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3535 Foundation

EIN 88-4067215 · Fargo, ND

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong92 out of 100GovernanceWeak49 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE 3535 FOUNDATION EXISTS TO SUPPORT AND PROMOTE THE MINISTRY OF THE COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH AND OTHER CONFESSIONALLY REFORMED AND BAPTISTIC CAUSES. WE INTEND TO DO THIS THROUGH PROMOTIONAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT THE RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS STATED ABOVE THAT ALIGN WITH THE RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH OF FARGO.

Income
$656,650
Spending
$380,391
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
8.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
0
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$14,976, secretary

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

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 42% of income.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% 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: 49 out of 100. Higher than 34% 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.

  • 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. $145,747 spent. CONFERENCES - IN 2024, THE 3535 FOUNDATION ORCHESTRATED TWO PRESTIGIOUS CONFERENCES, EACH DESIGNED TO ELEVATE THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION WITHIN THE REFORMED BAPTIST COMMUNITY. THESE EVENTS OFFERED A UNIQUE PLATFORM FOR INFLUENTIAL LEADERS IN THE CHURCH AND ACADEMIA TO ENGAGE, DELIBERATE, AND DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE FOUNDATION'S VISIONARY OBJECTIVES.BOSTON CONFERENCE (APRIL 20-24, 2024)LOCATION: BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS- PURPOSE: TO UNVEIL THE MISSION AND PURPOSE OF THE 3535 FOUNDATION TO KEY REFORMED BAPTIST LEADERS.- PARTICIPANTS: 12 DISTINGUISHED MEN FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WERE INVITED.- FOCUS AREAS: PUBLISHING OF RARE AND SCHOLARLY WORKS CONFERENCES WITH INTERNATIONAL SPEAKERS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR SEMINARY AND POST-GRADUATE WORK AT ELITE INSTITUTIONS CHURCH PLANTING INITIATIVES IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIESHIGHLIGHTS:- THE FOUNDATION'S VISION AND KEY ACTIVITIES WERE PRESENTED, ACCOMPANIED BY AN EXTENSIVE Q&A SESSION.- DISTRIBUTION OF EXCLUSIVE LITERATURE ON THE 17TH CENTURY PARTICULAR BAPTIST HISTORY.- A LECTURE BY DR. CHAD VAN DIXHOORN ON 17TH CENTURY ECCLESIASTICAL DEBATES IN LONDON, WITH A FOCUS ON THEIR IMPACT ON MODERN THEOLOGY.- A VIBRANT AND COLLEGIAL ATMOSPHERE WITH NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOTH FORMAL AND INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS.- A STRONG EMPHASIS ON ADVANCING REFORMED BAPTIST CAUSES THROUGH LOCAL CHURCHES RATHER THAN INSTITUTIONS, WITH PRACTICAL STRATEGIES SHARED.FUTURE PLANS:- CONTINUED USE OF BOSTON AS A STRATEGIC LOCATION TO PROMOTE THE FOUNDATION.- ENHANCING NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES BETWEEN REFORMED BAPTIST LEADERS AND ACADEMIC SCHOLARS, INCLUDING INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES.FARGO CONFERENCE (AUGUST 13-15, 2024)LOCATION: FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA- GOALS: TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE FOUNDATION TO GATHER REFORMED BAPTISTS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS TO INITIATE TEACHINGS ON 1689 ECCLESIOLOGY, WITH A MODERN APPLICATION PERSPECTIVEHIGHLIGHTS:- DESPITE A LATE REGISTRATION, A ROBUST NUMBER OF ATTENDEES PARTICIPATED.- POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM CONFERENCE REVIEW FORMS, HIGHLIGHTING THE ENRICHING EXPERIENCE.- KEYNOTE SPEAKERS INCLUDED DR. JAMES RENIHAN AND DR. CHAD VAN DIXHOORN, FOCUSING ON THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE 17TH CENTURY ECCLESIASTICAL DEBATES AND THEIR RELEVANCE TODAY.- DISTRIBUTION OF EXCLUSIVE LITERATURE SUCH AS THE PSALTER, PSALMS FOR WORSHIP, AND KEY WORKS BY MATTHEW BINGHAM AND OTHERS, WITH ACCOMPANYING STUDY GUIDES.
