Academy for Creating Enterprise
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
We ignite the entrepreneurial mindset in faith-driven people through training and support to create more abundant lives.
- Income
- $2.3 million
- Spending
- $3.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 5.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 95%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 7,763
- Highest pay
- $173,410, 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
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 58% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 30% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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 65% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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 (1)
- $2.4 million spent. Grants were given to international programs who utilized member groups (called "Chapters") to facilitate all activity needed to assist members in their journey to become financially independent. In 2025, 22,562 participants attended a training led by in-country staff. Participants become members of a local chapter where they receive ongoing training and mentoring. Chapters are led by local volunteers who are trained to provide that mentoring during monthly meetings and visits to individual member businesses. By the end of 2025 a total of 1,220 Chapters existed in which an average of 24,607 graduates participated monthly. The Chapter trainings and mentoring efforts helped participants form 12,174 new businesses (Income Generating Activities). Program expenditures represented 81% of our annual budget.In 2025, chapter programs operated in the following countries: the Philippines, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile, Guatemala and Honduras. The following numbers represent statistics for the year 2025:In-Country Staff provided:* Start Now training sessions - 665* Grow Now training sessions - 55* Residential training sessions - 5Active Chapter membership - 24,607 * Chapter Presidency trainings - 5.069New Income Generating Activities (new small businesses) formed by chapter members in 2025 - 12,174The Annual Academy Awards in each Area ($64,783 spent in all areas) celebrated the achievements of members throughout the year.The Academy partnered with the Light the World Campaign (Giving Machines) in distributing over $500,000 of gifts and training purchased by individual donors to over 1,300 business owners to help them grow their businesses.
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 July 2001.
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.