Knights of Columbus Charities USA Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CHARITIES USA IS OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES. IN FURTHERANCE OF THESE PURPOSES, CHARITIES USA HAS ESTABLISHED CENTERS FOR THE DISSEMINATION OF THE TRUTHS OF CHRISTIANITY; MAINTAINS FACILITIES FOR THE PROPER PHYSICAL, INTELLECTUAL AND MORAL DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTH; AND ADMINISTERS SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS FOR THE BENEFIT OF DESERVING PERSONS. KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, THROUGH ITS MEMBERS, PROVIDES DONATIONS WHICH ARE PLACED UNDER THE CONTROL OF CHARITIES USA.
- Income
- $3.1 million
- Spending
- $3.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 50%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $1.9 million, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 17% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 20% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 39% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
5 of 251 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (4)
- $1.0 million spent. REGARDING LINES 4A THROUGH 4D: KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS CHARITIES, INC. TRANSFERRED ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS TO KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS CHARITIES USA, INC. EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2005. KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS CHARITIES USA, INC. ADMINISTERS THESE FUNDS AS PART OF ITS SUPPORTIVE ROLE OF KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS CHARITIES, INC. IN FURTHERANCE OF KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS CHARITIES, INC.'S EXEMPT PURPOSE AND IN FULFILLMENT OF ITS PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS.THE CATHOLIC INFORMATION PROGRAM - SEE SCHEDULE O THE CATHOLIC INFORMATION PROGRAM - PROMOTES VARIOUS KINDS OF ASSISTANCE TO THOSE SEEKING ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CATHOLIC RELIGION, INCLUDING A SERIES OF BOOKLETS FOR SELF STUDY, A HOME STUDY COURSE AND ONLINE COURSES, A CORRESPONDENCE COURSE ON THE BASIC BELIEFS OF CATHOLICS; AND INDIVIDUAL RESPONSES TO THOSE WHO SEEK CONFIDENTIAL COUNSEL. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO MEASURE THE FULL RESULTS OF THIS PROGRAM SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN JANUARY OF 1948. THE MILLIONS OF BOOKLETS IN MULTIPLE MEDIA FORMATS THAT HAVE BEEN PRINTED AND THE THOUSANDS THAT HAVE BEEN ENROLLED IN THE VARIOUS COURSES OVER THE YEARS INDICATES THE WIDE INTEREST AND POPULARITY OF THE PROGRAM. HOW MANY WERE LED TO THE CHURCH THROUGH READING THE PAMPHLETS AND STUDYING THE COURSES NEVER WILL BE KNOWN.
- $531,835 spent. THE ITALIAN WELFARE FUND - THE KNIGHTS ESTABLISHED FIVE PLAYGROUNDS IN PRIOR YEARS ALL OF WHICH ARE LOCATED IN ROME, ITALY, WHICH ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND USED BY BOYS AND GIRLS. THE AFOREMENTIONED COSTS INCLUDE THE ANNUAL OPERATING COSTS OF THE PLAYGROUNDS. THESE RECREATION CENTERS INCLUDE FIELDS FOR SPORTS, A GYMNASIUM AND OTHER BUILDINGS.
