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Association for Research and Enlightenment Inc

EIN 54-0573802 · Virginia Bch, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak41 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF ASSOCIATION FOR RESEARCH AND ENLIGHTENMENT (A.R.E.) IS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFOUND PERSONAL CHANGE IN BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT THROUGH THE WISDOM FOUND IN THE EDGAR CAYCE MATERIAL.

Income
$5.1 million
Spending
$6.1 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 52%
Employees
63
Volunteers
93
Highest pay
$162,894, executive director/ceo (retired)

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: 41 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 46% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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.

  • 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 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 (4)
  1. $3.6 million spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS: OUR HEADQUARTERS, FIELD CONFERENCES, AND ONLINE PROGRAMMING PROVIDE STRUCTURED PROGRAMS BASED ON EDGAR CAYCE'S TOPICS AND TEACHINGS. WHILE ATTENDANCE HAS NOT YET RETURNED TO PRE-COVID LEVELS, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE SUPPORT OF OUR DEDICATED MEMBERSHIP. IN 2024 WE CONDUCTED 81 PROGRAMS OF VARIOUSFORMATS AND LENGTHS, ATTRACTING A TOTAL OF 2,629 ATTENDEES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE GLOBE.ON-SITE BOOKSTORE: PROMOTES AND SELLS A.R.E. PRESS PUBLICATIONS, RELATED OUTSIDE PUBLICATIONS, AND PERIPHERAL ITEMS. THIS SALES VENUE IS FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF OUR MEMBERS, DONORS, VISITORS AND SUPPORTERS, INCLUDING CONFEREES, MASSAGE THERAPY STUDENTS, AND SPIRITUAL / HEALTH SEEKERS TO ASSIST THEM IN IMPROVING THEIR LIVES PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY.PRISON OUTREACH: PROVIDES PRISONERS AND PRISON LIBRARIES WITH FREE BOOKS BASED ON THE EDGAR CAYCE MATERIAL AND A PRISON "PEN PAL" PROGRAM, ASSISTING INMATES WITH CONCEPTS AND QUESTIONS IN THE EDGAR CAYCE MATERIAL.PRAYER & MEDITATION SERVICES: SERVES AS BOTH A RESOURCE CENTER AND A WELL-NETWORKED INTERNATIONAL PRAYER SERVICE. OUR MONTHLY INTERNATIONAL PRAYER SERVICE INCLUDES AN INSPIRATIONAL PRAYER LETTER (ELECTRONIC OR MAILED TO ALMOST 3,000 PEOPLE WHO PRAY FOR THOSE ON THE LIST), WHICH IS PROMOTED TO HELP THOSE IN NEED. EACH YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 36,000 PRAYER PARTICIPANTS ARE SERVED.STUDY GROUPS/SPIRITUAL GROWTH GROUPS: SERVE AS A RESOURCE CENTER FOR THE NUMEROUS STUDY GROUPS AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH GROUPS IN THE U.S. AND ABROAD. THE WORLDWIDE TOTAL OF ECUMENICAL STUDY GROUPS STANDS AT OVER 400 INCLUDING OVER 100 GROUPS LOCATED IN PENITENTIARIES AROUND THE U.S. THIS DEPARTMENT AIDS IN THE START-UPS OF NEW GROUPS, DISSEMINATES THE APPROPRIATE CAYCE MATERIAL (BOOKS, PUBLICATIONS, ETC.) AND STUDY GROUP GUIDELINES, RESPONDS TO VARIOUS GROUPS' INQUIRIES, AND RESOLVES ISSUES THAT ARISE WITH THE VARIOUS STUDY GROUP OPERATIONS.OUTREACH: ALTHOUGH THE INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS OF THE EDGAR CAYCE WORK IS LOCATED IN VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA, THE A.R.E. COMMUNITY IS A GLOBAL NETWORK OF INDIVIDUALS WHO OFFER CONFERENCES, EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES, SERVICE PROJECTS, OUTREACH AND FELLOWSHIP AROUND THE WORLD. IN ADDITION