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The Society of Gilbert Keith Chesterton

EIN 41-1865930 · Hopkins, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceGood72 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THROUGH ITS MAGAZINE, BOOKS, LOCAL SOCIETIES AND NATIONAL CONFERENCES, THE SOCIETY OF GILBERT KEITH CHESTERTON PROMOTES THE WRITINGS AND THOUGHT OF G.K. CHESTERTON. THE SOCIETY HELPS FACILITATE AND ENCOURAGE OVER 100 LOCAL SOCIETIES ACROSS THE WORLD AND SERVES OVER 2,000 ACTIVE MEMBERS. THE SOCIETY ALSO PROVIDES CURRICULUM, TOOLS AND TEMPLATES TO MEMBERS OF THE CHESTERTON SCHOOLS NETWORK IN SUPPORT OF CLASSICAL HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
2.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 49%
Employees
22
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$76,200, president and board member

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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 49% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 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: 72 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 7 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

    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 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. $644,618 spent. PRODUCTION MEDIA AND PUBLISHING: PRODUCING MATERIALS FOR AUDIO VISUAL MEDIA ON OR ABOUT WORKS BY G.K. CHESTERTON. WE HAVE MADE AVAILABLE WRITINGS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY OUT OF PRINT AND HAVE PRODUCED PLAYS, MOVIES AND AUDIO BOOKS ON AND ABOUT THE WRITINGS AND LIFE OF AUTHOR G.K. CHESTERTON. OUR ORGANIZATION ALSO PUBLISHES GILBERT MAGAZINE WHICH PUBLISHES CHESTERTON MATERIAL AND IS A FORUM OF EXCHANGE OF IDEAS ON THIS AUTHOR.
  2. SALE OF MERCHANDISE INCLUDING BOOKS, MAGAZINES, MEDIA PROGRAMS AND PUBLICATIONS OF BOOKS BY OR ABOUT THE WRITER G.K CHESTERTON IN AN EFFORT TO AID IN THE RESEARCH ON CHESTERTON'S WRITINGS.
  3. $1.0 million spent. CHESTERTON SCHOOL NETWORK: THE AMERICAN CHESTERTON SOCIETY, THE SOCIETY OF GILBERT KEITH CHESTERTON AND THE CHESTERTON SCHOOL NETWORK, MERGED EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2019. LEADING UP TO THE MERGER, THE AMERICAN CHESTERTON SOCIETY PROVIDED SERVICES TO THE CHESTERTON SCHOOL NETWORK.

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 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 June 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 October 1997.

    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.

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