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Canyon Ministries

EIN 86-1027957 · Prescott, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceWeak21 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 40% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

DEDICATED TO UPHOLDING THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE FROM THE VERY FIST VERSE AND PRESENTING THE EVIDENCE SEEN IN AND AROUND THE GRAND CANYON, WHICH SUPPOORTS A YOUNG EARTH.

Income
$676,475
Spending
$653,526
Spent on programs
40%
Reserves
4.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 72%
Employees
2
Highest pay
$98,999, executive dir.

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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    40% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Weak: 21 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 8 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

    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.

  • 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, 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. $168,675 spent. RIM TOURS THROUGH THE GRAND CANYON PARK, PROVIDING A BIBLICALLY BASED TOUR ON THE SOUTH RIM OF THE GRAND CANYON CONSISTENT WITH THE STANDARD AND EXCELLENCE AND INTEGRITY OF THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST.
  2. $47,151 spent. TO LEAD GEOLOGY FOCUSED TRIPS INTO REMOTE AREAS OF THE GRAND CAYNON AND THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHWEST, EXAMINING VARIOUS FEAUTRES AND THEIR RELATION TO THE EVENTS OF CREATION AND THE FLOOD WITNESSED IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS.
  3. $38,611 spent. RIVER TRIPS THROUGH THE GRAND CANYON COVERING 187 MILES OF THE COLORADO RIVER, PROVIDING HANDS ON OPPORTUNITIES TO INVESTIGATE GOD'S CREATION IMMERSED IN THE EVIDENCE OF A YOUNG EARTH PRINCIPLE.
  4. $5,581 spent. BOOK SALES PROVIDE FOR THE DISSEMINATION OF THE SCIENTIFIC AND BIBLICAL EVIDENCE SUPPORTING A YOUNG EARTH.

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 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 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 January 2002.

    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.