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Nonprofiteer
← CATHOLIC ANSWERS INC

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by CATHOLIC ANSWERS INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$9,716,974
Total expenses
$9,269,606
Contributions and grants received
$7,758,185
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$587,012
Investment income
$58,139
Other revenue
$1,313,638
Total assets, end of year
$4,094,358
Total liabilities, end of year
$1,288,396
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$2,805,962
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$7,174,920
Management and general expenses
$556,823
Fundraising expenses
$1,537,863
Program service expenses (Part III)
$7,174,920

Program services were 77.4% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $7,758,185

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $405,093

  • 2a · Program service revenue: PROGRAM EVENTS

    total $214,721 · related or exempt $214,721

  • 2b · Program service revenue: SEMINARS

    total $149,330 · related or exempt $149,330

  • 2c · Program service revenue: ADVERTISING REVENUE

    total $112,961 · unrelated business $112,961

  • 2d · Program service revenue: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

    total $110,000 · related or exempt $110,000

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $42,702 · excluded $42,702

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $1,591,805

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $1,576,368

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $15,437

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $15,437 · excluded $15,437

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $1,833,400

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $519,762

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $1,313,638 · related or exempt $1,313,638

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $958,380 · program services $227,201 · management and general $418,304 · fundraising $312,875

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $3,325,302 · program services $2,878,815 · management and general $3,628 · fundraising $442,859

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $102,070 · program services $85,900 · fundraising $16,170

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $648,116 · program services $538,235 · management and general $14,148 · fundraising $95,733

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $321,240 · program services $239,670 · management and general $26,337 · fundraising $55,233

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $9,197 · program services $7,183 · management and general $649 · fundraising $1,365

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $37,166 · program services $2,826 · management and general $34,340

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $501,412 · program services $472,362 · management and general $4,567 · fundraising $24,483

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $297,052 · program services $295,090 · management and general $108 · fundraising $1,854

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $1,307,948 · program services $904,588 · management and general $4,402 · fundraising $398,958

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $571,435 · program services $478,491 · management and general $15,714 · fundraising $77,230

  • 15 · Royalties

    total $215,880 · program services $215,880

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $377,233 · program services $289,406 · management and general $28,334 · fundraising $59,493

  • 17 · Travel

    total $491,374 · program services $451,820 · management and general $983 · fundraising $38,571

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $58,446 · program services $43,622 · management and general $4,790 · fundraising $10,034

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $5,478 · program services $4,061 · management and general $454 · fundraising $963

  • 24a · Other expenses: COST OF SALES

    total $28,407 · program services $28,407

  • 24b · Other expenses: LICENSES AND DUES

    total $5,735 · program services $3,628 · management and general $65 · fundraising $2,042

  • 24c · Other expenses: CONTINUING EDUCATION

    total $4,906 · program services $4,906

  • 24d · Other expenses: BAD DEBTS

    total $2,829 · program services $2,829

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $339,761 · end of year $334,838

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $1,763,034 · end of year $2,329,839

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $126,111 · end of year $228,478

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $632,467 · end of year $499,873

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $292,400 · end of year $268,634

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $778,548

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $689,386

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $111,525 · end of year $89,162

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $572,984 · end of year $343,534

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $785,671 · end of year $799,767

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $143,579 · end of year $147,817

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $568,156 · end of year $340,812

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $2,312,890 · end of year $2,776,948

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $27,986 · end of year $29,014

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

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 FORMER CATHOLICS HOME, AND LEAD NON-CATHOLICS INTO THE FULLNESS OF THE FAITH.

Activities or mission (Part I)

APOSTOLATE DEDICATED TO SERVING CHRIST BY BRINGING THE FULLNESS OF CATHOLIC TRUTH TO THE WORLD.

  • PRODUCTS: DISTRIBUTION OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF RELIGIOUS RELATED PRODUCTS SUCH AS BOOKS, BOOKLETS, DIGITAL PRODUCTS, ETC. TO SPREAD THE CATHOLIC TRUTH TO THE WORLD.

    Expenses $2,657,622 · Revenue $1,354,129

  • OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE "CATHOLIC ANSWERS" MAGAZINE, CONFERENCES, PILRIMAGES, SEMINARS, AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROJECTS.

    Expenses $2,029,675 · Revenue $433,560

  • RADIO: CATHOLIC ANSWERS LIVE IS A PROGRAM BROADCAST VIA RADIO, SATELLITE RADIO, STREAMING INTERNET AND PODCAST. THE SHOW IS DEDICATED TO SERVING CHRIST BY BRINGING THE FULLNESS OF CATHOLIC TRUTH TO THE WORLD.