TO THE VIRGINIA BEACH HEADQUARTERS, VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES ARE MANAGED BY COMMUNITY AFFILIATES COMPRISED OF MORE THAN 350 VOLUNTEERS THROUGHOUT THE USA. THERE ARE ALSO "EDGAR CAYCE CENTERS" IN MORE THAN 30 COUNTRIES AND OVER 100 VOLUNTEER CONTACTS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. THIS OUTREACH PROVIDES INDIVIDUALS AROUND THE WORLD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH LOCAL A.R.E. REPRESENTATIVES AND CAYCE ENTHUSIASTS, TAKE PART IN ECUMENICAL SPIRITUAL DISCUSSION GROUPS, ATTEND EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND HEAR HOW THE CAYCE INFORMATION CONTINUES TO HELP INDIVIDUALS CHANGE THEIR LIVES FOR THE BETTER PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY. IN ADDITION TO INTERNATIONAL STUDY GROUPS AND ONGOING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, THE A.R.E. COMMUNITY OFFERS A WEALTH OF FREE INFORMATION ON A VARIETY OF WEBSITES, ONGOING SERVICE PROJECTS, SUCH AS PRISON OUTREACH, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH AND CLASSES ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS. MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE AND MORE OPPORTUNITIES CAN BE FOUND AT: WWW.EDGARCAYCE.ORG.A.R.E. TOURS: FOR OVER 50 YEARS, A.R.E. HAS PROVIDED A UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL PROGRAM. EACH TOUR OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONAL GROWTH AND FEATURES KNOWLEDGEABLE SPEAKERS WHO SHARE INSIGHTS FROM EDGAR CAYCE'S READINGS. TRAVELERS WILL VISIT SPECIAL LOCATIONS AROUND THE WORLD THAT HOLD HISTORICAL, SPIRITUAL, OR METAPHYSICAL SIGNIFICANCE. ADDITIONALLY, THE TOURS FOSTER CONNECTIONS AMONG PARTICIPANTS, ALLOWING THEM TO MEET AND GET TO KNOW LIKE-MINDED INDIVIDUALS. TRAVELERS CAN ALSO ENGAGE IN DAILY MEDITATION AND COLLABORATE ON DREAM WORK. IN 2024, WE WELCOMED 30 TRAVELERS ON OUR INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC TOURS. METAPHYSICAL LIBRARY: THE LIBRARY ADVANCES KNOWLEDGE OF THE EDGAR CAYCE READINGS AND RELATED SUBJECTS IN THE FIELDS OF PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH, HISTORY, METAPHYSICS, AND PARAPSYCHOLOGY. IT ENCOURAGES INDEPENDENT EXPLORATION, SCHOLARLY RESEARCH, AND SERVES AS A GATHERING PLACE FOR GROUP STUDY. RESOURCES INCLUDE ACIRCULATING COLLECTION, SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, READINGS RESEARCH AREA, AND EBOOKS AND AUDIOBOOKS AVAILABLE ONLINE. PHYSICAL MATERIALS MAY BE CHECKED-OUT BY EDGAR CAYCE'S A.R.E. MEMBERS, ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, AND CAYCE-REILLY SCHOOL OF MASSAGE STUDENTS RESIDING IN THE HAMPTON ROADS METROPOLITAN AREA. DIGITAL MATERIALS AREAVAILABLE TO MEMBERS AND STUDENTS WORLDWIDE.CAYCE/REILLY SCHOOL OF MASSAGE: THE CAYCE/REILLY SCHOOL OF MASSAGE OFFERS A QUALITY, COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION IN BOTH THE ART AND SCIENCE OF MASSAGE BASED ON THE HOLISTIC PRINCIPLES OF THE EDGAR CAYCE READINGS AND IN THE SPIRIT OF DR. HAROLD J. REILLY. STUDENTS OF THE CAYCE/REILLY SCHOOL EXPERIENCE THE CONVERGENCE OF LEADING-EDGE TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION WITH THE CONCEPTS AND PHILOSOPHIES OF THE HOLISTIC HEALING ARTS, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE HEALTH PHILOSOPHIES AND REMEDIES CONTAINED IN THE EDGAR CAYCE READINGS. THE SCHOOL ALSO OFFERS CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES FOR ALREADY LICENSED/CERTIFIED MASSAGE THERAPISTS. ALL CLASSES OFFERED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE HEALTH AND HOLISTIC PRINCIPLES OF BOTH THE CAYCE/REILLY SCHOOL AND THE A.R.E. IN 2024 THE SCHOOL'S OPERATIONS AND TRAINING PROVIDED EDUCATION TO 38 STUDENTS.
