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Sowers Ministry Inc

EIN 81-3705848 · Tehachapi, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood73 out of 100GovernanceWeak33 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Humanitarian / EducationSOWERS stands for Serving Orphans Widows Educating & Reaching Society.Founded in 2001 by Rev. Jayakumar Babu Salluri, Pastor Jay, God has used this ministry to educate 1,048 pastors, start and support 170 village churches that reach 320 communities, and help countless orphans and widows.Under this mission, believers in North America and believers in India can become one by working toward the goal of spiritually guiding orphans, widows, Bible college students, and society by sharing the love and servants heart of Jesus Christ.

Income
$334,403
Spending
$334,808
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
5.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 33 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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. $108,531 spent. EDUCATION / TRAINING - SOWERS Ministry believes in proper training, Jesus himself trained his disciples, Paul the Apostle trained Timothy, and pastor Jay was trained in two different theological seminaries for the period of 7 years. God gave Jay and his staff the vision of teaching the untrained tribal pastors through their mobile Bible School. He was introduced the BTCP (Bible Training Centre for Pastors) in 1997. He studied through the entire curriculum, felt the pressure of the Lord to take the same training to these remote young men and women. This training has been ongoing since 2001 in India. More than 1,048 men and women have graduated - and are now sent back to their villages with bicycles to travel and share the Gospel.
  2. $108,530 spent. ORPHANS - Millions of orphans exist in India. Without proper care, education, and direction many of these children are exploited and often become inadvertently involved in child trafficking. SOWERS helps orphans by providing them with a means of education as well as funds to provide food, shelter, medical care, and general wellbeing to these needy children.These children are not statistics - they are precious souls, made in the image of God, and deserving of every opportunity to flourish.
  3. $108,530 spent. WIDOWS - In the country of India, widows are looked down upon and actually considered bad luck. Many believe that a woman must have done something wrong in her past life to become a widow. Because of this, they are often denied work and find it difficult to build relationships with others. SOWERS provides funding for food, rent, medical care, and general funding to these women to keep them off the street as well as providing them with a sense of worth and importance. They are honored just as Christ honored and loved on the needy during His time on earth.
  4. REACHING SOCIETY - According to the Hindu Caste system which dominates Indian culture, all Christians are Dalits - members of the lowest class. However, not all Dalits are Christians. Hindu Dalits are blown away by the loving kindness, humility, and service that Christians show them. Our native pastors and missionaries give Jesus' love in equal measure to all. We reach unreached communities and villages, plant churches, advocate for the persecuted, and bring the light of the Gospel to every nook of the nation of India.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 2016.

    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.