    Expenses $1,670,185

  • WEBSITE: ONE OF OUR LARGEST OUTREACHES IS OUR WEBSITE, CATHOLIC.COM, WHICH SEES MORE THAN ONE MILLION PAGE VIEWS PER MONTH. THE DAILY TRAFFIC ON CATHOLIC.COM CONTINUES TO GROW EACH YEAR. OUR SITE HOSTS THOUSANDS OF ARTICLES, VIDEOS, AND OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO EACH AND EVERY VISITOR AT NO COST, AND EVERY DAY IT HIGHLIGHTS FRESH CONTENT WRITTEN BY CATHOLIC ANSWERS APOLOGISTS AND OTHERS.

    Expenses $817,438

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Christopher Check

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $253,281
    From this org
    $219,921
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $33,360
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $219,671
    Bonus
    $250
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,226
    Nontaxable benefits
    $26,134
    Filer's total
    $253,281
  • Philip Lenahan

    CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $218,377
    From this org
    $185,335
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $33,042
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $185,085
    Bonus
    $250
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,497
    Nontaxable benefits
    $26,545
    Filer's total
    $218,377
  • David Matheson

    DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

    Total calculated
    $196,574
    From this org
    $172,140
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $24,434
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $171,890
    Bonus
    $250
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $941
    Nontaxable benefits
    $23,493
    Filer's total
    $196,574
  • Jon Sorensen

    CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $201,471
    From this org
    $176,072
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $25,399
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $175,822
    Bonus
    $250
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $3,527
    Nontaxable benefits
    $21,872
    Filer's total
    $201,471
  • Trent Horn

    APOLOGIST/SPEAKER

    Total calculated
    $195,954
    From this org
    $163,851
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $32,103
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $163,601
    Bonus
    $250
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,846
    Nontaxable benefits
    $26,257
    Filer's total
    $195,954
  • John Vercillo

    DIRECTOR OF STUDIOS

    Total calculated
    $186,819
    From this org
    $157,465
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $29,354
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $157,215
    Bonus
    $250
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,511
    Nontaxable benefits
    $23,843
    Filer's total
    $186,819
  • Todd Aglialoro

    DIRECTOR OF PUBLISHING

    Total calculated
    $183,008
    From this org
    $153,783
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $29,225
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $153,533
    Bonus
    $250
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,382
    Nontaxable benefits
    $23,843
    Filer's total
    $183,008
  • Christopher Costello

    DIRECTOR OF IT

    Total calculated
    $183,371
    From this org
    $151,466
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $31,905
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $151,216
    Bonus
    $250
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,372
    Nontaxable benefits
    $26,533
    Filer's total
    $183,371
  • Tim Staples

    APOLOGIST/SPEAKER

    Total calculated
    $175,284
    From this org
    $146,320
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $28,964
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $146,070
    Bonus
    $250
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,121
    Nontaxable benefits
    $23,843
    Filer's total
    $175,284
  • Siobhan Cruz Kelly

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $76,301
    From this org
    $65,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,301
    Hours/week
    40
  • Tom Carney

    CHAIRMAN

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Mike Deck

    VICE CHAIRMAN

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Christina Caruso

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Lisa Fischer

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dr Denise Incorvia

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Paul Jonna

    DIRECTOR (THRU 09/23)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dr Sylvia Trumble

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 5
-THE ORGANIZATION PAYS A 10% COMMISSION OF PRODUCT SALES TO ITS SPEAKERS FOR THE SALES THEY MAKE AT ANY CONFERENCE. -SPEAKERS RECEIVE 50% OF THE HONORARIUM THE ORGANIZATION RECEIVES FROM ORGANIZATIONS HOSTING THEM. -THE ORGANIZATION PAYS ROYALTIES TO AUTHORS OF ITS PUBLISHED MATERIALS, INCLUDING STAFF AUTHORS. ROYALTIES ARE BASED ON GROSS SALES. -THE ORGANIZATION RUNS A SUMMER SERIES OF SEMINARS LOCALLY WHERE IT DOESN'T CHARGE THE HOSTING ENTITY. INSTEAD, IT PASSES THE HAT FOR DONATIONS, WHICH ARE TYPICALLY QUITE MODEST ($300-$600). THE ORGANIZATION PAYS ITS SPEAKER A 50% COMMISSION ON THESE DONATIONS.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
22 April 2025
IRS schema version
2023v6.0
Source object
202511129349302156

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