David Rives Ministries

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
320205369
IRS 990 coverage
2016–2024
Official website data refreshed
Sep 2026
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-EZ 2015, Form 990-N 2014
Location
Dickson, TN, USA
Phone
931-212-7990
Rating
70
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Religion Related N.E.C.
Affiliation
Religious (unspecified)

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$1,873,465
Expenses
$2,182,423
Assets
$10,313,639
Liabilities
$73,530

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

5 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • DAVID RIVES (PRESIDENT/DI)

Highest reported compensation

  • DAVID RIVES (PRESIDENT/DI): $40,000 total reported compensation
  • MURRY RIVES (VICE PRES./D): $30,423 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

Our purpose is to do everything possible to bring glory and honor to the Creator of all things, our Messiah, Jesus Christ. David Rives Ministries and it’s sister ministries are made up of a diverse group of people, including staff, a Board of Directors, volunteers, columnists, and more. As such, it is not affiliated with any one denomination. However, a summary of our core beliefs can be found here. A brief history of the ministry’s early years, given by David Rives Connect with us.

What it reported doing in 2024

David rives ministries has produced over 130 video titles in dvd format and broadcasts worldwide on television. The weekly tv show, hosted by david rives, explores the wonders of god's creation, wonders without number exploring god's fingerprints throughout the universe and his infinite number of wonders, using science and biblical history. Utilizing top experts in multiple scientific fields, david rives succinctly breaks-down complex topics into laymen's terms. Both educational and inspirational, this religious program provides evidence and witnessing tools for the christian faith. Genesis science network was created due to a lack of christian options regarding bible history and science. We broadcast this network free, 24/7, even at tremendous monthly bandwidth costs, because david believes this is the only way to reach those who need to hear.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 69% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

The verdict

SUPPORTED - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and program spending has grown recently. A relatively small share of voting board members are independent and the filing reports few safeguards for money sent abroad.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 88
  • Transparency & Controls: 55
  • Accountability: 56
  • Sustainability: 45
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 96%; rating input score 96
  • Program expense ratio: 79.4%; rating input score 79
  • Fundraising efficiency: $51.43 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 78; 78th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Scored; rating input score 0
  • Grant itemization coverage: Scored; rating input score 0
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 40%; rating input score 40; 10th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 7 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 78
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Fail
    • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: -16.5%; rating input score 11; 11th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 4.73; rating input score 84; 84th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.01; rating input score 71; 71st percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 3.2%; rating input score 57; 57th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 34.4% per year; rating input score 100; 92nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 27.8% per year; rating input score 100; 91st percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 35.7% per year; rating input score 100; 93rd percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • What they do: 1 operating location identified
  • Where the money goes: 96% of revenue deployed · 79.4% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 2 of 5 board members independent · 7 of 9 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 3 filed program accomplishments · $1.7M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $40K · 5 people listed
  • Consistency: 33 of 33 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 7 filed schedules · includes major donors and foreign activity
  • Filing history: 9 filing years from 2016 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 3 filed money-flow records
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • Moderate — Accountability: Independent voting board scored 40/100.
  • High — Transparency & Controls: Foreign activity oversight scored 0/100.
  • High — Transparency & Controls: Grant itemization coverage scored 0/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 11/100.
  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: 2 of 9 not reported.
  • Review — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 57/100.