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Religion : Religious Media and Broadcasting

Catholic Answers

To Explain & Defend the Faith

three stars

81.31

2020 Gillespie Way El Cajon, CA 92020
tel: (619) 387-7200   Web Site
EIN: 95-3754404

Board Leadership
Tony Jace
Chairman

CEO
Christopher Check
President

 
 
  Score
(out of 100) 		Rating
Overall Score & Rating 81.31 three stars
  Financial 73.58 two stars
  Accountability & Transparency 100.00 four stars
This rating was published 09/01/2020 and includes data from FY2019, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

Catholic Answers is an apostolate dedicated to serving Christ by bringing the fullness of Catholic truth to the world. We help good Catholics become better Catholics, bring lapsed Catholics home, and lead non-Catholics into the fullness of the faith. Founded in 1979, Catholic Answers has become one of the nation's largest lay-run apostolates of Catholic apologetics and evangelization.

Catholic Answers is an apostolate dedicated to serving Christ by bringing the fullness of Catholic truth to the world. We help good Catholics become better Catholics, bring lapsed Catholics home, and lead non-Catholics into the fullness of the faith. Founded in 1979, Catholic Answers has become one of the nation's largest lay-run apostolates of Catholic apologetics and evangelization.

Learn more about how we calculate the overall score and rating.

Financial

two stars

73.58

Accountability & Transparency

four stars

100.00

This rating was published 09/01/2020 and includes data from FY2019, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?
Overall Rating Chart
  Program Expenses
(Percent of the charity's total expenses spent on the programs
and services it delivers)		 71.3%
  Administrative Expenses 5.5%
  Fundraising Expenses 23.1%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.32
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 0.25
  Program Expenses Growth 6.9%
  Liabilities to Assets 36.5%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Catholic Answers on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Catholic Answers on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
Information Provided on the Form 990  
  Independent Voting Board Members
  No Material diversion of assets
  Audited financials prepared by independent accountant
  Does Not Provide Loan(s) to or Receive Loan(s) From related parties
  Documents Board Meeting Minutes
  Provided copy of Form 990 to organization's governing body in advance of filing
  Conflict of Interest Policy
  Whistleblower Policy
  Records Retention and Destruction Policy
  CEO listed with salary
  Process for determining CEO compensation
  Board Listed / Board Members Not Compensated
Is the following information easily accessible on the charity's website?  
  Donor Privacy Policy
  Board Members Listed
  Audited Financials
  Form 990
  Key staff listed

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Catholic Answers (CA) 81.31 three stars
Answers in Genesis (KY) 87.15 three stars
Life Action Ministries (MI) 94.48 four stars
Audio Scripture Ministries (MI) 97.78 four stars
Reasons to Believe (CA) 87.24 three stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $6,165,123
   Federated Campaigns $0
   Membership Dues $0
   Fundraising Events $0
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $0
Total Contributions $6,165,123
   Program Service Revenue $1,994,290
Total Primary Revenue $8,159,413
   Other Revenue $91,124
TOTAL REVENUE $8,250,537
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $6,064,982
   Administrative Expenses $456,391
   Fundraising Expenses $1,846,172
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $8,367,545
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $-117,008
   
Net Assets $2,029,595

Program names and associated costs are listed for the top programs as reported on the charity's most recently filed Form 990. The top programs displayed will include the largest three programs, or those programs covering at least 60% of the charity's total expenses, whichever comes first.

Program Name Amount Spent % of Program Expenses
Product Distribution $2,486,097 41.0%
Radio $1,141,611 18.8%
Apologetics and Evangelization $683,925 11.3%

Ratings History

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2019-06 09/01/2020 81.31 three stars
2019-06 08/01/2020 81.19 three stars
2018-06 07/01/2020 77.35 two stars
2018-06 02/01/2020 75.65 two stars
2017-06 09/01/2018 74.63 two stars
2016-06 10/01/2017 73.48 two stars
2015-06 08/01/2016 72.59 two stars
2015-06 07/01/2016 70.69 two stars
2014-06 06/01/2016 63.88 one star
 
CN 2.0
2014-06 03/01/2016 67.01 one star
2014-06 11/01/2015 62.49 one star
2013-06 12/01/2014 58.99 one star
2012-06 12/20/2013 54.39 zero star
2011-06 11/06/2012 56.50 one star
2010-06 03/01/2012 56.44 one star

The data displayed on this tab is provided by the IRS in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

EIN 95-3754404
Name in IRS Master File CATHOLIC ANSWERS INC
NTEE Code [Not Provided by IRS]
NTEE Classification [Not Provided by IRS]
NTEE Type [Not Provided by IRS]
Classification Charitable Organization
Subsection 501(c)(3)  (View the list of codes)
Activities (6) Missionary activities
(994) Described in section 170(b)1)(a)(vi) of the Code
Foundation Status Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public   170(b)(1)(A)(vi)
Deductibility Contributions are deductible
Affiliation Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations).
Group Name [Not Applicable]
Ruling Date September, 1982
Filing Requirement 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End June
IRS Forms 990
(provided courtesy of Foundation Center)		 (Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!)
  • June, 2018
  • June, 2017
  • June, 2016
  • June, 2015
  • June, 2014
Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$202,057 2.41% Chris Check President

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Catholic Answers (CA) 81.31 three stars
Messenger International (CO) 94.13 four stars
Hosanna/Faith Comes By Hearing (NM) 97.38 four stars
Mesorah Heritage Foundation (NJ) 90.09 four stars
Sojourners (DC) 85.86 three stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

This charity has an official representative registered with Charity Navigator.

Charity Contact Info

Catholic Answers
2020 Gillespie Way
El Cajon, CA 92020
tel: (619) 387-7200
fax: (619) 387-0042
EIN: 95-3754404

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

Tony Jace
Chairman

CEO

Christopher Check
President

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