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The Church Initiative Inc

EIN 56-1889818 · Wake Forest, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood87 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE EQUIP CHURCHES TO OFFER CHRIST-CENTERED SUPPORT GROUPS (DIVORCECARE & GRIEFSHARE) FOR PEOPLE GRIEVING THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE OR SUFFERING FROM A BROKEN MARRIAGE.

Income
$6.4 million
Spending
$6.3 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
12.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 90%
Employees
27
Volunteers
65,564
Highest pay
$244,740, 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: 87 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (1)
  1. $4.4 million spent. IN THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR, THROUGH OUR GROUPS, BOOKS, WEBSITES, AND OTHER DIGITAL COMMUNICATION, WE SHARED THE COMFORT OF CHRIST WITH OVER 3 MILLION PEOPLE. SPECIFICALLY, WE EQUIPPED AND PARTNERED WITH 9,337 CHURCHES TO OFFER OVER 18,726 GRIEFSHARE & DIVORCECARE SUPPORT GROUPS, HELPING OVER 131,940 PEOPLE. WE ALSO PROVIDED CHURCHES WITH 196,559 PARTICIPANT WORKBOOKS, WHICH THEY DISTRIBUTED TO THEIR DIVORCECARE AND GRIEFSHARE GROUP MEMBERS. ADDITIONALLY, 10,649 MINISTRY PARTNERS (CHURCHES) UTILIZED OUR FREE COACHING, RESULTING IN 39,661 COACHING MOMENTS. WE ALSO RECRUITED OVER 3,531 FORMER GROUP MEMBERS TO SERVE ON, OR START, CHURCH-BASED GRIEFSHARE AND DIVORCECARE TEAMS. AND, THROUGH OUR EFFORTS, THE GOSPEL WAS SHARED WITH OVER 131,940 PEOPLE.

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 December 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 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.