Explorer's Bible Study Association

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
870400516
IRS 990 coverage
2010–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Location
Dickson, TN, USA
Phone
6154467316
Rating
84
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Media, Communications Organizations
Affiliation
Christianity

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$1,042,664
Expenses
$379,147
Assets
$1,555,213
Liabilities
$12,181

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

Leadership & pay

10 people listed

Highest reported compensation

  • MELINDA BURNETTE (EXECUTIVE DI): $87,600 total reported compensation
  • LISA SCHLAACK (BRD MEMB/SOC): $3,700 total reported compensation

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

Overview

Mission

Explorer's bible study is a non-denominational organization whose purpose is to invite all to a closer walk with god through in depth study of the bible. Courses are taught by volunteer teachers in community based classes.

What it reported doing in 2024

1. To bring individuals closer to god through in-depth study of the bible, understanding god through the reading of his revelation of himself in the bible, coming to know his son jesus christ in all his fullness through the power of the holy spirit. 2. To help encourage individuals to establish a pattern of daily bible study and to make the bible a living and interesting book for those involved in its study. 3. To make bible study relevant to daily life through the power of the holy spirit and to make god's promises effective in each student's personal experiences. - continued on schedule o

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 92% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 98% 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.

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. A relatively small share of total spending goes to programs and fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 79
  • Transparency & Controls: 92
  • Accountability: 89
  • Sustainability: 78
  • Growth: 60

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
  • Program expense ratio: 55.9%; rating input score 56
  • Fundraising efficiency: $13.45 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 47; 47th 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: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: Limited
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 88.9%; rating input score 89; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • 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: 63.6%; rating input score 95; 95th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 4.1; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.01; rating input score 71; 71st percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 24.1%; rating input score 11; 11th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: -3.1% per year; rating input score 0; 10th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 4% per year; rating input score 100; 37th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 7.7% per year; rating input score 100; 50th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 100% of revenue deployed · 55.9% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 8 of 9 board members independent · 8 of 9 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $212K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $88K · 10 people listed
  • Consistency: 29 of 29 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 4 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Filing history: 14 filing years from 2010 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 2 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.

  • Review — Financial Efficiency: Program expense ratio scored 56/100.
  • Moderate — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 47/100.
  • High — Growth: Program expense growth scored 0/100.
  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: Other executive compensation review process not reported.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 11/100.