Form 990 for tax year 2023
Filed by ACTON INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF RELIGION AND LIBERTY.
Totals
- Total revenue
- $12,022,890
- Total expenses
- $12,677,342
- Contributions and grants received
- $9,838,879
- Grants paid
- $1,543,442
- Program service revenue
- $410,219
- Investment income
- $1,926,928
- Other revenue
- -$153,136
- Total assets, end of year
- $28,105,018
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $153,880
- Net assets or fund balances, end of year
- $27,951,138
- Program services expenses (Part IX)
- $10,393,003
- Management and general expenses
- $838,516
- Fundraising expenses
- $1,445,823
- Program service expenses (Part III)
- $10,393,003
Program services were 82.0% 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.
-
1a · Federated campaigns
$3,131
-
1c · Fundraising events
$183,396
-
1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants
$9,652,352
-
1g · Noncash contributions included above
$74,474
-
2a · Program service revenue: Education
total $352,556 · related or exempt $352,556
-
2b · Program service revenue: Research
total $2,217 · related or exempt $2,217
-
2c · Program service revenue: Gen. Education/Communication
total $54,280 · related or exempt $54,280
-
2f · All other program service revenue
total $1,166 · related or exempt $1,166 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0
-
3 · Investment income
total $2,036,391 · unrelated business $1,008,314 · excluded $1,028,077
-
6a · Gross rents
real property $6,750
-
6b · Less rental expenses
real property $9,685
-
6c · Rental income or loss
real property -$2,935 · personal property $0
-
6d · Net rental income or loss
total -$2,935 · unrelated business -$2,935
-
7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory
securities $4,189,264
-
7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses
securities $4,298,727
-
7c · Gain or loss
securities -$109,463 · other assets $0
-
7d · Net gain or loss
total -$109,463 · excluded -$109,463
-
8a · Fundraising events: gross income
$37,950
-
8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c
$183,396
-
8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses
$264,082
-
8c · Net income from fundraising events
total -$226,132 · excluded -$226,132
-
10a · Gross sales of inventory
$106,992
-
10b · Cost of goods sold
$31,061
-
10c · Net income from sales of inventory
total $75,931 · related or exempt $75,931
-
11d · All other revenue
total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0
-
11e · Other revenue, total
$0
Functional expenses
Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.
-
1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments
total $157,282 · program services $157,282
-
2 · Grants to domestic individuals
total $745,346 · program services $745,346
-
3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals
total $640,814 · program services $640,814
-
5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
total $914,926 · program services $671,763 · management and general $61,236 · fundraising $181,927
-
7 · Other salaries and wages
total $2,957,867 · program services $2,171,745 · management and general $197,969 · fundraising $588,153
-
8 · Pension plan contributions
total $154,925 · program services $113,750 · management and general $10,369 · fundraising $30,806
-
9 · Other employee benefits
total $267,070 · program services $196,090 · management and general $17,875 · fundraising $53,105
-
10 · Payroll taxes
total $286,583 · program services $210,417 · management and general $19,181 · fundraising $56,985
-
11b · Fees: legal
total $11,971 · program services $773 · management and general $11,198
-
11c · Fees: accounting
total $42,344 · program services $2,732 · management and general $39,612
-
11e · Fees: professional fundraising services
total $22,713 · fundraising $22,713
-
11g · Fees: other
total $1,486,941 · program services $1,421,185 · management and general $15,409 · fundraising $50,347
-
12 · Advertising and promotion
total $145,114 · program services $144,126 · fundraising $988
-
13 · Office expenses
total $756,768 · program services $551,128 · management and general $24,654 · fundraising $180,986
-
14 · Information technology
total $45,183 · program services $37,261 · management and general $4,751 · fundraising $3,171
-
16 · Occupancy
total $116,357 · program services $91,746 · management and general $13,229 · fundraising $11,382
-
17 · Travel
total $277,864 · program services $160,279 · management and general $51,767 · fundraising $65,818
-
19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings
total $2,374,109 · program services $2,372,028 · management and general $857 · fundraising $1,224
-
22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization
total $372,572 · program services $196,790 · management and general $84,795 · fundraising $90,987
-
23 · Insurance
total $29,150 · program services $19,584 · management and general $4,730 · fundraising $4,836
-
24a · Other expenses: Equipment Rental & Maint.
total $153,433 · program services $126,531 · management and general $16,133 · fundraising $10,769
-
24b · Other expenses: Unrelated Business Income Tax
total $173,880 · management and general $173,880
-
24c · Other expenses: Meals & Entertainment
total $41,115 · program services $33,875 · management and general $4,211 · fundraising $3,029
-
24e · All other expenses
total $503,015 · program services $327,758 · management and general $86,660 · fundraising $88,597
Balance sheet
Part X, book values.
