Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Dismas Ministry

EIN 39-1895019 · Milwaukee, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO RENEW AND STRENGTHEN THE FAITH OF THE IMPRISONED BY PROVIDING THEM WITH FREE CATHOLIC SCRIPTURE, FAITH AND PRAYER RESOURCES.

Income
$484,349
Spending
$359,158
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
26.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
7
Volunteers
21
Highest pay
$47,452, executive director

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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 26.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 43% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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: 83 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    5 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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 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. $244,498 spent. FREE DISTRIBUTION OF CATHOLIC SPIRITUAL RESOURCES TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INCARCERATEDDISMAS MINISTRY'S PRIMARY PROGRAM SERVICE IS THE FREE DISTRIBUTION OF CATHOLIC SPIRITUAL RESOURCES TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INCARCERATED THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED BIBLES, CATECHISMS, PRAYER BOOKS, ROSARIES, PRAYER CARDS, AND STRUCTURED FAITH-FORMATION STUDY COURSES IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH TO THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS IN PRISONS, JAILS, AND DETENTION CENTERS.RESOURCES WERE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH DIRECT WRITTEN REQUESTS FROM INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS AS WELL AS BULK MINISTRY REQUESTS FROM CHAPLAINS AND PRISON MINISTERS SERVING CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES NATIONWIDE. THESE MATERIALS SUPPORT PERSONAL PRAYER, SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION, FAITH FORMATION, AND SPIRITUAL REHABILITATION, HELPING INDIVIDUALS DEEPEN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD DURING INCARCERATION.DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, DISMAS MINISTRY PROVIDED RESOURCES TO AN ESTIMATED 3,500+ INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INCARCERATED, SHIPPED OVER 6,000 BIBLES, AND PROCESSED AN AVERAGE OF 20+ PIECES OF CORRESPONDENCE PER WEEK FROM INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS SEEKING SPIRITUAL SUPPORT.PRISON MINISTRY NETWORK SUPPORT AND CHAPLAIN RESOURCE PROGRAMDISMAS MINISTRY SUPPORTS A NATIONAL PRISON MINISTRY NETWORK OF CHAPLAINS, PRISON MINISTERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND CORRECTIONAL FAITH LEADERS BY PROVIDING FREE PROGRAM MATERIALS, CURRICULUM, AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT. THIS PROGRAM ENSURES THAT THOSE MINISTERING INSIDE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES HAVE ACCESS TO APPROVED, HIGH-QUALITY CATHOLIC RESOURCES AT NO COST.DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, DISMAS MINISTRY FULFILLED MINISTRY REQUESTS FROM CHAPLAINS AND PRISON MINISTERS SERVING FACILITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING PRISONS, JAILS, AND DETENTION CENTERS. THESE RESOURCES WERE USED IN GROUP BIBLE STUDIES, OCIA FORMATION, PRAYER SERVICES, CORRESPONDENCE COURSES, AND INDEPENDENT STUDY PROGRAMS.THIS PROGRAM STRENGTHENS AND EXPANDS CATHOLIC PRISON MINISTRY BY REMOVING FINANCIAL AND LOGISTICAL BARRIERS, ALLOWING CHAPLAINS AND VOLUNTEERS TO FOCUS ON DIRECT PASTORAL CARE AND SPIRITUAL ACCOMPANIMENT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INCARCERATED.DISMAS MINISTRY PRODUCES TRAUMA-INFORMED FAITH-BASED PUBLICATIONS THAT AMPLIFY THE VOICES, DIGNITY, AND LIVED EXPERIENCES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INCARCERATED. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF ITS I AM BEAUTIFUL SERIES, WHICH FEATURES ORIGINAL ARTWORK, POETRY, AND REFLECTIONS CREATED BY WOMEN IN U.S. PRISONS.THESE PUBLICATIONS PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR CREATIVE AND SPIRITUAL EXPRESSION WHILE ALSO OFFERING ENCOURAGEMENT, HOPE, AND HEALING TO READERS BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. SUBMISSIONS ARE REVIEWED WITH CARE, LIGHTLY EDITED FOR CLARITY, AND PUBLISHED WITH DEEP RESPECT FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL'S VOICE AND STORY.IN ADDITION TO PRINT DISTRIBUTION, DISMAS MINISTRY EXPANDED ACCESS TO ITS SPIRITUAL CONTENT THROUGH DIGITAL PLATFORMS, INCLUDING SECURE CORRECTIONAL TABLETS, INCREASING ACCESS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY NOT RECEIVE PHYSICAL MAIL. THESE PROGRAMS EMPHASIZE DIGNITY, RESILIENCE, AND FAITH WHILE FOSTERING CONNECTION BETWEEN INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY.

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 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 June 2025.

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

  5. 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 September 7, 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 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.