Courage for Life Incorporated
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
ORGANIZATION'S MISSION: COURAGE FOR LIFE EXISTS TO ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALS TO EMBRACE THEIR GOD-GIVEN COURAGE FOR LIFE. WE CREATE EMOTIONAL HEALTH, SPIRITUAL GROWTH, AND BIBLE STUDY RESOURCES TO DISCIPLE INDIVIDUALS TO GROW IN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH GOD AND OTHERS. WE DESIRE TO SERVE ANYONE WHO ASPIRES TO LIVE THE ABUNDANT LIFE GOD INTENDED FOR THEM WITH SPECIFIC FOCUS ON INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS, THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA, ABUSE, AND ADDICTION, AND ANYONE WHO DESIRES TO GROW IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
- Income
- $586,736
- Spending
- $413,115
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 19.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 86%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 55
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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 19.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 30% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 12 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.
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 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 (3)
- $211,161 spent. DIGITAL DISCIPLESHIP PROGRAMMING: COURAGE FOR LIFE PROVIDES OUR DIGITAL DISCIPLESHIP PROGRAMMING AT NO COST TO OUR ONLINE COMMUNITY. ANYONE WHO DESIRES TO GROW IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD MAY (1) LISTEN TO THE COURAGE FOR LIFE ALL-FEMALE-VOICED AUDIO BIBLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH ON THE COURAGE FOR LIFE APP. (2) WATCH OUR IN-DEPTH BIBLE STUDIES, EMOTIONAL HEALTH, AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH STUDIES ON OUR COURAGE FOR LIFE APP, OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL, OUR WEBSITE, OR ON INTOUCH+ NETWORK. (3) WATCH THE GOSPEL VIDEOS WHICH IS A DRAMATIZATION USING THE COURAGE FOR LIFE AUDIO BIBLE. (4) READ OUR BLOGS SUPPORTING EMOTIONAL HEALTH AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH. (5) SUBSCRIBE TO OUR DIGITAL DEVOTIONALS EXPLORING SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND BIBLE TOPICS. (6) CONNECT WITH US THROUGH PRAYER AND (7) FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @GODGIVESCOURAGE FOR BIBLICAL ENCOURAGEMENT. ADDITIONALLY, YOU CAN FIND COURAGE FOR LIFE AUDIO BIBLE ON OTHER PLATFORMS: YOUVERSION APP, PANDO APP, FILAMENT APP, AND MEGAVOICE DEVICES. COURAGE FOR LIFE'S DIGITAL DISCIPLESHIP PROGRAMMING IS A COLLECTION OF BIBLICAL RESOURCES TO OFFER COMFORT, ENCOURAGEMENT, INSPIRATION, AND HOPE TO THOSE WHO WANT TO EMBRACE THEIR GOD-GIVEN COURAGE FOR LIFE. DIGITAL DISCIPLESHIP PROGRAMMING: COURAGE FOR LIFE PROVIDES OUR DIGITAL DISCIPLESHIP PROGRAMMING AT NO COST TO OUR ONLINE COMMUNITY. ANYONE WHO DESIRES TO GROW IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD MAY (1) LISTEN TO THE COURAGE FOR LIFE ALL-FEMALE-VOICED AUDIO BIBLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH ON THE COURAGE FOR LIFE APP. (2) WATCH OUR IN-DEPTH BIBLE STUDIES, EMOTIONAL HEALTH, AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH STUDIES ON OUR COURAGE FOR LIFE APP, OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL, OUR WEBSITE, OR ON INTOUCH+ NETWORK. (3) WATCH THE GOSPEL VIDEOS WHICH IS A DRAMATIZATION USING THE COURAGE FOR LIFE AUDIO BIBLE. (4) READ OUR BLOGS SUPPORTING EMOTIONAL HEALTH AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH. (5) SUBSCRIBE TO OUR DIGITAL DEVOTIONALS EXPLORING SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND BIBLE TOPICS. (6) CONNECT WITH US THROUGH PRAYER AND (7) FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @GODGIVESCOURAGE FOR BIBLICAL ENCOURAGEMENT. ADDITIONALLY, YOU CAN FIND COURAGE FOR LIFE AUDIO BIBLE ON OTHER PLATFORMS: YOUVERSION APP, PANDO APP, FILAMENT APP, AND MEGAVOICE DEVICES. COURAGE FOR LIFE'S DIGITAL DISCIPLESHIP PROGRAMMING IS A COLLECTION OF BIBLICAL RESOURCES TO OFFER COMFORT, ENCOURAGEMENT, INSPIRATION, AND HOPE TO THOSE WHO WANT TO EMBRACE THEIR GOD-GIVEN COURAGE FOR LIFE.
