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United Bible Societies Association Inc

EIN 98-0428633 · United Kingdom

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSOCIATION IS TO PROMOTE THE WIDEST POSSIBLE EFFECTIVE DISTRIBUTION AND USE OF THE BIBLE OR ANY PARTS OF THE BIBLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, INCLUDING TRANSLATION INTO ANY LANGUAGE OR LANGUAGES, PRINTING AND PUBLICATION OF THE BIBLE OR ANY PART OF THE BIBLE. ASSOCIATION FURTHERS ITS OBJECTS IS BY PROVIDING SERVICE MEMBERS OF THE UNITED BIBLE SOCIETIES.

Income
$46.4 million
Spending
$50.6 million
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
20.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
0
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$187,443, director general

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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (religion, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (religion, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 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

    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 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 (1)
  1. $49.1 million spent. THE UNITED BIBLE SOCIETIES ASSOCIATION HELPS THE UBS FELLOWSHIP MAKE THE BIBLE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE BY PROVIDING SHARED SERVICES AND TOOLS, AS WELL AS LEARNING AND COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITIES TO BIBLE SOCIETIES. THESE INCLUDE FACILITATING THE SHARING OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES THROUGH THE GRANTS PROGRAMME. BY DOING THIS, THEY INCREASE THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF BIBLE SOCIETIES' MINISTRIES, THEIR ORGANISATIONS AND THEIR WORK TOGETHER AS A FELLOWSHIP.IN 2024, THE ASSOCIATION'S MANAGEMENT AND STAFF CONTINUED TO DELIVER SERVICES THAT SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED THE COHESION, CAPACITY, AND GLOBAL IMPACT OF THE UBS FELLOWSHIP. THROUGH A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES-SPANNING GLOBAL EVENTS, DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE, COMMUNICATION, MEMBER SUPPORT, AND FUNDING PROGRAMMES-THE ASSOCIATION SERVED AS A CENTRAL RESOURCE FOR BIBLE SOCIETIES ACROSS ALL REGIONS.THE ASSOCIATION'S SERVICES CONTINUED TO SUPPORT BIBLE SOCIETIES AS THEY NAVIGATE THE CONTEMPORARY COMPLEX REALITIES OF AN INCREASINGLY DIGITAL SOCIETY, A WORLD AFFECTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE AND A GROWING NUMBER OF NATURAL DISASTERS, CONFLICTS AND WARS. THE ASSOCIATION PLACED SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON ENHANCING THE COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIPS AMONG THE BIBLE SOCIETIES AND DELIVERING SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORTED THE SUSTAINABILITY OF BIBLE SOCIETIES, THE UBS FELLOWSHIP AND THE ASSOCIATION. THIS INCLUDED ORGANISING THE FIRST FELLOWSHIP IN-PERSON COLLABORATION EVENT AFTER THE COVID PANDEMIC. AS PART OF THE ASSOCIATION'S COMMITMENT TO SERVING BIBLE SOCIETIES MORE EFFECTIVELY, A FELLOWSHIP-WIDE SURVEY AND CONSULTATION WERE CARRIED OUT IN EARLY 2024. THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO IDENTIFY THE MOST URGENT NEEDS ACROSS THE FELLOWSHIP AND DETERMINE HOW THE GLOBAL MISSION TEAM (GMT) COULD DELIVER THE MOST MEANINGFUL AND TARGETED SUPPORT. THE INSIGHTS GATHERED HAVE DIRECTLY INFORMED THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE UBSA STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS, ENSURING OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS REMAIN GROUNDED IN THE REALITIES FACED BY BIBLE SOCIETIES AND FOCUSED ON