Walking the Text
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The organization provides Biblical resources through online teachings, podcasts, seminars, study trips, and videos and media that help people to understand the Bible more thoroughly from its original cultural, historical, and geographical context in order for them to understand and live out its teachings and principles better.
- Income
- $4.3 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 17.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 96%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $200,067, president executive director
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 17.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 71% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 295% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 254 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $212,641 spent. Walking The Text provides scholarships to individuals desiring to participate in study trips to Biblical lands. This year all trips were cancelled due to the unrest in the Middle East. We received scholarship gifts (totaling $159,180 listed below) for individuals this year which will be applied to next years trips. Generally individuals accepted for scholarships are actively involved in ministry, Biblical teaching or leadership, or students studying ministry and/or Biblical studies. We earmark 20K of total donations received to give away in scholarships regardless of how the donor specifies the gift. Expense total is reflected in section IX column B line 2, 1/3 of line 5B (which equals $178,903), 1/3 line 20 ($21,554), line 24a and line 24c . Revenue total is reflected in section XIII line 2a. This year since all trips were cancelled there was no income for this program.
- $357,948 spent. Walking The Text provides opportunities for churches and organizations to host live events where founder/director Brad Gray, (and other Biblical teachers including Content Director Brad Nelson) speaks and teaches on the Bible. The format is generally (but not limited to) weekend services at a church, live weekend workshops, or an annual 3-day Biblical conference (IBC). This year also included hosting screenings for the film we released this year--The Lord's Prayer. This year we had the opportunity to speak to the Buffalo Bills NFL team alongside their chaplain to name one of the unique opportunities we were involved in. We also led events in Indiana, Washington DC, Tennessee, Georgia, Colorado and Florida to name a few. Expense total is reflected in section IX column B lines 17, line 19, 24b, 24e, 1/3 line 5B (which equals $178,903), and 1/3 line 20 ($21,554). Revenue total is reflected in section XIII line 2b.
- $359,258 spent. Website content and development including weekly video teachings, website updates, podcast development, and other resource information which is available for free to users on our website. Our main website Walking The Text is not a revenue generating service that we provide, rather we strive to offer the best resources on the subject of the Bible for free to everyone. There is information listed about study trips, speaking at conferences or churches, and/or future events listed on the website in which people can sign up for. Users also have the opportunity to donate to Walking The Text online. Parts of the website was revamped this year in order to give users a more friendly and easy website to navigate all the while maintaining the highest quality website possible. The film The Lord's Prayer was released in November 2025 and is now streaming on Angel. We do receive royalties through an LLC from this which is exempt. We created a new website www.thelordsprayer.com. Season 1 of The Sacred Thread releases in March 2026 and the new website is www.thesacredthread.com. Expense total is reflected in section IX 1/3 line 5B (which equals $178,903), 1/3 line 20 ($21,554), line 11a column B, line 11 b column B, line 11g column B, line 13, column B line 14, line 16, line 22, line 24d Column B. Revenue is reflected as royalty income 990 Part VIII, line 5.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2018.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.