- $472,430 spent. SCHOLARSHIPS - FRANCIS P. MATTHEWS AND JOHN E. SWIFT EDUCATIONAL TRUST FUND - IN 1944, THE KNIGHTS ESTABLISHED ITS MILLION-DOLLAR EDUCATIONAL TRUST FUND TO PROVIDE A COLLEGE EDUCATION TO THE CHILDREN OF MEMBERS WHO WERE KILLED OR PERMANENTLY AND TOTALLY DISABLED IN WORLD WAR II. LATER THIS BENEFIT WAS EXTENDED TO CHILDREN OF MEMBERS WHO WERE KILLED OR DISABLED IN THE KOREAN AND VIETNAM WARS. THE BENEFITS WERE FURTHER EXTENDED TO INCLUDE THE PERSIAN GULF CONFLICT AND MILITARY CONFLICTS IN IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN. IN 1970, THIS PRIVILEGE WAS DEVELOPED FURTHER TO INCLUDE CHILDREN OF MEMBERS OF THE ORDER WHO WERE KILLED OR PERMANENTLY AND TOTALLY DISABLED AS A RESULT OF CRIMINAL VIOLENCE WHILE FUNCTIONING AS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND, IN 1971, TO THOSE WHO WERE KILLED OR DISABLED AS A RESULT OF CRIMINAL VIOLENCE WHILE PERFORMING THEIR DUTIES AS FULL-TIME FIREFIGHTERS. IN 1977, THE BENEFITS WERE FURTHER EXTENDED TO INCLUDE THE CHILDREN OF STATE OFFICERS WHO SUFFER ACCIDENTAL DEATH OR TOTAL AND PERMANENT DISABILITY AS A RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT WHILE ACTIVELY ENGAGED DURING THEIR INCUMBENCY ON BUSINESS OF KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS. THESE SCHOLARSHIPS INCLUDE TUITION, ROOM AND BOARD. TOTAL STUDENTS CURRENTLY RECEIVING SCHOLARSHIPS IN 2024 IS 4 AMOUNTING TO $58,350. FOURTH DEGREE PRO DEO AND PRO PATRIA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM - UNDER THE CURRENT PROVISIONS OF THE PROGRAM, SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED ON THE BASIS OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE TO INCOMING FRESHMAN IN BACHELOR'S DEGREE PROGRAMS AT CATHOLIC COLLEGES. THE RECIPIENTS ARE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS OR COLUMBIAN SQUIRES, THE SON OR DAUGHTER OF A KNIGHT IN GOOD STANDING, OR THE SON OR DAUGHTER OF A KNIGHT WHO WAS IN GOOD STANDING AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH. CONTINGENT ON THE SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, THESE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE RENEWED FOR A TOTAL OF FOUR YEARS. TOTAL STUDENTS CURRENTLY RECEIVING SCHOLARSHIPS IN 2024 IS 75 AMOUNTING TO $85,638. BISHOP CHARLES P. GRECO GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS - THE FELLOWSHIP WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1973, BY THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS FOR SPECIALIZATION IN THE FIELD OF TEACHING CITIZENS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES. THIS FUND HONORS THE ORDER'S LATE SUPREME CHAPLAIN FOR HIS PIONEERING WORK IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF CATHOLIC-ORIENTED FACILITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES. THE GRANT IS AWARDED PER SEMESTER AND IS RENEWABLE FOR A MAXIMUM OF FOUR SEMESTERS. AN ELIGIBLE CANDIDATE MUST BE A MEMBER OF THE ORDER OR THE SON OR DAUGHTER OF A MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING. THE CANDIDATE ALSO MUST BE ENGAGED IN OR PLANNING A FULL-TIME GRADUATE STUDY LEADING TO A MASTER'S DEGREE IN THE FIELD OF TEACHING THE EDUCATIONALLY HANDICAPPED WITH EMPHASIS ON PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES. THERE WERE NO SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED IN 2024 AS THERE WERE NO APPLICATIONS RECEIVED. FATHER MICHAEL J. MCGIVNEY VOCATIONS SCHOLARSHIP FUND - EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 31, 1999, KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS CHARITIES, INC. VOTED TO DIVIDE THE VOCATION SCHOLARSHIP FUND INTO TWO PARTS, KNOWN AS THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS VOCATIONS FUND AND FATHER MICHAEL J. MCGIVNEY VOCATIONS SCHOLARSHIP FUND. THE EARNINGS OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS VOCATIONS FUND ARE TO BE USED TO PROVIDE MATCHING FUNDS TO LOCAL KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS UNITS THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS REFUND SUPPORT VOCATIONS PROGRAM. THE EARNINGS FROM THE FATHER MICHAEL J. MCGIVNEY VOCATIONS SCHOLARSHIP FUND ARE TO BE USED FOR THE DIRECT BENEFIT OF STUDENTS STUDYING FOR THE PRIESTHOOD IN A DIOCESAN OR RELIGIOUS SEMINARY AND OF THOSE STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN FORMALLY ACCEPTED BY A RELIGIOUS ORDER OR CONGREGATION WITH A COMMITMENT TOWARD A RELIGIOUS PROFESSION. THESE SCHOLARSHIPS, WHICH INCLUDE