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Bethany Christian Services Inc

EIN 38-2822017 · Grand Rapids, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BETHANY CHRISTIAN SERVICES DEMONSTRATES THE LOVE AND COMPASSION OF JESUS CHRIST BY PROTECTING CHILDREN, EMPOWERING YOUTH, AND STRENGTHENING FAMILIES THROUGH QUALITY SOCIAL SERVICES.

Income
$187.1 million
Spending
$179.3 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 96%
Employees
2,283
Volunteers
1,897
Highest pay
$396,533, president/ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 36% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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 September 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 (5)
  1. $94.4 million spent. REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT SERVICES: BETHANY CHRISTIAN SERVICES IMPACTED THOUSANDS OF REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT INDIVIDUALS FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES ADJUST TO LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES THROUGH A VARIETY OF SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, INCLUDING LIFE SKILLS, INDEPENDENT LIVING, LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL EDUCATION, JOB PLACEMENT SERVICES, AND COUNSELING FOR PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF TRAUMA. 714 UNACCOMPAINED CHILDREN RECEIVED FOSTER CARE SERVICES. 96% OF TRANSITIONAL FOSTER CARE CASES RESULTED IN REUNIFICATION. 3,650 CHILDREN WERE PROVIDED HOME STUDY AND POST RELEASE SERVICES.
  2. $29.7 million spent. FOSTER CARE: THROUGH OFFICES IN TEN DIFFERENT STATES, BETHANY CHRISTIAN SERVICES PROVIDED FOSTER CARE FOR 3,154 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE NEED A LOVING FAMILY WHO WILL WALK WITH THEM DURING A TIME OF CRISIS AND WELCOME THEM INTO A CARING HOME. THE GOAL OF BETHANY'S FOSTER CARE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY CARE FOR CHILDREN WITH THE ULTIMATE AIM OF REUNITING THEM WITH THEIR BIOLOGICAL FAMILY, OR FINDING AN ADOPTIVE FAMILY FOR THOSE CHILDREN FOR WHOM REUNIFICATION IS NOT AN OPTION.
  3. $17.7 million spent. FAMILY STRENTHENING: BETHANY CHRISTIAN SERVICES IMPACTED THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE INTACT FAMILY SERVICES THAT FOCUS ON FAMILY PRESERVATION AS WELL AS OUR SAFE CARE AND SAFE FAMILIES FOR CHILDREN PROGRAMS. THESE SERVICES CAN PROVIDE TEMPORARY RELIEF AND ASSISTANCE TO THE PARENTS OF THESE CHILDREN. 930 CHILDREN AND 590 PARENTS RECEIVED A SAFETY NET OF SUPPORT THROUGH SAFE FAMILIES FOR CHILDREN. 157 PARENTS & CAREGIVERS RECEIVED IN-HOME SKILLS TRANING THROUGH SAFECARE. 977 CHILDREN, PARENTS, & FAMILIES AT RISK OF SEPARATION WERE SUPPORTED THROUGH HOMEBUILDERS. 299 PARENTS & CAREGIVERS WERE CONNECTED THROUGH BE STRONG FAMILIES PARENT CAFES WHICH STRENGTHENS PARENTAL RESILIENCE AND OTHER PROTECTIVE FACTORS.
  4. $6.9 million spent. ADOPTION AND PREGNANCY COUNSELING: BETHANY CHRISTIAN SERVICES OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES SERVED 2,431 CHILDREN AND PARENTS THROUGH INFANT AND FOSTER CARE ADOPTION. OUR DOMESTIC INFANT ADOPTION PROGRAM PROVIDED NO-COST SERVICES TO 134 EXPECTANT PARENTS WHO BENEFITED FROM PREGNANCY COUNSELING SERVICES PROTECTING UNBORN CHILDREN. FOSTER CARE ADOPTIONS PLACE OLDER CHILDREN WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY IN STATE OR COUNTY FUNDED FOSTER CARE SYSTEMS WITH LOVING ADOPTIVE FAMILIES.
  5. (Expenses $ 6,888,019 including grants of $ 3,867)(Revenue $ 9,489,693) ADOPTION AND PREGNANCY COUNSELING: BETHANY CHRISTIAN SERVICES OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES SERVED 2,431 CHILDREN AND PARENTS THROUGH INFANT AND FOSTER CARE ADOPTION. OUR DOMESTIC INFANT ADOPTION PROGRAM PROVIDED NO-COST SERVICES TO 134 EXPECTANT PARENTS WHO BENEFITED FROM PREGNANCY COUNSELING SERVICES PROTECTING UNBORN CHILDREN. FOSTER CARE ADOPTIONS PLACE OLDER CHILDREN WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY IN STATE OR COUNTY FUNDED FOSTER CARE SYSTEMS WITH LOVING ADOPTIVE FAMILIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 7, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. 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.