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Human and Civil Rights : Advocacy and Education

Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty

Connecting good intentions to sound economics.

four stars

90.73

98 E. Fulton Street Grand Rapids, MI 49503
tel: (800) 345-2286   Web Site
EIN: 38-2926822

Board Leadership
David Humphreys
Chair

CEO
Kris Alan Mauren
Executive Director

 
 
  Score
(out of 100) 		Rating
Overall Score & Rating 90.73 four stars
  Financial 88.92 three stars
  Accountability & Transparency 93.00 four stars
This rating was published 02/01/2020 and includes data from FY2018, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

Founded in April, 1990, the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty is named in honor of John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton. The mission of the Acton Institute is to promote a free, virtuous, and humane society. This direction recognizes the benefits of a limited government, but also the beneficent consequences of a free market. It embraces an objective framework of moral values, but also recognizes and appreciates the subjective nature of economic value. It views justice as a duty of all to give the one his due but, more importantly, as an individual obligation to serve the common good and not just his own needs and wants. In order to promote a more profound understanding of the coming together of faith and liberty, the Institute involves members of religious, business, and academic spheres in its various seminars, publications, and academic activities.

Founded in April, 1990, the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty is named in honor of John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton. The mission of the Acton Institute is to promote a free, virtuous, and humane society. This direction recognizes the benefits of a limited government, but also the beneficent consequences of a free market. It embraces an objective framework of moral values, but also recognizes and appreciates the subjective nature of economic value. It views justice as a duty of all to give the one his due but, more importantly, as an individual obligation to serve the common good and not just his own needs and wants. In order to promote a more profound understanding of the coming together of faith and liberty, the Institute involves members of religious, business, and academic spheres in its various seminars, publications, and academic activities.

Impact Information

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GuideStar is Charity Navigator's trusted partner in sharing information on how this organization seeks impact.  GuideStar has recognized this organization with a Platinum Seal of Transparency for voluntarily and publicly sharing information about how they measure their progress and results.  Learn More about Impact Information.
Reported Results
Total in 2017
Number of participants attending course/session/workshop
1,140
This organization has earned a GuideStar's Platinum Seal of Transparency by voluntarily sharing the measures of progress and results they use to pursue their mission. Organizations earn Platinum Seals by selecting from a catalog of over 900 expert recognized metrics or by creating a new metric that best fits their work. This information is reported by the organization and displayed publicly on their GuideStar Nonprofit Profile. With over 1.6 million Nonprofit Profiles, 9 million annual visitors and over 200 data partners, GuideStar is the world's leading source of information about nonprofit organizations. A nonprofit itself, GuideStar is dedicated to providing better data for better decisions for a better world.
This impact information is current as of January 2020, when it was provided to us by GuideStar. At this time, Impact information published on this organization's page has no effect on its rating per our methodology.

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

Financial

three stars

88.92

Accountability & Transparency

four stars

93.00

This rating was published 02/01/2020 and includes data from FY2018, 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)		 85.2%
  Administrative Expenses 6.2%
  Fundraising Expenses 8.4%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.10
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 1.14
  Program Expenses Growth 1.4%
  Liabilities to Assets 1.3%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty 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
Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty (MI) 90.73 four stars
The W. Haywood Burns Institute (CA) 87.78 three stars
National Immigration Forum (DC) 93.63 four stars
UnidosUS (DC) 91.36 four stars
Freedom From Religion Foundation (WI) 100.00 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $8,616,866
   Federated Campaigns $1,360
   Membership Dues $0
   Fundraising Events $259,520
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $0
Total Contributions $8,877,746
   Program Service Revenue $394,493
Total Primary Revenue $9,272,239
   Other Revenue $659,265
TOTAL REVENUE $9,931,504
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $9,357,481
   Administrative Expenses $591,413
   Fundraising Expenses $938,909
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $10,887,803
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $-956,299
   
Net Assets $15,841,236

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
Education $4,543,751 48.6%
Research $2,489,808 26.6%
General Education and Communications $1,721,160 18.4%

Ratings History
Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty has received 8 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator.

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2018-12 02/01/2020 90.73 four stars
2017-12 03/01/2019 97.75 four stars
2017-12 12/21/2018 91.90 four stars
2016-12 05/01/2018 99.01 four stars
2016-12 04/01/2018 94.95 four stars
2015-12 03/01/2017 100.00 four stars
2014-12 06/01/2016 99.97 four stars
 
CN 2.0
2014-12 12/01/2015 95.07 four stars
2014-12 11/01/2015 92.50 four stars
2013-12 06/01/2015 96.98 four stars
2012-12 12/20/2013 98.78 four stars
2011-12 03/01/2013 96.43 four stars
2010-12 03/01/2012 87.46 three stars
2009-12 09/20/2011 88.69 three stars
 
CN 1.0
2009-12 05/01/2011 86.10 three stars
2008-12 04/01/2010 95.89 four stars
2007-12 06/01/2009 93.46 four stars
2006-12 03/01/2008 95.88 four stars
2005-12 12/01/2006 89.96 three stars
2004-12 01/01/2006 82.07 three stars

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

EIN 38-2926822
Name in IRS Master File ACTON INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF RELIGION AND LIBERTY
NTEE Code R60
NTEE Classification Civil Liberties Advocacy
NTEE Type Civil Rights, Social Action, Advocacy
Classification Charitable Organization
Subsection 501(c)(3)  (View the list of codes)
Activities (93) Cultural exchanges with foreign country
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, 1990
Filing Requirement 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End December
IRS Forms 990
(provided courtesy of Foundation Center)		 (Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!)
  • December, 2017
  • December, 2016
  • December, 2015
  • December, 2014
  • December, 2013
Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$250,113 2.29% Kris Mauren Executive Director
Other Salaries of Note
$259,269 2.38% Rev. Robert A. Sirico President

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty (MI) 90.73 four stars
People's Action Institute (IL) 89.85 three stars
Ballotpedia (WI) 89.93 three stars
Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (CA) 86.84 three stars
Equal Justice Works (DC) 92.89 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

This charity has an official representative registered with Charity Navigator.

Charity Contact Info

Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty
98 E. Fulton Street
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
tel: (800) 345-2286
fax: (616) 454-9454
EIN: 38-2926822

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

David Humphreys
Chair

CEO

Kris Alan Mauren
Executive Director

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