Prison Evangelism
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 41% of its spending went to programs.
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 50 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
PRISON EVANGELISM, INC. IS ORGANIZED WITH THE PURPOSE OF PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTING THE BOOK, "HOW TO BE A CHILD OF GOD", AND OTHER BOOKS TO ITS DATABASE OF 2,100 JAILS AND PRISONS IN THE UNITED STATES WHERE 2,000,000 INMATES RESIDE. THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE AND PURPOSE OF THIS CORPORATION IS TO OFFER CHRISTIAN MESSAGES AND SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WITHIN STATE AND FEDERAL PRISONS, AS WELL AS LOCAL JAILS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD. THE ORGANIZATION WILL ALSO CONDUCT SEMINARS, OFFER ONE-ON-ONE DISCIPLESHIP, PUBLISH AND DISTRIBUTE MATERIALS, AND OFFER MENTORSHIP SERVICES.
- Income
- $300,072
- Spending
- $285,306
- Spent on programs
- 41%
- Reserves
- 3.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
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
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 32% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1541% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 50 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
Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
0 of 5Reports that it does not keep 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
- $115,559 spent. PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION OF EVANGELISTIC CHRISTIAN BOOKS TO JAILS AND PRISONS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 2014.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.