philanthropy.org | 990 Resource | FAQ Verify yourself
Sign in

American Reformer

Tax-deductible

Dallas, TX501(c)(3)ReligionEIN 87-0851385Revenue $281K in FY2024

On file with the IRSamericanreformer.org3800 Maple Ave Ste 425, 75219-4123 · Dallas, TXTax-exempt since Mar 2022Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

This page gets seen. Tell your story. Claim this org.

American reformer's mission is to promote a vigorous christian approach to the cultural challenges of our day, rooted in the rich tradition of protestant social and political thought.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
49¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX

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
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
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
0 of 2
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $431K a year · 108% of revenue · last 2 filings
Concern: a surplus in 0 of the last 2 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 2 filings
Spent on programs
49%
of spending
Concern: 49% of spending went to programs; under 50%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Cash reserves
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.8 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
5
named funders · $154K
Looks good: 5 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$2.0M
256% of total assets
Concern: liabilities are 256% of assets; over 80%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
3
of 4 voting members
Looks good: 3 of 4 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$281K
-46% vs prior year
Spent
$630K
To programs
49%
Net assets
−$1.2M
By yearFY2022–FY2024
Revenue
$281K
FY2024▼ -46%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2022$149K
FY2023$517K
FY2024$281K
Expenses
$630K
FY2024▼ -39%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2022Not on file
FY2023$1.0M
FY2024$630K
Net assets
−$1.2M
FY2024▼ -41%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2022−$249K
FY2023−$849K
FY2024−$1.2M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Mar 2022.

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

Where the money goes

49 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 49% · $310K Management & general 51% · $320K

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

Something off? The org can add a note here. Claim this org to fix it.

Who runs it and what they're paid

4 people listed on the 990.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Aaron Renn
Co- Founder and Senior Fello
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
See American Reformer executive salaries →

Are you one of these people? Claim this org to confirm your role

Something off? The org can add a note here. Claim this org to fix it.

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 15aNo
  • Loans to or from officersSch L · Pt II1 listed

Programs and updates

Promotes Christian solutions to cultural challenges, drawing on Protestant thought.

Questions for American Reformer

Tap to ask. American Reformer sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. American Reformer answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this organization? Claim it to add your story

3 programs · $310K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Caff College Guide

The center for academic faithfulness & flourishing (caff) launched its caff college guide in october 2024 to empower students and provide transparency to the christian higher education sector.

$150Kprogram expense
02

Online Publication

The american reformer online journal published over 450 articles and received almost 1 million pageviews in 2024. Both of these numbers were nearly double the corresponding numbers in 2023, and they continue our trend of steady growth year-over-year.

$100Kprogram expense
03

Summer Fellowship

The cotton mather fellowship graduated its fourth cohort in summer 2025. Each year, fellowship gathers a unique network of young american protestants for a summer-long education and vocational experience. Key topics include political theology, moral order, christian civic engagement, and american history.

$60Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
Vanguard Charitable Endowment ProgramFY2024$60K
Natl Christian Charitable Fdn INCFY2024$27K
Servant FoundationFY2024$25K
Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFY2024$22K
Howdy Doody Good Times Foundation INCFY2024$20K
Total grants receivedfrom 5 funders$154K
See all 5 funders →
Grants paid · 1 grant · $5K · 2024–2024
New Founding CorporationFY2024$5,014

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

Download 990
from philanthropy.org
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$281K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$281K
Money outPt IX
$630K
Ln 25
Programscol B$310K
Managementcol C$320K
Owns and owesPt X
−$1.2M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$145K
Total assetsLn 16$770K
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.0M
PeoplePt VI, VII
4
listed · VII A
PaidVII A0
Voting boardVI 1a4
IndependentVI 1b3
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$281K
Total revenueLn 12$281K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$145K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$145K
Other assetsLn 15$625K
Total assetsLn 16$770K
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.0M
Net assetsLn 32−$1.2M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 50
VolunteersI 60
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aNo
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$20K$145K
Total assetsLn 16$20K$770K
LiabilitiesLn 26$869K$2.0M
Net assetsLn 32−$849K−$1.2M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$5K$5K
Legal feesLn 11b$3K$3K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$168K$168K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$17K$17K
Office expensesLn 13$2K$2K
OccupancyLn 16$6K$6K
TravelLn 17$19K$19K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$410K$305K$105K
Total functional expensesLn 25$630K$310K$320K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $281K$630K−$349K−$1.2M 990 PDF
FY2023 $517K$1.0M−$513K−$849K 990 PDF
FY2022 $149K−$249K 990 PDF

Want to add your own materials alongside these filings? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $280,922 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $517,369$280,922
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $517,369$280,922
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $1,000$5,014
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $0$0
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,029,768$625,071
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,030,768$630,085
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$513,399−$349,163
Part VI · Governance 3 of 4 board members independent, 5 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body4
VI-1b Independent voting members3
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyNo
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $280,922 across 3 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$280,922
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$280,922
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$280,922
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $630,085 across 8 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $5,014$5,014
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $2,982$2,982
IX-11g Other fees for servicesManagement $167,857$167,857
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $16,914$16,914
IX-13 Office expensesManagement $2,035$2,035
IX-16 OccupancyManagement $5,865$5,865
IX-17 TravelManagement $19,214$19,214
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $304,986 · Management $105,218$410,204
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $310,000 · Management $320,085 · Fundraising $0$630,085
Part X · Balance sheet $770,231 assets, 9 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $19,976$145,231
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $0$625,000
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $19,976$770,231
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $524,245$1,409,663
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payable$89,000
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $344,487$344,487
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $868,732$1,968,150
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year −$848,756−$1,197,919
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $19,976$770,231
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets −$1,197,919 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$280,922
XI-2 Total expenses$630,085
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$349,163
XI-4 Net assets at start of year−$848,756
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year−$1,197,919

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

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

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

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

If you ARE the filing organization, claim this org and add context

Made it to the end? Claim this organization

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.