  2. $74,358 spent. CHURCH PLANTING - THIS YEAR THE FOUNDATION WAS ABLE TO SUPPORT THE BOZEMAN REFORMED BAPTIST CHURCH IN BOZEMAN MONTANA. (HTTPS://BOZEMANRBC.ORG) THE ASSISTANCE GIVEN (60K) MADE UP CLOSE TO HALF OF THEIR BUDGETARY NEEDS FOR THE YEAR. THE BOARD ALSO APPROVED 50K FOR 2025 TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING THEM AS THEY GROW AND EVENTUALLY ARE 100% SELF-SUSTAINING. THE FOUNDATION MET IN OCTOBER OF 2024 TO ALSO APPROVE ASSISTANCE (40K) FOR FELLOWSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH OF SIDNEY MONTANA. THIS MONEY WAS NEEDED TO PAY THEIR NEW PASTOR AS THE CHURCH SEEKS TO GROW AND BECOME SELF-SUSTAINING IN THE NEXT 3 YEARS. BEING RELATIVELY NEW, THE FOUNDATION HAS ONLY APPROVED SUPPORT FOR THESE TWO CHURCHES AND THE CUBAN MINISTRY, THUS FAR. THERE ARE NOW MULTIPLE WORKS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSIDERATION THAT WILL BE VOTED ON AT THE START OF THE NEW YEAR. A REFORMED BAPTIST CHURCH PLANT IN WATSONVILLE, CA.A REFORMED BAPTIST CHURCH PLANT IN BOSTON, MACHURCH ASSISTANCE FOR A REFORMED BAPTIST CHURCH IN TUCSON, AZ
  3. $71,782 spent. EDUCATION SUPPORT -THERE ARE CURRENTLY TWO SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS ON OFFER, THE PHD SCHOLARSHIP AND THE MDIV SCHOLARSHIP. THE PHD SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ALSO OFFERS A BRIDGE PROGRAM TO ASSIST OTHERWISE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS THAT INTEND TO PURSUE A PHD BUT NEED SOME ADDITIONAL EDUCATION TO COMPLETE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. SO FAR, WE HAVE SEEN MOST INTEREST COME THROUGH THE PHD PROGRAM. DURING 2024 THERE WERE 12 APPLICATIONS RECEIVED, 10 WERE FOR PHD AND 2 WERE FOR MDIV. THE FOUNDATION APPROVED 5 OF THE APPLICATIONS WITH 3 STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION AT THE END OF THE YEAR. THERE WERE 5 ADDITIONAL INQUIRIES THAT HAVE NOT YET LED TO AN APPLICATION.THE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS VARY GREATLY IN THEIR FIELD OF STUDY, BUT ALL SHOW GREAT GIFTEDNESS. IT IS OUR BELIEF THAT THE RECIPIENTS SHOW GENUINE PROMISE TO BE LEADERS IN CHURCHES AND SEMINARIES AND A POSITIVE THEOLOGICAL INFLUENCE FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR 2024 WAS $125,000, WHILE APPROXIMATELY $69,000 WAS EXPENDED DURING THE YEAR. FOR 2025, APPROXIMATELY $75,000 IS ALREADY COMMITTED TO APPROVED RECIPIENTS. ADDITIONALLY, SEVERAL APPLICATIONS ARE STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION, AND IT IS OUR HOPE THAT WE WILL SEE A STEADY INCREASE OF APPLICANTS DURING THE NEW YEAR.THE AREAS OF STUDIES FOR THE SCHOLARS WE ARE SUPPORTING ARE SUMMARIZED BELOW-CLASSICAL THEOLOGY SECOND LONDON BAPTIST CONFESSION OF FAITH CHAPTERS 2,3 AND 8-BAPTIST CATHOLICITY AND THEOLOGICAL RECEPTION-DOCTRINE OF THE ETERNAL RELATIONS OF ORIGIN IN THE TRINITY-PSALMODY-BONAVENTURE'S THEOLOGY OF CONTEMPLATION
  4. $77,424 spent. THE 3535 FOUNDATION PROVIDES TRANSCRIPTIONS AND MISSION SERVICES.

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 April 2024.

    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.