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Institute for the Public Understanding of the Bible

EIN 46-5690059 · Hoover, AL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceGood73 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To engage non-believers / non-Christians in meaningful conversations about the bible and equip Christians to do the same through teaching and the development of videos, a podcast (the Divide) and other digital resources.

Income
$47,975
Spending
$97,252
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
1
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$67,200, executive director & president of the board

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

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (religion, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 48% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 103% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 46% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 73 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (religion, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 6 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

    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.

  • 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, 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 (3)
  1. $45,786 spent. Digital Resource Development - In 2024, iPUB published a series of videos responding to on-line interviews of Dr. Bart Ehrman regarding the Gospel of Mark. It also published sixty to eighty videos of two online workshops on Bible education and a recorded discussion with an Atheist club at Mississippi State University.
  2. $27,075 spent. Teaching, Events & Lectures - In 2024, the Executive Director continued to teach three weekly workshops on Bible education. He led a year-long seminar for teachers at Mountain Brook Community Church on the Gospel of Mark and conducted a monthly in-person and online seminar on the first half of Genesis. iPUB hosted an exhibitor table at the Secular Student Alliance convention where we conducted dozens of interviews and published about ten recorded hour-long interviews. The iPUB president also delivered an hour-long lecture and took questions for an hour at the FAAMSU Atheist club at Mississippi State University.
  3. $919 spent. Guided Biblical Tours - The Executive Director spent time in 2024 finalizing the cancellation of a planned tour trip to Israel due to security concerns and gauging interest in a future trip to Israel or Greece.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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.