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Phoebe Pember Foundation

EIN 57-1108419 · Charleston, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SOPHIA INSTITUTE PROVIDES LEADING EDGE PROGRAMS TAUGHT BY THE WORLD'S FOREMOST THINKERS AND TEACHERS THAT FOSTER WISDOM, WHOLENESS, ONENESS, SUSTAINABILITY, PEACE, AND THE INTEGRATION OF THE SACRED FEMININE AND MASCULINE FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF SELF AND SOCIETY

Income
$172,202
Spending
$200,836
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
6.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
1
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$44,167, executive director

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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 7 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $163,449 spent. THE SOPHIA INSTITUTE FUNCTIONS AS A MODERN WISDOM INSTITUTE, OFFERING LEADING EDGE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, WORKSHOPS, AND RETREATS FOR SMALL AS WELL AS LARGE GROUPS. OUR WIDE RANGE OF PROGRAMS ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THOSE IN THE MIDST OF PERSONAL AND INTERPERSONAL TRANSFORMATION, AS WELL AS THOSE SEEKING TO INTEGRATE THE WORK INTO BUSINESS, FAMILY, EDUCATION, RELIGION, HEALING PROFESSIONS, AND THE ARTS. THE SOPHIA INSTITUTE HAS RECENTLY UPDGRADED ITS WEBSITE SO VISITORS TO THE SITE CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMS AND EVENTS. THE FACULTY CONSISTS OF SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST RESPECTED AND RENOWNED TEACHERS, LEADERS AND VISIONARIES. THEY ARE OFTEN PSYCHIATRISTS, PSYCHOTHERAPISTS, ANTHROPOLOGISTS, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS, THEOLOGIANS AND PHILOSOPHERS, BUT ALSO POETS, WRITERS, ARTISTS AND SPIRITUAL MENTORS. THE FACULTY WILL LEAD RETREATS, SPECIAL EVENTS AND OR ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS FOR THE ORGANIZATION.

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 2004.

    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.