  2. $1.1 million spent. HEALTH AND SPA SERVICES: HEALTH AND SPA SERVICES PROVIDES AND ADMINISTERS THE HEALTH CARE MODALITIES RECOMMENDED IN THE EDGAR CAYCE READINGS WHILE ASSISTING INDIVIDUALS IN UTILIZING THEIR OWN INNATE HEALING ABILITIES. OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE APPLICATION OF THE EDGAR CAYCE HEALTH READINGS IN A RESPONSIBLE, CARING AND PROFESSIONAL MANNER SUCH THAT THESE SERVICES ALIGN WITH BOTH THE SPIRIT AND PHILOSOPHY OF THE READINGS. THE FOLLOWING SERVICES WERE PROVIDED: BODYWORK (INCLUDING MASSAGE AND ACUPRESSURE), HYDROTHERAPY (INCLUDING COLONICS AND STEAMS),CHIROPRACTIC, ACUPRESSURE, HYPNOTHERAPY, COUNSELING AND ENERGYWORK. THE HEALTH CENTER AND SPA PROVIDED CARE TO A TOTAL OF 5,991 IN SERVICES FOR THE YEAR OF 2024.
  3. $254,282 spent. MEMBERSHIPS: A.R.E.'S TOTAL MEMBERSHIP WAS 10,687 AT 12/31/24. SOME OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2024, INCLUDED: WE PROVIDED A FREE ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP (SCHOLARSHIPS) TO 124 INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE NOT ABLE TO PAY FOR THEIR MEMBERSHIP IN 2024.WEBSITE:IN 2024, EDGARCAYCE.ORG HAD 597,109 VISITORS WITH 2,016,139 PAGEVIEWS.TOP PAGES BY VIEWS INCLUDED THE EDGAR CAYCE'S ASSOCIATION FOR RESEARCH AND ENLIGHTENMENT HOMEPAGE, EVENTS & PROGRAMS, SEVEN PROPHECIES YET TO COME, EDGAR CAYCE'S LIFE AND READINGS, MEMBERSHIP, EXCLUSIVE MEMBER SECTION, AKASHIC RECORDS, A.R.E. HEALTH CENTER AND SPA, RESOURCES, THERAPIES: CASTOR OIL PACKS, AND THE EDGAR CAYCE READINGS.TOP COUNTRIES U.S., CANADA, ENGLAND, AUSTRALIA, AND INDIA.WEBSITE VISITORS CAME PRIMARILY FROM THE U.S.HERE ARE SOME STATS FOR OUR WEBSITE: TOP COUNTRIES PRODUCING TRAFFIC: (SESSIONS/USERS)1. UNITED STATES 753,702/470,1572. CANADA 42,914/27,5283. UNITED KINGDOM 21,651/14,7654. AUSTRALIA 16,461/10,5245. INDIA 6,861/4,7516. CHINA 6,353/5,9187. GERMANY 5,776/4,2078. NETHERLANDS 4,981/3,6069. FRANCE 4,663/2,99410. IRELAND 3,983/2,777TOP SOURCES OF TRAFFIC INCLUDED (IN ORDER OF RANKING): ORGANICDIRECTSOCIALREFERRALPAID USER DEVICES WERE SPLIT INTO THESE THREE CATEGORIES:61.8% MOBILE34.2% DESKTOP4.0% TABLET OUR FACEBOOK PAGE HAD A TOTAL OF 201,000 LIKES IN 2024 AND A TOTAL OF 201,000 FOLLOWERS.OUR INSTAGRAM PAGE HAD 31,300 FOLLOWERS IN 2024.OUR TIKTOK CHANNEL HAS 793 FOLLOWERS.
  4. $172,998 spent. PUBLICATION AND DISSEMINATION: PROMOTES AND SELLS A.R.E. PRESS PUBLICATIONS. THIS SALES VENUE IS FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF OUR MEMBERS, DONORS, AND SUPPORTERS, INCLUDING CONFEREES, STUDENTS, AND SPIRITUAL / HEALTH SEEKERS TO ASSIST THEM IN IMPROVING THEIR LIVES PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY. THIS VENUE PROMOTES AND REACHES OUTSIDE OF THE LOCAL VIRGINIA BEACH DEMOGRAPHICS TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SEEKERS.IN-HOUSE PUBLICATIONS: A.R.E. PRESS PUBLISHES AND DISTRIBUTES BOOKS AND MEDIA TO WHOLESALE AND RETAIL BOOKSTORES THAT ARE BASED ON AND RELATED TO THE EDGAR CAYCE TOPICS AND TEACHINGS. CERTAIN PUBLICATIONS ARE ALSO OFFERED IN SPANISH. ALL OF A.R.E. PRESS PUBLICATIONS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AS EBOOKS AND NUMEROUS TITLES ARE AVAILABLE AS AUDIOBOOKS.

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 November 1995.

    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.