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Southern California Seminary

EIN 95-2111210 · El Cajon, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak34 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SEMINARY (SCS) IS TO BRING GLORY TO GOD BY ASSISTING LOCAL CHURCHES TO EQUIP BELIEVERS OF VARIOUS CULTURES AND LANGUAGES TO LIVE AND MINISTER BIBLICALLY BASED ON THE INERRANT WORD OF GOD.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
-0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 73%
Employees
38
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$283,648, chancellor

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

Financial health

Weak: 34 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 73% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 15 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 August 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 (2)
  1. $2.0 million spent. INSTRUCTION & STUDENT SERVICES - OPERATES A NONPROFIT PRIVATE COLLEGE PROGRAM FOR STUDY IN THE BIBLE, THEOLOGY AND VARIOUS OTHER ASPECTS OF CHRISTIAN MINISTRY. PROVIDED STUDENT SERVICES AND HOUSING FOR THE STUDENTS IN ADDITION TO GRANTING BIBLE COLLEGE AND SEMINARY DEGREES ACCREDITED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF THEOLOGICAL SCHOOLS AND TRACS, ALONG WITH TRACS ACCREDITED CHRISTIAN COUNSELING DEGREES.
  2. $182,573 spent. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SEMINARY LIBRARY SERVICES ARE JOINT-USE WITH SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN COLLEGE. THEIR RESPECTIVE LIBRARIES PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH ACCESS TO MORE THAN 338,731 E-BOOKS, E-AUDIO OR E-REFERENCE TITLES PLUS ANOTHER 65,010 STREAMING AUDIO AND/OR VIDEOS, ALONG WITH UNIQUE JOURNAL ACCESS INCLUDED TO FULL TEXT ARTICLES. STUDENTS CAN CONDUCT RESEARCH THROUGH MORE THAN A 150 DATABASES AND THE LIBRARIES HAVE SURPASSED MORE THAN 1 MILLION CATALOGED ITEMS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 October 13, 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 August 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 April 1949.

    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 October 21, 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.