Reasons to Believe

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Reasons to believe's (rtb) mission is to spread the christian gospel by demonstrating that sound reason and scientific research-including the very latest discoveries-consistently support, rather than erode, confidence in the truth of the bible and faith in the personal, transcendent god revealed in both scripture and nature. Rtb does that by developing and producing books, booklets, dvds, cds, podcasts, blogs and a variety of electronic media. These are used for product sales, presentations, and the world wide web.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
72¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 165 volunteers and 52 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $265K a year · 4% of revenue · last 6 filings
Concern: a surplus in 2 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
72%
of spending
Fine: 72% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$736K
to officers and key staff · 11% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 11% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $3.3M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 0.4 months of spending in cash, plus $3.3M in investments.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $100K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$387K
5% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 5% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
9
of 11 voting members
Looks good: 9 of 11 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$6.0M
+6% vs prior year
Spent
$6.8M
To programs
72%
Net assets
$7.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$6.0M
FY2025▲ +6%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$4.9M
FY2021$8.8M
FY2022$5.8M
FY2023$5.1M
FY2024$5.6M
FY2025$6.0M
Expenses
$6.8M
FY2025▼ -1%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$4.8M
FY2021$5.6M
FY2022$6.4M
FY2023$7.4M
FY2024$6.9M
FY2025$6.8M
Net assets
$7.6M
FY2025▼ -6%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$8.9M
FY2021$12.7M
FY2022$10.8M
FY2023$9.0M
FY2024$8.2M
FY2025$7.6M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Mar 1992.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

72 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 72% · $4.9M Management & general 13% · $903K Fundraising 15% · $1.0M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

15 people listed on the 990; $736K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
$164,859Pt VII · Sec A
Founder and Senior Scholar
$160,109Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Operating Officer
$133,750Pt VII · Sec A
Business Intelligence Analyst
$113,727Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Development Officer
$103,594Pt VII · Sec A
Board Secretary and Co-Fou
$60,389Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Fazale Rana PHD’s $165K as President is at the 82nd percentile of top reported officer pay among 1636 $1–10M religion nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Fazale Rana PHD$164,859$165,349————
Hugh Ross PHD$160,109$123,360$118,118$146,892$71,955$85,790
Fazale Rana——$151,941$131,626$126,202$120,351
Mark Perez$133,750$133,750$114,952———
Phil Chien$113,727$113,438$107,621———
Steve Scheele———$100,419$110,375$105,131
Ken Hultgren$103,594$103,594$105,769———
Ken Samples——$102,077———

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Demonstrates how reason and science support Christian faith through media.

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3 programs · $3.8M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

RTB products-this area includes RTB authored books, booklets, DVDS, CDS, courses and ministry items.

$1.8Mprogram expense
02

Event Activities

This area includes talks at churches, universities (and colleges), businesses (for profit) and organizations (non-profit).

$1.2Mprogram expense
03

Website and Digital Content

This area includes electronic publications, podcasts, blogs, reasons institute and academy information, outreach and organizational information.

