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Sword of the Spirit

EIN 38-3002347 · East Lansing, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceFair67 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE THE SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL AND THE STRENGTHENING OF GOD'S PEOPLE- CATHOLIC, PROTESTANT, AND ORTHODOX- WORLDWIDE, THROUGH A PROGRAM OF ACTIVE EVANGELISM, CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY FORMATION, DOCTRINAL AND MORAL INSTRUCTION, ECUMENISM, AND PROGRAMS FOR THE POOR AND DISADVANTAGED.

Income
$669,797
Spending
$686,705
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
16.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 70%
Employees
6
Volunteers
225
Highest pay
$14,707, secretary

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 71% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 144% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

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

Governance

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 8 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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. $327,184 spent. MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES - PREACHING THE GOSPEL AND STRENGTHENING CHRISTIAN LIFE THROUGH A PROGRAM OF ACTIVE EVANGELISM, CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY FORMATION, WORLDWIDE MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES, AND DOCTRINAL AND MORAL INSTRUCTION.
  2. $1,003 spent. "YOUNG PROFESSIONALS" IS THE TERM WE USE IN THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT TO IDENTIFY OUR MEMBERS THAT HAVE GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL AND ARE NOT CURRENTLY ATTENDING A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY, INCLUDING BOTH MEMBERS THAT HAVE GRADUATED FROM A HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION, AS WELL AS MEMBERS THAT OPTED TO PURSUE ANOTHER PATH THAT DIDN'T INVOLVE ATTENDING COLLEGE. MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR REGION HAVE ACTIVE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS GROUPS. OUR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS GROUPS ARE COMPRISED OF MEMBERS THAT FEEL CALLED TO LIVING OUT THEIR FAITH IN AN ECUMENICAL COMMUNITY THAT ALSO HELPS THEM TO GROW AS DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST. THIS CAN LOOK LIKE PARTICIPATING IN BIBLE STUDIES, SERVING IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY, AND PRIORITIZING FELLOWSHIP WITH EACH OTHER THROUGH THINGS LIKE BOARD GAME NIGHTS, HIKES, OR CO-ED SPORTS LEAGUES. "YOUNG PROFESSIONALS" IS THE TERM WE USE IN THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT TO IDENTIFY OUR MEMBERS THAT HAVE GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL AND ARE NOT CURRENTLY ATTENDING A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY, INCLUDING BOTH MEMBERS THAT HAVE GRADUATED FROM A HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION, AS WELL AS MEMBERS THAT OPTED TO PURSUE ANOTHER PATH THAT DIDN'T INVOLVE ATTENDING COLLEGE. MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR REGION HAVE ACTIVE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS GROUPS. OUR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS GROUPS ARE COMPRISED OF MEMBERS THAT FEEL CALLED TO LIVING OUT THEIR FAITH IN AN ECUMENICAL COMMUNITY THAT ALSO HELPS THEM TO GROW AS DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST. THIS CAN LOOK LIKE PARTICIPATING IN BIBLE STUDIES, SERVING IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY, AND PRIORITIZING FELLOWSHIP WITH EACH OTHER THROUGH THINGS LIKE BOARD GAME NIGHTS, HIKES, OR CO-ED SPORTS LEAGUES.
  3. $205,906 spent. KAIROS NORTH AMERICA IS THE REGIONAL YOUTH WORK PROGRAM OF THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT. OUR PURPOSE IS TO SERVE THE YOUTH OF THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT BY AWAKENING THEM TO A VENTURESOME FAITH, INVITING THEM TO GIVE A GENEROUS RESPONSE TO THE LORD, AND OFFERING THEM A PLACE TO SERVE. OUR ULTIMATE AIM IN ALL THAT WE DO IS RADICAL, LIFELONG DISCIPLESHIP FOR OURSELVES AND FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE WE SERVE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE TEENAGE YEARS ARE PARTICULARLY IMPACTFUL FOR THE TRAJECTORY OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S LIFE, AND AS SUCH, WE SEEK TO ENCOUNTER YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS STAGE OF LIFE THROUGH HIGH IMPACT EVENTS THAT CALL THEM DEEPER INTO RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST AND OPEN THEM UP TO THE ADVENTURE OF DISCIPLESHIP. FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES WE OFFER TWO SERVICE PROGRAMS; THE TWO MONTH KAIROS ADVENTURE GUIDE PROGRAM AND THE YEAR LONG GAP PROGRAM. WE ALSO PROVIDE TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO OUR NETWORK OF THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT YOUTH GROUPS AROUND THE REGION AND RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AS THEY TACKLE THE CHALLENGES OF RAISING CHILDREN IN THE MODERN WORLD. KAIROS NORTH AMERICA IS THE REGIONAL YOUTH WORK PROGRAM OF THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT. OUR PURPOSE IS TO SERVE THE YOUTH OF THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT BY AWAKENING THEM TO A VENTURESOME FAITH, INVITING THEM TO GIVE A GENEROUS RESPONSE TO THE LORD, AND OFFERING THEM A PLACE TO SERVE. OUR ULTIMATE AIM IN ALL THAT WE DO IS RADICAL, LIFELONG DISCIPLESHIP FOR OURSELVES AND FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE WE SERVE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE TEENAGE YEARS ARE PARTICULARLY IMPACTFUL FOR THE TRAJECTORY OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S LIFE, AND AS SUCH, WE SEEK TO ENCOUNTER YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS STAGE OF LIFE THROUGH HIGH IMPACT EVENTS THAT CALL THEM DEEPER INTO RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST AND OPEN THEM UP TO THE ADVENTURE OF DISCIPLESHIP. FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES WE OFFER TWO SERVICE PROGRAMS; THE TWO MONTH KAIROS ADVENTURE GUIDE PROGRAM AND THE YEAR LONG GAP PROGRAM. WE ALSO PROVIDE TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO OUR NETWORK OF THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT YOUTH GROUPS AROUND THE REGION AND RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AS THEY TACKLE THE CHALLENGES OF RAISING CHILDREN IN THE MODERN WORLD.

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 December 1991.

    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.