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American Reformer

EIN 87-0851385 · Dallas, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak0 out of 100GovernanceWeak41 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
  • It owes more than it owns.
  • Only 49% 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

AMERICAN REFORMER'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE A VIGOROUS CHRISTIAN APPROACH TO THE CULTURAL CHALLENGES OF OUR DAY, ROOTED IN THE RICH TRADITION OF PROTESTANT SOCIAL AND POLITICAL THOUGHT.

Income
$280,922
Spending
$630,085
Spent on programs
49%
Reserves
-22.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0

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

Weak: 0 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 256% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 124% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 46% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    49% 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: 41 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 4 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

    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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (3)
  1. $150,000 spent. CAFF COLLEGE GUIDE: THE CENTER FOR ACADEMIC FAITHFULNESS & FLOURISHING (CAFF) LAUNCHED ITS CAFF COLLEGE GUIDE IN OCTOBER 2024 TO EMPOWER STUDENTS AND PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY TO THE CHRISTIAN HIGHER EDUCATION SECTOR. THE GUIDE FEATURES COMPREHENSIVE PROFILES FOR EACH SCHOOL WITH INFORMATION ON ITS THEOLOGICAL TRADITION, STATEMENT OF FAITH, ACADEMIC PROGRAMS, AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, ALONG WITH GRANULAR INFORMATION ON STUDENT LIFE AND FACULTY POLICIES. CAFF WORKS DIRECTLY WITH COLLEGE ADMINISTRATIONS TO BUILD ACCURATE PROFILES AND SHOWCASE EVERY SCHOOL'S UNIQUE FEATURES. OUR GOAL IS TO BUILD A K-20 PIPELINE FOR FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN STUDENTS.
  2. $60,000 spent. SUMMER FELLOWSHIP: THE COTTON MATHER FELLOWSHIP GRADUATED ITS FOURTH COHORT IN SUMMER 2025. EACH YEAR, FELLOWSHIP GATHERS A UNIQUE NETWORK OF YOUNG AMERICAN PROTESTANTS FOR A SUMMER-LONG EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL EXPERIENCE. KEY TOPICS INCLUDE POLITICAL THEOLOGY, MORAL ORDER, CHRISTIAN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND AMERICAN HISTORY. THE FELLOWS MEET WEEKLY FOR VIDEO DISCUSSIONS OF KEY TEXTS IN THE WESTERN PHILOSOPHICAL AND RELIGIOUS TRADITION, WITH THE GOAL OF PROVIDING AN INTELLECTUAL FOUNDATION TO THEIR CHRISTIAN FAITH. THE CAPSTONE OF THE FELLOWSHIP IS A THREE-DAY IN-PERSON RETREAT FULL OF INTELLECTUAL DISCUSSIONS AND TEAM-BUILDING ACTIVITIES. THE FELLOWS LEAVE THIS EXPERIENCE EQUIPPED AND ENCOURAGED TO CARRY THEIR NEWFOUND LEARNING INTO THEIR VOCATIONS.
  3. $100,000 spent. ONLINE PUBLICATION: THE AMERICAN REFORMER ONLINE JOURNAL PUBLISHED OVER 450 ARTICLES AND RECEIVED ALMOST 1 MILLION PAGEVIEWS IN 2024. BOTH OF THESE NUMBERS WERE NEARLY DOUBLE THE CORRESPONDING NUMBERS IN 2023, AND THEY CONTINUE OUR TREND OF STEADY GROWTH YEAR-OVER-YEAR. THE JOURNAL HAS CONTINUED TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING AMERICAN CHRISTIANS. OUR INCISIVE COMMENTARY BACKED BY DEEP HISTORICAL REFLECTION HAS ATTRACTED A DIVERSE AND LOYAL READERSHIP THAT CONTINUES TO GROW.

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 March 2022.

    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.