- $96,904 spent. PRISON MINISTRY PROGRAM: COURAGE FOR LIFE'S PRISON MINISTRY PROVIDES RESOURCES AT NO COST TO INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS, THE PRISONS, JAILS, CHAPLAINS, OR VOLUNTEERS SERVING THE INCARCERATED. THROUGH OUR PRISON MINISTRY, WE OFFER INCARCERATED MEN AND WOMEN OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR IN-PERSON DISCIPLESHIP CLASSES UTILIZING OUR COURAGE FOR MY LIFE RESOURCES (WORKBOOKS, DVDS, AND STUDY BIBLES). WE ARE COMMITTED TO MEASURING THE IMPACT OF OUR MINISTRY AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR RESOURCES. WE USE PRE- AND POST-QUESTIONNAIRES TO ASSESS PARTICIPANTS' EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH WHICH PROVIDES THEIR EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL STATE AT THE OUTSET AND GAUGE THE PROGRAM'S IMPACT ON THEIR LIVES AFTER COMPLETION. OUR PRISON MINISTRY PROGRAM PROVIDES INCARCERATED MEN AND WOMEN WITH THE DISCIPLESHIP RESOURCES THEY NEED TO GROW EMOTIONALLY AND SPIRITUALLY, NO MATTER THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES. ADDITIONALLY, WE PROVIDE INCARCERATED MEN AND WOMEN WITH ACCESS TO COURAGE FOR LIFE'S AUDIO BIBLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH AS WELL AS OUR VIDEO BIBLE STUDIES VIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS STATE-ISSUED INMATE TABLETS. WE SUPPORT ONGOING DISCIPLESHIP OF INCARCERATED MEN AND WOMEN BY RESOURCING AND EQUIPPING CHAPLAINS AND/OR VOLUNTEERS TO ADDRESS EMOTIONAL HEALTH AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH THROUGH FACILITATING OUR COURAGE FOR MY LIFE CLASSES USING OUR WORKBOOKS AND VIDEO TEACHING SERIES. WE ALSO DISTRIBUTE OUR PRINT COURAGE FOR LIFE STUDY BIBLE FOR MEN AND THE COURAGE FOR LIFE STUDY BIBLE FOR WOMEN EMPOWERING THEM TO STUDY THE BIBLE FOR THEMSELVES AND GROW IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. WE BELIEVE THAT EVERY PERSON IS CREATED WITH A PURPOSE AND POTENTIAL, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS TO LIVE FULFILLING LIVES THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THE GOSPEL WHILE THEY ARE INCARCERATED. PRISON MINISTRY PROGRAM: COURAGE FOR LIFE'S PRISON MINISTRY PROVIDES RESOURCES AT NO COST TO INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS, THE PRISONS, JAILS, CHAPLAINS, OR VOLUNTEERS SERVING THE INCARCERATED. THROUGH OUR PRISON MINISTRY, WE OFFER INCARCERATED MEN AND WOMEN OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR IN-PERSON DISCIPLESHIP CLASSES UTILIZING OUR COURAGE FOR MY LIFE RESOURCES (WORKBOOKS, DVDS, AND STUDY BIBLES). WE ARE COMMITTED TO MEASURING THE IMPACT OF OUR MINISTRY AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR RESOURCES. WE USE PRE- AND POST-QUESTIONNAIRES TO ASSESS PARTICIPANTS' EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH WHICH PROVIDES THEIR EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL STATE AT THE OUTSET AND GAUGE THE PROGRAM'S IMPACT ON THEIR LIVES AFTER COMPLETION. OUR PRISON MINISTRY PROGRAM PROVIDES INCARCERATED MEN AND WOMEN WITH THE DISCIPLESHIP RESOURCES THEY NEED TO GROW EMOTIONALLY AND SPIRITUALLY, NO MATTER THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES. ADDITIONALLY, WE PROVIDE INCARCERATED MEN AND WOMEN WITH ACCESS TO COURAGE FOR LIFE'S AUDIO BIBLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH AS WELL AS OUR VIDEO BIBLE STUDIES VIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS STATE-ISSUED INMATE TABLETS. WE SUPPORT ONGOING DISCIPLESHIP OF INCARCERATED MEN AND WOMEN BY RESOURCING AND EQUIPPING CHAPLAINS AND/OR VOLUNTEERS TO ADDRESS EMOTIONAL HEALTH AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH THROUGH FACILITATING OUR COURAGE FOR MY LIFE CLASSES USING OUR WORKBOOKS AND VIDEO TEACHING SERIES. WE ALSO DISTRIBUTE OUR PRINT COURAGE FOR LIFE STUDY BIBLE FOR MEN AND THE COURAGE FOR LIFE STUDY BIBLE FOR WOMEN EMPOWERING THEM TO STUDY THE BIBLE FOR THEMSELVES AND GROW IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. WE BELIEVE THAT EVERY PERSON IS CREATED WITH A PURPOSE AND POTENTIAL, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS TO LIVE FULFILLING LIVES THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THE GOSPEL WHILE THEY ARE INCARCERATED.
