Higher Things INC FY2024 filing

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The mission of Higher Things is to make the gifts of christ jesus known to youth and young adults

Form 990 Part I, line 1, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 39-2011837) · Dispute this line
501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
74¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$42K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
The IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
The latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $99K a year · 8% of revenue · last 5 filings
A surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
74%
of spending
74% of spending went to programs.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$42K
to officers and key staff · 3% of spending
Pay to officers and key staff is 3% of spending.
Part VII, Section A
7.1 mo
of spending, in cash
7.1 months of spending in cash.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $40K
2 funders name it on their filings.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$338K
38% of total assets
Liabilities are 38% of assets.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
5
of 9 voting members
5 of 9 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Revenue
$1.6M
+29% vs prior year
Spent
$1.4M
To programs
74%
Net assets
$542K
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$1.6M
FY2024▲ +29%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$744K
FY2022$1.2M
FY2023$1.4M
FY2023$1.2M
FY2024$1.6M
FY2025$1.6M
Expenses
$1.4M
FY2024▲ +33%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$645K
FY2022$1.3M
FY2023$1.3M
FY2023$1.1M
FY2024$1.4M
FY2025$1.4M
Net assets
$542K
FY2024▲ +44%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$227K
FY2022$189K
FY2023$219K
FY2023$375K
FY2024$542K
FY2025$781K

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

You’re viewing the FY2024 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jul 2001.

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

Where the money goes

74 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 74% · $1.1M Management & general 13% · $193K Fundraising 12% · $177K

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

10 people listed on the 990; $42K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$39,177Pt VII · Sec A
$1,300Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$800Pt VII · Sec A
$225Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$225Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Crysten Sanchez’s $67K as Executive Director of Operations is at the 25th 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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2023FY2022
Erica Jacoby Sorensen——$107,729$80,464$80,475
Crysten Sanchez$67,002————
Patrick Sturdivant$66,810————
Rev Harrison Goodman$55,770————
Erica J Sorensen Left 042024—$39,177———
Tana McKenna Joined 0725$9,834————
Rebekah Clausen$2,800$1,300$500——
Randy Sturzenbecher$950$225$100——

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.

See Higher Things INC executive salaries →

Questions the 990 asks

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

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo

Programs and updates

Share Christ's gifts with youth and young adults.

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2 programs · $1.1M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

We held three conferences for youth serving 2,021 youth, pastors, and adult leaders. The conferences promote a christian identity for the youth and provide a place where they can more deeply understand their christian faith. Conferences include daily worship, catechesis classes, breakout sessions and entertainment.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 39-2011837) · Dispute this line
$892Kprogram expense
02

Our content area produces video shorts, devotional booklets, podcasts, curriculum including vacation bible school packages and bible studies.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 39-2011837) · Dispute this line
$172Kprogram 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 · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$40K

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.6M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.2M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$351K
Investment incomeLn 3$24K
Money outPt IX
$1.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.1M
Managementcol C$193K
Fundraisingcol D$177K
Owns and owesPt X
$542K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$846K
Total assetsLn 16$880K
LiabilitiesLn 26$338K
PeoplePt VI, VII
10
listed · VII A
PaidVII A5
Voting boardVI 1a9
IndependentVI 1b5
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$351K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$24K
Other incomeLn 4–11$23K
Total revenueLn 12$1.6M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$187K
SavingsLn 2$660K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$846K
Accounts receivableLn 4$96
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$33K
Total assetsLn 16$880K
LiabilitiesLn 26$338K
Net assetsLn 32$542K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 511
VolunteersI 6250
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$629K$846K
Total assetsLn 16$633K$880K
LiabilitiesLn 26$258K$338K
Net assetsLn 32$375K$542K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5$43K$13K$4K$26K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$362K$237K$55K$69K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$19K$12K$3K$3K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$48K$35K$972$12K
Payroll taxesLn 10$35K$19K$7K$9K
Legal feesLn 11b$345$345
Accounting feesLn 11c$19K$19K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$44K$14K$22K$7K
Office expensesLn 13$30K$6K$19K$6K
Information technologyLn 14$29K$5K$21K$3K
TravelLn 17$114K$54K$29K$31K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$673K$662K$4K$7K
InsuranceLn 23$7K$7K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$9K$6K$183$3K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.4M$1.1M$193K$177K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 LatestFiled with the IRS May 13, 2026 $1.6M$1.4M$239K$781K 990 PDF
FY2024 ViewingFiled with the IRS Nov 6, 2025 $1.6M$1.4M$167K$542K 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Mar 14, 2024 $1.4M$1.3M$30K$219K 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Mar 15, 2023 $1.2M$1.3M−$38K$189K 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Feb 26, 2022 $744K$645K$99K$227K 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

A · Public support I · Grants O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990
Part I · Summary $1,599,056 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $308,864$351,259
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $922,824$1,200,418
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $10,751$24,298
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $10,213$23,081
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,252,652$1,599,056
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 $381,926$507,024
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $697,609$925,384
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,079,535$1,432,408
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $173,117$166,648
Part VI · Governance 5 of 9 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body9
VI-1b Independent voting members5
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,599,056 across 5 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $23,081 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$351,259
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$351,259
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $1,200,418$1,200,418
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $24,298$24,298
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $1,223,499 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $24,298$1,599,056
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,432,408 across 14 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Programs $12,952 · Management $4,317 · Fundraising $25,904$43,173
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $237,395 · Management $55,447 · Fundraising $68,828$361,670
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $12,495 · Management $3,328 · Fundraising $3,313$19,136
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $34,705 · Management $972 · Fundraising $12,324$48,001
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $19,119 · Management $7,297 · Fundraising $8,628$35,044
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $345$345
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $19,229$19,229
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $14,320 · Management $22,447 · Fundraising $7,081$43,848
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $5,540 · Management $18,531 · Fundraising $5,927$29,998
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $5,040 · Management $20,586 · Fundraising $3,471$29,097
IX-17 TravelPrograms $53,680 · Management $29,307 · Fundraising $30,964$113,951
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $661,928 · Management $4,162 · Fundraising $6,944$673,034
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $6,817$6,817
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $5,642 · Management $183 · Fundraising $3,240$9,065
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,063,161 · Management $192,623 · Fundraising $176,624$1,432,408
Part X · Balance sheet $879,696 assets, 12 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $172,569$186,523
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $456,535$659,753
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $35$96
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $4,016$33,324
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $633,155$879,696
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $17,354$1,009
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $240,809$337,047
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $258,163$338,056
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $352,254$523,718
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $22,738$17,922
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $374,992$541,640
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $633,155$879,696
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $541,640 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,599,056
XI-2 Total expenses$1,432,408
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$166,648
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$374,992
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$541,640

Form 990 e-file FY2024 from the IRS (about our sources) · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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