Passes our checks

Understanding the Word

EIN 88-3522515 · Lafayette, LA

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

What it says it does

To provide all individuals with a bible ,while providing knowledge of the only path to truly Understanding the Word.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).

Reserves
10 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 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 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 35% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Weak: 17 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).

Independent board
0 of 25
0 of 1 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.
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, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)

$361,335 spent. My name is David Hoke, and I am the president and founder of Understanding the Word Ministries, based in Lafayette, LA. Our ministry began with a single foil-stamped Bible made for one person. I never imagined that one act of obedience would become the ministry God has grown today. Since then, in 2025 alone, He has given us the privilege of giving over 13,000 Bibles to people seeking to understand the Word of God in the United States and around the world. Some of the ministry'sstatisticsfor 2025 include the following Over 6,000 Biblesfor lawmakers across the US and the Dominican Republic. Over 250 Biblesfor Louisiana Adult and Teen Challenge. Over 200 boy Life Application bibles to Little Leagues. Over 1,000 Bibles to Colombia. Over 450 Biblesto Student Athletes at UL Lafayette, LSU, and other universities. Over 2,000 Bibles to Venezuela. Over 300 Biblesto Prison and Rehabilitation Ministries Over 3,500 Bibles to seekers across the US and counting

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 September 2022.
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.