- $11,027 spent. SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND BIBLE STUDY PRINT RESOURCES: COURAGE FOR LIFE PRODUCES PRINT RESOURCES FOR INDIVIDUALS TO GROWTH SPIRITUALLY AND PURSUE EMOTIONAL HEALING. THESE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO GO DEEPER IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. THE COURAGE FOR LIFE STUDY FOR MEN AND THE COURAGE FOR LIFE STUDY BIBLE FOR WOMEN ARE UNLIKE ANY OTHER STUDY BIBLE ON THE MARKET, FEATURING A BIBLE STUDY ON EVERY PAGE, REFLECTION QUESTIONS, ENCOURAGING FAITH PROFILES, A TOPICAL INDEX, EASY-TO-READ NEW LIVING TRANSLATION, A UNIQUE DISCIPLESHIP PATH THROUGH THE BIBLE BASED ON THE SEVEN COURAGE STEPS OF COURAGE FOR LIFE, AND ACCESS TO A SUITE OF DIGITAL RESOURCES INCLUDING AUDIO BIBLE THROUGH THE FILAMENT BIBLE APP. VISIT HTTPS://COURAGEFORLIFE.ORG/STUDY-BIBLE/ TO EXPLORE ALL THE STUDY BIBLE FEATURES. OTHER COURAGE FOR LIFE RESOURCES INCLUDE BOOKS, DEVOTIONALS, AND WORKBOOKS, DESIGNED TO SUPPORT SPIRITUAL GROWTH. COURAGE FOR LIFE'S SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND BIBLE STUDY PRINT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE AT HTTPS://COURAGEFORLIFE.ORG/STORE/ OUR PRAYER IS THAT YOU FIND THESE RESOURCES HELPFUL FOR YOUR OWN SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND FAITH JOURNEY. SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND BIBLE STUDY PRINT RESOURCES: COURAGE FOR LIFE PRODUCES PRINT RESOURCES FOR INDIVIDUALS TO GROWTH SPIRITUALLY AND PURSUE EMOTIONAL HEALING. THESE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO GO DEEPER IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. THE COURAGE FOR LIFE STUDY FOR MEN AND THE COURAGE FOR LIFE STUDY BIBLE FOR WOMEN ARE UNLIKE ANY OTHER STUDY BIBLE ON THE MARKET, FEATURING A BIBLE STUDY ON EVERY PAGE, REFLECTION QUESTIONS, ENCOURAGING FAITH PROFILES, A TOPICAL INDEX, EASY-TO-READ NEW LIVING TRANSLATION, A UNIQUE DISCIPLESHIP PATH THROUGH THE BIBLE BASED ON THE SEVEN COURAGE STEPS OF COURAGE FOR LIFE, AND ACCESS TO A SUITE OF DIGITAL RESOURCES INCLUDING AUDIO BIBLE THROUGH THE FILAMENT BIBLE APP. VISIT HTTPS://COURAGEFORLIFE.ORG/STUDY-BIBLE/ TO EXPLORE ALL THE STUDY BIBLE FEATURES. OTHER COURAGE FOR LIFE RESOURCES INCLUDE BOOKS, DEVOTIONALS, AND WORKBOOKS, DESIGNED TO SUPPORT SPIRITUAL GROWTH. COURAGE FOR LIFE'S SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND BIBLE STUDY PRINT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE AT HTTPS://COURAGEFORLIFE.ORG/STORE/ OUR PRAYER IS THAT YOU FIND THESE RESOURCES HELPFUL FOR YOUR OWN SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND FAITH JOURNEY.
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
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 September 2025.
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 April 2014.
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.
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.