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Catholic Answers Inc

EIN 95-3754404 · El Cajon, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood76 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CATHOLIC ANSWERS IS AN APOSTOLATE DEDICATED TO SERVING CHRIST BY BRINGING THE FULLNESS OF CATHOLIC TRUTH TO THE WORLD. WE HELP GOOD CATHOLICS BECOME BETTER CATHOLICS, BRING FORMER CATHOLICS HOME, AND LEAD NON-CATHOLICS INTO THE FULLNESS OF THE FAITH.

Income
$9.5 million
Spending
$9.2 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
3.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
50
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$261,294, 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: 76 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% 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 22 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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 9 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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. $2.4 million spent. PRODUCTS: DISTRIBUTION OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF RELIGIOUS RELATED PRODUCTS SUCH AS BOOKS, BOOKLETS, DIGITAL PRODUCTS, ETC. TO SPREAD THE CATHOLIC TRUTH TO THE WORLD.
  2. $1.9 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE "CATHOLIC ANSWERS" MAGAZINE, CONFERENCES, PILRIMAGES, SEMINARS, AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROJECTS.
  3. $1.8 million spent. RADIO: CATHOLIC ANSWERS LIVE IS A PROGRAM BROADCAST VIA RADIO, SATELLITE RADIO, STREAMING INTERNET AND PODCAST. THE SHOW IS DEDICATED TO SERVING CHRIST BY BRINGING THE FULLNESS OF CATHOLIC TRUTH TO THE WORLD.
  4. $865,906 spent. WEBSITE: ONE OF OUR LARGEST OUTREACHES IS OUR WEBSITE, CATHOLIC.COM, WHICH SEES MORE THAN 2.8 MILLION PAGE VIEWS PER MONTH. THE DAILY TRAFFIC ON CATHOLIC.COM CONTINUES TO GROW EACH YEAR. OUR SITE HOSTS THOUSANDS OF ARTICLES, VIDEOS, AND OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO EACH AND EVERY VISITOR AT NO COST, AND EVERY DAY IT HIGHLIGHTS FRESH CONTENT WRITTEN BY CATHOLIC ANSWERS APOLOGISTS AND OTHERS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1982.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.