TUITION AND ROOM AND BOARD, ARE AWARDED FOR ONE YEAR AND ARE RENEWABLE FOR A MAXIMUM OF FOUR YEARS UPON EVIDENCE OF CONTINUED ENROLLMENT AND NEED. TOTAL STUDENTS CURRENTLY RECEIVING SCHOLARSHIPS IN 2024 IS 30 AMOUNTING TO $57,500. VIRGIL C. AND ANN L. DECHANT SCHOLARSHIP FUND - THE FUND WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1996 BY KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS CHARITIES, INC. THE EARNINGS FROM THIS FUND ARE TO BE USED TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO MEMBERS OR SONS OR DAUGHTERS OF MEMBERS OF KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS. THE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE TO BE AWARDED TO ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS ATTENDING THE FOLLOWING SCHOOLS: THOMAS MORE PREPARATORY HIGH SCHOOL, HAYS, KANSAS; PONTIFICAL COLLEGE JOSEPHINUM, WORTHINGTON, OHIO; NORTH AMERICAN COLLEGE, ROME, ITALY; AND NEWMAN COLLEGE, WICHITA, KANSAS; OR ANY OTHER CATHOLIC SCHOOLS AS APPROVED BY THE TRUSTEES OF THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND. PREFERENCE FOR THE SCHOLARSHIPS IS TO BE GIVEN TO RESIDENTS OF RUSH COUNTY, KANSAS AND SEMINARIANS FROM THE DIOCESE OF DODGE CITY, KANSAS. IN ANY YEAR THAT THE SCHOLARSHIPS PROVIDED ARE NOT EQUAL TO THE EARNINGS OF THE FUND, GRANTS MAY BE GIVEN TO OTHER CATHOLIC CHARITIES. THE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED FOR ONE YEAR AND ARE RENEWABLE FOR EACH YEAR OF UNDERGRADUATE OR PREPARATORY STUDY TO A TOTAL OF FOUR YEARS SUBJECT TO EVIDENCE OF SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. TOTAL STUDENTS CURRENTLY RECEIVING SCHOLARSHIPS IN 2024 IS 23 AMOUNTING TO $25,500. ARTHUR F. AND ANNA BATTISTA SCHOLARSHIP FUND - THE FUND WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1997 FROM A BEQUEST RECEIVED BY KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS CHARITIES, INC. THE EARNINGS FROM THIS FUND ARE TO BE USED TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS, UNDER CERTAIN TERMS AND CONDITIONS, TO GRADUATES OF THE CORNWALL COLLEGIATE AND VOCATIONAL SCHOOL IN CORNWALL, ONTARIO, CANADA WITH PREFERENCE TO SONS, DAUGHTERS, GRANDSONS OR GRANDDAUGHTERS OF A MEMBER OF KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE TO BE AWARDED BASED ON ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, FINANCIAL NEED AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. FIFTEEN SCHOLARSHIPS SHALL BE AWARDED EACH YEAR TO GRADUATING STUDENTS CONTINUING THEIR EDUCATION AT A FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITY PROGRAM IN THE YEAR IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING GRADUATION. IN ADDITION, FIFTEEN SCHOLARSHIPS SHALL BE AWARDED EACH YEAR TO GRADUATING STUDENTS CONTINUING THEIR EDUCATION AT A TWO OR THREE YEAR COLLEGE PROGRAM IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING GRADUATION. THESE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE RENEWABLE FOR ONE ADDITIONAL
- THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY OF EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE FOR THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH THE ORGANIZATION IS EXEMPT. RESEARCH IN CATHOLIC EDUCATION $ 175,000 RELIGIOUS EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AND GENERAL ASSISTANCE 402,999 GREATER NEW HAVEN AREA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOLS 27,000 CHURCH AND CHARITABLE RELATED ORGANIZATIONS 301,224 T O T A L $ 906,223 THE HISTORIC SITES FUND WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE OF DESIGNATED HISTORICAL SITES WHICH INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: - ST. MARY'S CHURCH, NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, WHICH IS THE SITE WHERE THE ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED. - FATHER MCGIVNEY MONUMENT IN WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT. - COLUMBUS MONUMENT IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY OF OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES ARE FOR THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH THE ORGANIZATION IS EXEMPT: HISTORIC SITES $ 677 GENERAL EXPENSES ALLOCATED TO PROGRAM SERVICES 119,156 VILLA MARIA GUADALUPE PROGRAM 496,436 LEGAL FEES 135,795 ACCOUNTING FEES 77,079 T O T A L $ 829,143
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2004.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.
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