BABY, BY JULIA DEE AND IDA GAZZOLA IS A BOOK THAT HELPS YOUNG MOTHERS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE SPIRITUAL BEAUTY OF MOTHERHOOD WITH PARTICULAR ADVICE FOR NEW MOMS.
  2. $550,080 spent. SCEPTER OFFERS FREE BOOKS TO PRISONERS UPON REQUEST. IT IS THE ORGANIZATION'S BELIEF THAT SOCIETY GREATLY BENEFITS WHEN PRISONERS HAVE ACCESS TO THESE BOOKS. SCEPTER BOOKS AID GREATLY IN THE REFORMATION OF THEIR CHARACTER, WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO THEIR EVENTUAL REINTEGRATION INTO SOCIETY. EXAMPLES INCLUDE MATTHEW PARADISE AT SAN QUENTIN PENITENTIARY IN CALIFORNIA. HE REQUESTED "THE HISTORY OF MODERN PHILOSOPHY- AND "THE HOLY ROSARY-; MICHAEL ESTEP, IN PRISON IN JACKSBORO, TEXAS, WHO REQUESTED A COPY OF "THE WAY" BY ST JOSEMARIA; MARTIN SCHAFER, WHO IS IN PRISON IN AVENAL, CALIFORNIA, REQUESTING "THE NAVARRE BIBLE. MATHEW AND MARK", "THE WAY, FURROW, FORGE- AND "THE HANDBOOK OF PRAYER". SCEPTER HAS DEVELOPED MOST OF OUR BOOKS INTO ELECTRONIC BOOKS AND HAS IMPLEMENTED A DIGITAL ELECTRONIC BOOK DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM GIVING ACCESS TO EBOOKS DIRECTLY FROM THE SCEPTER WEBSITE. THESE ELECTRONIC BOOKS ARE ESPECIALLY HELPFUL AS THEY ARE OF LOWER COSTS AND GREATER CONVENIENCE TO READERS.
  3. SCEPTER OFFERS FREE BOOKS TO PRISONERS UPON REQUEST. IT IS THE ORGANIZATION'S BELIEF THAT SOCIETY GREATLY BENEFITS WHEN PRISONERS HAVE ACCESS TO THESE BOOKS. SCEPTER BOOKS AID GREATLY IN THE REFORMATION OF THEIR CHARACTER, WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO THEIR EVENTUAL REINTEGRATION INTO SOCIETY. EXAMPLES INCLUDE MATTHEW PARADISE AT SAN QUENTIN PENITENTIARY IN CALIFORNIA. HE REQUESTED "THE HISTORY OF MODERN PHILOSOPHY- AND "THE HOLY ROSARY-; MICHAEL ESTEP, IN PRISON IN JACKSBORO, TEXAS, WHO REQUESTED A COPY OF "THE WAY" BY ST JOSEMARIA; MARTIN SCHAFER, WHO IS IN PRISON IN AVENAL, CALIFORNIA, REQUESTING "THE NAVARRE BIBLE. MATHEW AND MARK", "THE WAY, FURROW, FORGE- AND "THE HANDBOOK OF PRAYER". SCEPTER HAS DEVELOPED MOST OF OUR BOOKS INTO ELECTRONIC BOOKS AND HAS IMPLEMENTED A DIGITAL ELECTRONIC BOOK DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM GIVING ACCESS TO EBOOKS DIRECTLY FROM THE SCEPTER WEBSITE. THESE ELECTRONIC BOOKS ARE ESPECIALLY HELPFUL AS THEY ARE OF LOWER COSTS AND GREATER CONVENIENCE TO READERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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? 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 July 1953.

    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.