Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Adult & Teen Challenge USA

EIN 43-1353323 · Ozark, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ADULT & TEEN CHALLENGE EXISTS TO EVANGELIZE AND DISCIPLE TEENS AND ADULTS, TRAPPED IN ADDICTION, THROUGH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. AS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL, RESIDENTIAL, LONG TERM RESTORATION MINISTRY IN THE WORLD, ADULT & TEEN CHALLENGE CONTINUES TO BUILD ON ITS 60+ YEAR MINISTRY BY SERVING THOSE IN NEED REGARDLESS OF RACE, RELIGION, COLOR, OR ETHNICITY. THE NATIONAL OFFICE EXISTS TO PROVIDE STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP WHILE FUNCTIONING AS A VISIONARY RESOURCE AGENCY FOR ADULT & TEEN CHALLENGE CENTERS IN THE USA OUR GOAL IS TO HELP ADULT & TEEN CHALLENGE CENTERS ACCOMPLISH THEIR MISSION OR RECOVERY SERVICES, EVANGELISM AND DISCIPLESHIP FOR PEOPLE WITH LIFE CONTROLLING PROBLEMS.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
16
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$163,261, president

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

Good: 80 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 27 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: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 18 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

    5 of 5

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

  • 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 (4)
  1. $528,320 spent. LEARNING DEPARTMENT: ATC LEADERSHIP SUMMIT HELD IN MARCH WITH 54 IN ATTENDANCE. HOSTED THE FLOURISH EXECUTIVE RETREAT IN ASHVILLE, NC. GRADUATED 10 FORGE EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TRAINING STUDENTS. HOSTED 4 ATC BRIDGE WEBINARS. PROVIDED 11,388 ONLINE TRAINING HOURS TO 2,239 UNIQUE LEARNERS THROUGH ATC BRIDGE LMS SYSTEM. ENROLLED 33 STAFF IN THE IGNITE LEADERSHIP JOURNEY FOR NEW STAFF; ENROLLED 72 STAFF MEMBERS IN FUSE LEADERSHIP JOURNEY FOR NEW MANAGERS/DIRECTORS; PRINTED CURRICULUM DEVELOPED FOR ATC STUDENTS, COMPLETED THE FINAL BOOK OF THE FINDING NEW STRENGTH LEADERSHIP SERIES AND PUBLISHED 6 COLLABORATIVE BOOKS WITH OUR DAILY BREAD.
  2. $432,033 spent. ADVANCEMENT DEPARTMENT: PROMOTING THE MINISTRY OF ATC THROUGH VARIOUS MEDIA OUTLETS, INCLUDING AIRTIME AND PRINTED MAGAZINE ADS FOR CURRICULUM, AWARDED STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS TO CENTERS, PUBLISHED BLOG POSTS AND EMAILS COVERING RELEVANT TOPICS AND EVENTS, ALONG WITH INTERVIEWS AND PSA'S ON THE DRUG EPIDEMIC FOR RADIO STATIONS TO EXPAND OUR REACH. UTILIZED MEDIA CHANNELS -NATIONAL WEBSITE, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, AND TWITTER - TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE IN NEED. PARTICIPATED IN MOMENTUM, GENERAL COUNCIL AND CITYGATE TO INCREASE NATIONAL AWARENESS AND VISIBILITY OF ATC.
  3. $229,019 spent. MINISTRY INTELLIGENCE: (1) CONTINUED ADMINISTRATION OF HRSA FUNDING FOR MOVEABLE EQUIPMENT. (2) IMPLEMENTED A FAITH AND EVIDENCE BASED INSTRUMENT FOR MEASURING STUDENT OUTCOMES IN FAITH-BASED ADDICTION RECOVERY PROGRAMS WITH TWO PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AND A LEADING R1 UNIVERSITY. (3) CREATED A FAITH-BASED WEBSITE AROUND ADDICTION RECOVERY RESOURCES - WWW.RECOVERYMEANS.COM
  4. $565,916 spent. ACCREDITATION: COMPLETED 70 ACCREDITATION REVIEWS OF 71 PROGRAM SITES - INCLUDING MEN'S AND WOMEN'S, ADOLESCENT, WOMEN WITH CHILDREN, AND CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS - ACROSS 22 STATES AND TERRITORIES, INCLUDING PUERTO RICO. THE PROGRAM CONVENED A 12-MEMBER ADVISORY REVIEW TASK FORCE, SUBMITTED ACCREDITATION- STANDARD RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BOARD REVIEW, AND LAUNCHED A CENTRALIZED NATIONAL TALENT-ACQUISITION PLATFORM TO SUPPORT WORKFORCE RECRUITMENT ACROSS AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS.

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 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 October 13, 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 September 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 April 1985.

    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 October 21, 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.