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New Reformation Publications

EIN 46-3986960 · San Clemente, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceFair55 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO DECLARE AND DEFEND THE GOOD NEWS THAT YOU ARE FORGIVEN AND FREE ON ACCOUNT OF CHRIST ALONE. 1517 IS ROOTED IN THE LEGACY OF MARTIN LUTHER AND THE FIRST EVANGELICALS OF THE REFORMATION. OUR RESOURCES ARE ANCHORED IN THE CENTRAL MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE: THAT CHRIST DIED FOR SINNERS AND ROSE FOR THEIR JUSTIFICATION.

Income
$8.2 million
Spending
$7.1 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
1.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
35
Highest pay
$208,950, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 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 December 31, 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 (5)
  1. $843,210 spent. HERE WE STILL STAND: WE HOLD TWO CONFERENCES ANNUALLY, ONE IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS IN THE SPRING AND ONE IN SAN DIEGO IN THE FALL, WITH SPEAKING PRESENTATIONS AND EVENTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF LEARNING, FORTIFYING AND CELEBRATING THE GOSPEL TRUTHS RECLAIMED IN THE REFORMATION AND CENTERING ATTENDEES' FAITH IN CHRIST, BASED IN THE SCRIPTURAL TRUTHS REDISCOVERED IN THE LUTHERAN REFORMATION. HWSS IS ALSO MEANT TO PROVIDE A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD WHO HAVE BEEN FREED BY THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL, WHEREIN NEW FRIENDSHIPS CAN BE FORMED AND OLD FRIENDSHIPS STRENGTHENED. THE CONFERENCE ALSO INCLUDES EXHIBITORS WHO SHARE COMMON CONVICTIONS. ATTENDEES WILL FIND BOOKS, PODCASTS, MERCY MINISTRIES, BIBLE STUDY AND CHURCH HELPS, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER GOSPEL-CENTERED RESOURCES.
  2. $691,043 spent. 1517 PUBLISHING--THE PUBLISHING ARM OF 1517--PUBLISHES BOOKS AS APPROVED BY THE EDITORIAL COMMITTEE COMPRISED OF 7 INDIVIDUALS AND DEVELOPS THE CURRENT BACK-CATALOG OF ACQUIRED CONTENT. NRP ALSO SEEKS LICENSING OPPORTUNITIES TO FURTHER DEVELOP CONTENT FOR 1517.
  3. $462,492 spent. 1517 PODCASTS: IS THE AUDIO PROGRAM NETWORK OPERATED BY 1517. 1517 PRODUCES AND DISTRIBUTES NINETEEN PODCASTS ACROSS THE WORLD'S MOST POPULAR PODCAST LISTENING PLATFORMS. THE SHOWS BELONGING TO 1517 PODCASTS ARE DOWNLOADED OVER SIX MILLION TIMES A YEAR. THE PODCAST NETWORK EXISTS TO DECLARE AND DEFEND THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, CRUCIFIED AND RISEN FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. THE TOPICS OF OUR PODCASTS COVER A BROAD SCOPE INCLUDING DEDICATED PLATFORMS FOR DISCUSSING CHURCH HISTORY, SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY, PHILOSOPHY, AND BIBLICAL EXEGESIS. THE PODCAST NETWORK ALSO WORKS TO PROMOTE THE OTHER RESOURCES AT 1517 SUCH AS BOOKS, CONFERENCES, ACADEMIES, AND BLOGS.
  4. $3.6 million spent. PUBLISHING, HOSTING CONFERENCES, PODCAST NETWORK, RADIO SHOWS, DAILY ARTICLES,PROVIDING SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, AN ONLINE ACADEMY, CURATING AUTHOR WORKS, MAINTAINING A WEB STORE WHICH SELLS PUBLISHED WORKS, AUDIO/VIDEO RESOURCES AND MERCHANDISE.
  5. PUBLISHING, HOSTING CONFERENCES, PODCAST NETWORK, RADIO SHOWS, DAILY ARTICLES,PROVIDING SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, AN ONLINE ACADEMY, CURATING AUTHOR WORKS, MAINTAINING A WEB STORE WHICH SELLS PUBLISHED WORKS, AUDIO/VIDEO RESOURCES AND MERCHANDISE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2014 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2014.

    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 December 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 August 2014.

    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.