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Renovare Inc

EIN 48-1062723 · Palatine, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To renew the Christian church through the personal and corporate spiritual formation of its members.

Income
$2.1 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
5.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
10
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$155,313, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    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 June 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. $353,255 spent. A two year program, the Renovare Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation (Renovare Institute) provides an in depth interaction with core organizational ideas. Over the course of two years, students are guided in daily online studies, practice a variety of spiritual disciplines, develop a spiritual community with a small group of co-learners, and experience four week-long learning residencies in a retreat setting. In FY 2024-25, the Seattle cohort completed their first year of the program with a one-week in-person retreat in Sept 2024 and Feb 2025 with 45 students. The Omaha cohort completed its second year of the program with a one-week in-person retreat in Nov 2024 and June 2025 with 42 students.
  2. $206,590 spent. Conferences and retreats are planned and facilitated to encourage people to practice a meaningful spiritual life. In April 2025 the annual pastor's retreat, "First Love", was held for 43 pastors and ministry leaders. In June 2025, Renovare held its second biennial event, "The ReGathering," a 3-day event that is "part conference, part retreat, and part family reunion." It was attended in-person by approximately 370 people.
  3. $413,431 spent. Spiritual Formation education is a core of Renovare's ministry and remained an emphasis for FY 2024-25. This general education occurs through various platforms: such as podcasts via the website (renovare.org), the online Renovare book club with a record 2100 participants, and various speaking engagements. Renovare has continued webinars that were created in response to limited in-person gatherings. Three webinars were hosted in FY2024-25, with an average webinar having over 1,000 registrations. Renovare also hosted two online workshops - one on the art of kintsugi, and the other focused on how to hear God. Renovare continues to see people register for their free "From the Inside Out" online course. Over 9,300 people from 120 countries have registered for the course, podcast episodes were downloaded over 230,000 times and over 41,000 people now receive the "Renovare Weekly" email each Friday.
  4. $367,273 spent. To support renewal at a congregational level, Renovare offers resources and experiences for churches through its Churches in Renewal initiative. These include the Churches in Renewal Cohort Learning Experience (CIRCLE), participation at the annual pastors retreat, and other content and community life offerings. CIRCLE is an immersive ten-month program of study, prayer, and interchurch dialogue. In FY2024-25, seven Atlanta churches participated in CIRCLE. Three to five individuals from each church (total of 30 people) participated in the program. Cohort-wide in-person meetings were held on October 14, 2024, January 10, 2025, March 17, 2025 and May 9, 2025.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 November 6, 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 June 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 July 1989.

    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 November 4, 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.