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Foundry Training Group

EIN 86-2914694 · Grand Rapids, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceFair69 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To strengthen and support church leaders at every level with biblical and practical training. The Foundry provides a variety of learning communities for pastors, ministry staff, lay leaders, and others in or exploring ministry.

Income
$276,598
Spending
$261,920
Spent on programs
58%
Reserves
2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 52%
Employees
3
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$97,220, director of theological education

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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 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 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    58% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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

    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 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 (5)
  1. $135,227 spent. Institute of Ministry Leadership - The Foundry offers seminary-level training on site and packaged in a sustainable rhythm. Our church-centered model focuses on ministry-related outcomes in participants' current ministry context, connecting course learning with the real-life ministry happening in the local church. For 2024-25, The Foundry completed the 2-year course cycle in Kalamazoo, MI and in Zeeland, MI, began the 2-year course cycle in Grand Rapids (at Fifth Reformed and Madison, and then combined at Remembrance Church), and launched another 2-year course cycle at the Kalamazoo location. Across these sites we offered 18 courses that had 39 learners at the highest and averaged 15 per course. People from more than 20 churches (from 6 different denominations/networks) participated in these courses.
  2. $1,497 spent. Pastors Learning Cohort - The Foundry focuses on strengthening pastors for ministry in a way that is church-centered and learns in community. Our pastors learning cohorts are for those who are actively serving as pastors who seek being further equipped for ministry. During 2024-25 we ran one of these cohorts.
  3. $7,420 spent. Customized Workshops and Training - The Foundry offers workshops where leaders and congregations can be trained in a variety of areas, including biblical and theological training, spiritual formation, and church leadership. This year, The Foundry worked with several churches and ministries to provide them with training on specific topics. These varied in format, with some being weekend workshops, multiple days in one week, or multiple times over the course of several months.
  4. $2,952 spent. Multi-Church Lay Leader Training - The Foundry's lay leadership training offers equipping for elders, deacons, ministry staff, and other lay leaders with a focus on four broad categories: Character: Spiritual and Emotional Health Knowledge: Bible, Theology, Polity Skills: Listening, Care, Teaching Responsibilities: Leadership, Discipleship, Worship. This year, we offered this training in a multi-church format three times (January, May, and October). For each of these workshops, 5 to 8 different churches participated with multiple people from each church for a range of 25 to 75 participants per workshop.
  5. $5,225 spent. Spiritual Direction - The Foundry offers spiritual direction as a means to strengthen and support church leaders. Directees pay per session and typically meet on a monthly basis. The number of those receiving spiritual direction has increased since we began offering this program service.

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 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 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 June 2021.

    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.