AREAS OF GREATEST IMPACT.THE SENIOR STRATEGIC TEAM DEDICATED SIGNIFICANT TIME AND INPUT TO SHAPING THE NEW STRATEGIC PLAN. THE FINAL VERSION WAS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD AND FORMALLY APPROVED AT ITS JUNE MEETING. IMPLEMENTATION BEGAN IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER.THE ASSOCIATION'S MANAGEMENT & STAFF DELIVERED SERVICES THAT INCREASED THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BIBLE MINISTRY THROUGHOUT THE UBS FELLOWSHIP. THEY DID THIS THROUGH:STRENGTHENING BIBLE MINISTRY ACROSS THE FELLOWSHIPIN 2024, THE ASSOCIATION'S MANAGEMENT AND STAFF CONTINUED TO DELIVER IMPACTFUL SERVICES THAT ENHANCED THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BIBLE MINISTRY THROUGHOUT THE UBS FELLOWSHIP. CORE SUPPORT INCLUDED TRAINING, MENTORING, TECHNOLOGICAL ASSISTANCE, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, AND STRATEGIC COLLABORATION ACROSS TRANSLATION, PUBLISHING, DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT, AND BIBLE ENGAGEMENT MINISTRIES.BIBLE TRANSLATION TRAINING & QUALITY ASSURANCETRAINING & DEVELOPMENT- IN THE AMERICAS, THREE IN-PERSON TRAINING COURSES WERE CONDUCTED: TWO FOR BIBLE TRANSLATORS AND ONE FOR TRANSLATION OFFICERS. FOUR TRANSLATORS AND ONE TRANSLATION OFFICER GRADUATED FROM THESE PROGRAMS.- A TRAINING WORKSHOP FOR DEAF BIBLE TRANSLATORS WAS HELD IN SOUTH AFRICA, BRINGING TOGETHER 37 PARTICIPANTS FROM SEVEN BIBLE SOCIETIES (INCLUDING BOTSWANA, ESWATINI, ZIMBABWE, AND GHANA) AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM HAND WITH WORDS. DEAF TRANSLATORS FROM FOUR BIBLE SOCIETIES WERE ELECTED TO THE AFRICA REGION DEAF COMMITTEE, STRENGTHENING REGIONAL LEADERSHIP AND REPRESENTATION.- BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND MAY, 122 TRANSLATORS WERE TRAINED VIA IN-PERSON AND ONLINE COURSES HELD IN BANGLADESH, BENIN, COSTA RICA, COLOMBIA, AND KENYA.- A SIGN LANGUAGE OFFICER TRAINING COURSE WAS DELIVERED ONLINE IN MARCH, WITH 19 PARTICIPANTS, AND TWO GRADUATES FROM SOUTH AFRICA AND THE PHILIPPINES.- A GLOBAL TRANSLATION OFFICERS TRAINING SESSION WAS CONDUCTED ONLINE FOR 16 PARTICIPANTS, AIMED AT BUILDING CAPACITY AMONG MID-LEVEL TRANSLATION PROJECT LEADERS.ADVISORY & SCHOLARLY ENGAGEMENT- GLOBAL TRANSLATION ADVISORS PROVIDED DIRECT SUPPORT TO 169 TRANSLATION PROJECTS ACROSS 87 COUNTRIES, BOTH IN-PERSON AND REMOTELY.- ADVISORS CONTRIBUTED SCHOLARLY PAPERS AND PRESENTATIONS AT KEY INTERNATIONAL EVENTS, INCLUDING THE SIL BIBLE TRANSLATION CONFERENCE, SHANGHAI ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES CONFERENCE, AND THE SOCIETY OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE (SBL), BOOSTING UBS'S GLOBAL ACADEMIC AND COLLABORATIVE PROFILE.DIGITAL ENGAGEMENTTHE GMT DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT TEAM CONTINUED WORKING WITH TWO AFRICAN SUSTAINABILITY CLUSTERS, SUPPORTING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVES AIMED AT LONG-TERM IMPACT:- FIVE FRANCOPHONE BIBLE SOCIETIES (CHAD, GUINEA, MALI, NIGER, AND SENEGAL) LAUNCHED BIBLEBOOSTER ESSENTIALS WEBSITES, THE FIRST-EVER WEB PRESENCE FOR FOUR OF THEM.- SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS (PRIMARILY FACEBOOK AND WHATSAPP) WERE ESTABLISHED TO GROW DIGITAL AUDIENCES AND ENHANCE BIBLE ENGAGEMENT.

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 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? Caution.

    The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(3) charitable organization as not deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since October 2006.

    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.

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