Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Pacific School of Religion

EIN 94-1186179 · Berkeley, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PACIFIC SCHOOL OF RELIGION PREPARES A DIVERSE CADRE OF SPIRITUALLY ROOTED LEADERS WITH THE VISION, RESILIENCE, AND SKILL TO CREATE A WORLD WHERE ALL CAN THRIVE. GROUNDED IN THE RIGOROUS STUDY AND FAITHFUL PRACTICE OF PROGRESSIVE CHRISTIAN FAITH, PSR PARTNERS WITH STUDENTS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS TO DEEPEN THEIR SPIRITUALITY AND ENHANCE THEIR CAPACITY TO LEAD IN TRANSFORMATIVE WAYS. CONNECTED TO A BROAD NETWORK OF RELIGIOUS, EDUCATIONAL, NOT-FOR-PROFIT, AND PRIVATE SECTOR ORGANIZATIONS - WITH A PARTICULAR COMMITMENT TO THE WISDOM OF HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES - PSR OFFERS AN EDUCATION THAT IS MARKED BY INNOVATION, REFLECTION, AND EXCELLENCE.

Income
$5.4 million
Spending
$10.0 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
28.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 45%
Employees
70
Volunteers
22
Highest pay
$330,145, president

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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 28.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 87% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 27 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 17 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (4)
  1. $3.1 million spent. INSTRUCTION: THE PACIFIC SCHOOL OF RELIGION (PSR) OFFERS FIVE MASTER'S DEGREE, FOUR CERTIFICATES OF STUDY, AND A PROFESSIONAL DOCTORAL IN MINISTRY. PSR STUDENTS GO ON TO SERVE AS ORDAINED PARISH PASTORS, HOSPITAL AND PRISON CHAPLAINS, YOUTH DIRECTORS AND CHRISTIAN EDUCATORS, TEACHERS IN HIGH SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES, SOCIAL SCIENCE ADMINISTRATORS, LITURGICAL ARTISTS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS. PSR PROVIDED EDUCATION TO 68 STUDENTS STUDYING FOR THE MASTER OF DIVINITY DEGREE, 14 STUDENTS STUDYING FOR OTHER MASTER'S DEGREES AND 77 STUDENTS STUDYING FOR A DOCTOR OF MINISTRY DEGREE. STUDENTS ENROLLED FOR INSTRUCTION AT THE SCHOOL RECEIVE PERSONALIZED DIRECTION AND ATTENTION FROM A RENOWNED FACULTY.
  2. $2.7 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES: PROFESSIONAL MINISTERIAL EDUCATION AT THE PACIFIC SCHOOL OF RELIGION IS COMBINED WITH A STUDENT'S SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT AND FIELD EDUCATION. STUDENTS SEEKING DEGREES ARE ENCOURAGED AND HELPED TO APPLY THE SUBJECTS LEARNED IN THE CLASSROOM TO THE CONTEXT OF THE BROADER COMMUNITY, INCLUDING CULTURES, WORLD RELIGIONS AND THE ARTS. THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY LIFE PROVIDES FOR THE MENTORING OF STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THEIR STUDY. STUDENTS RECEIVE PASTORAL CARE, SPIRITUAL DIRECTION AND OTHER CARE.
  3. $842,550 spent. HOUSING SERVICES: THE SCHOOL PROVIDES HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS, IN DORMITORIES AND ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENTS. THE SCHOOL WELCOMES FAMILIES AND STUDENTS TO HOUSING AT RATES THAT ARE BELOW MARKET RATES. WIRELESS NETWORKS ARE AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS.
  4. GENERAL INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT.

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 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 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 1939.

    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.