$876Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$100K

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$6.0M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.7M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$129K
Investment incomeLn 3$93K
Money outPt IX
$6.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$4.9M
Managementcol C$903K
Fundraisingcol D$1.0M
Owns and owesPt X
$7.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$240K
Total assetsLn 16$8.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$387K
PeoplePt VI, VII
15
listed · VII A
PaidVII A6
Voting boardVI 1a11
IndependentVI 1b9
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.7M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$129K
Investment incomeLn 3$93K
Other incomeLn 4–11$91K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$16K
Total revenueLn 12$6.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$240K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$240K
Accounts receivableLn 4$62K
Inventories for sale or useLn 8$213K
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$47K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$4.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$3.3M
Total assetsLn 16$8.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$387K
Net assetsLn 32$7.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 552
VolunteersI 6165
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3More from this return
Abroad and in kindSch F, M
Noncash gifts receivedSch M Pt I$251K
EndowmentSch D · Pt V
LineFY25FY24FY23FY22FY21
End of yearLn 1g$518K$318K$266K$226K$269K
Given inLn 1b$165K
SpentLn 1d–1f$15K
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$164K$240K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$3.6M$3.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$4.4M$4.2M
Total assetsLn 16$8.5M$8.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$369K$387K
Net assetsLn 32$8.2M$7.6M
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$807K$591K$103K$114K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$3.4M$2.5M$440K$511K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$69K$49K$8K$11K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$28K$28K
Payroll taxesLn 10$298K$210K$45K$43K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$659K$366K$193K$99K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$85K$84K$750
Office expensesLn 13$268K$154K$2K$112K
Information technologyLn 14$279K$274K$3K$3K
OccupancyLn 16$207K$157K$21K$29K
TravelLn 17$141K$102K$39K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$42K$29K$5K$8K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$260K$200K$28K$32K
InsuranceLn 23$53K$31K$17K$5K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$199K$178K$10K$11K
Total functional expensesLn 25$6.8M$4.9M$903K$1.0M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS Jan 14, 2026 $6.0M$6.8M−$823K$7.6M 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS Dec 17, 2024 $5.6M$6.9M−$1.2M$8.2M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Dec 22, 2023 $5.1M$7.4M−$2.3M$9.0M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Jan 23, 2023 $5.8M$6.4M−$638K$10.8M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Jan 18, 2022 $8.8M$5.6M$3.3M$12.7M 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Apr 8, 2021 $4.9M$4.8M$122K$8.9M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $5,977,748 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $5,027,678$5,664,812
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $275,127$128,503
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $138,085$93,175
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $180,143$91,258
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $5,621,033$5,977,748
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $4,726,038$4,607,875
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $199,147$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,945,394$2,192,930
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $6,870,579$6,800,805
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$1,249,546−$823,057
Part VI · Governance 9 of 11 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body11
VI-1b Independent voting members9
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $5,977,748 across 7 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $61,494 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$5,664,812
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$5,664,812
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $128,503$128,503
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $108,898$108,898
VIII-5 RoyaltiesExcluded from tax $29,764$29,764
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$15,723−$15,723
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $189,997 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $122,939$5,977,748
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $6,800,805 across 15 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $590,815 · Management $102,737 · Fundraising $113,763$807,315
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $2,455,998 · Management $439,634 · Fundraising $510,736$3,406,368
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $49,332 · Management $8,287 · Fundraising $10,913$68,532
IX-9 Other employee benefitsManagement $27,787$27,787
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $209,532 · Management $45,373 · Fundraising $42,968$297,873
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $366,286 · Management $193,479 · Fundraising $99,305$659,070
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $83,976 · Fundraising $750$84,726
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $154,346 · Management $2,183 · Fundraising $111,800$268,329
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $273,681 · Management $2,721 · Fundraising $2,721$279,123
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $156,835 · Management $20,552 · Fundraising $29,217$206,604
IX-17 TravelPrograms $101,814 · Fundraising $38,980$140,794
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $29,414 · Management $4,695 · Fundraising $7,644$41,753
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $199,597 · Management $28,161 · Fundraising $32,269$260,027
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $30,722 · Management $17,423 · Fundraising $4,967$53,112
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $177,634 · Management $10,372 · Fundraising $11,386$199,392
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $4,879,982 · Management $903,404 · Fundraising $1,017,419$6,800,805
Part X · Balance sheet $8,036,644 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $163,533$239,680
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $33,356$61,816
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $281,635$212,783
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $40,044$46,954
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $4,427,788$4,187,162
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $3,581,286$3,288,249
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $8,527,642$8,036,644
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $364,740$382,664
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $4,250$4,250
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $368,990$386,914
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $7,481,099$6,368,726
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $677,553$1,281,004
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $8,158,652$7,649,730
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $8,527,642$8,036,644
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $7,649,730 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$5,977,748
XI-2 Total expenses$6,800,805
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$823,057
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$8,158,652
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$293,738
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$56,397
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$36,000
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$7,649,730

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

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