-
1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing
beginning of year $3,132,763 · end of year $336,043
-
2 · Savings and temporary cash investments
beginning of year $2,156,570 · end of year $4,097,293
-
3 · Pledges and grants receivable
beginning of year $2,483,654 · end of year $782,440
-
4 · Accounts receivable
beginning of year $109,530 · end of year $317,608
-
5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people
end of year $0
-
6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons
end of year $0
-
8 · Inventories for sale or use
beginning of year $30,044 · end of year $29,735
-
9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges
beginning of year $493,808 · end of year $536,906
-
10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis
$9,562,439
-
10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation
$3,429,778
-
10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net
beginning of year $5,994,962 · end of year $6,132,661
-
11 · Investments: publicly traded securities
beginning of year $10,030,115 · end of year $5,076,522
-
12 · Investments: other securities
beginning of year $5,065,000 · end of year $10,795,810
-
13 · Investments: program-related
beginning of year $0
-
15 · Other assets
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses
beginning of year $510,622 · end of year $108,549
-
22 · Loans and payables to officers and key people
end of year $0
-
25 · Other liabilities
beginning of year $1,277,000 · end of year $45,331
-
27 · Net assets without donor restrictions
beginning of year $15,261,040 · end of year $16,143,840
-
28 · Net assets with donor restrictions
beginning of year $12,447,784 · end of year $11,807,298
Mission and programs · 2023
Mission
The mission of the Acton Institute is to promote a free and virtuous society characterized by individual liberty and sustained by religious principles.
-
Education: The Programs and Education Department of the Acton Institute equips current and future leaders in education, religion and business through quality educational programming by articulating the moral basis for a free economy that creates an environment in which all have the opportunity to flourish. These programs are open to all who are interested, but special consideration is given to those with a proven track record of effectuating change and influencing those in their institutions, communities, and denominations both nationally and internationally. The Institute's educational programming includes both large and small conferences. Acton's flagship event, Acton University, an annual four-day conference that explores the foundations of a free society, draws over 800 participants from nearly 90 countries. Many of those who attend Acton Institute conferences, including Acton University, receive financial support to cover expenses such as room and board, conference fees, and travel in cases of need. The staff of the Education Department also invests considerable time in cultivating ecumenical networks of religious leaders, students, educators, and businesspeople in order to expand the Institute's reach, develop strategic partnerships, and remain connected to the needs and demands of the Institute's constituencies.
Expenses $5,312,347 · Grants $839,296 · Revenue $353,722
-
General Education and Communications: The Institute reaches out to business leaders, policymakers, students, and religious and community leadership groups through lectures, media products, web and social media, and various writings. The Institute hosts a variety of events across the nation to engage our supporters and partners. In 2023, we hosted luncheons and dinners with distinguished Acton lecturers that ranged from 25-100+ participants in Houston, Dallas, Chicago, Minneapolis, and Pittsburgh. Additionally, we hosted our 33rd Annual Dinner which was held in Grand Rapids to promote outreach and to thank supporters for their partnership. The dinner and program festivities included prominent public speakers, Institute supporters and partners from all over the world. Over 500 participated, representing many states and several foreign countries. We host a busy slate of activities and events in our local facility for discussions of a variety of topics related to our work, including our Acton Lecture Series. Acton Institute also operates a bookstore to promote and sell its own publications, in addition to outside publications, related to our mission and program outreach areas. These educational materials were sold, distributed and exhibited at a variety of events throughout the world. Our rich and robust web presence centers on the Acton website (www.acton.org), and includes other Acton sites such as Religion and Liberty Online as well as a great deal of current and historical Acton-produced content. The Institute has a broad and growing presence in social media. This platform has steadily increased the scope and frequency of Acton's outreach to the general public. The Communications Department manages the growing family of Acton websites, blog, podcasts, and social media which use leading technology to integrate text, audio, and video content in easily accessible formats and venues to promote Acton's message to web users. It publishes the print and digital editions of the redesigned Religion & Liberty. The Communications Department also connects Acton experts with print and broadcast journalists covering faith and policy issues. Acton's newest documentary film The Hong Konger was released in 2023. It received multiple film festival screenings and awards and continues to bring exposure to the imprisonment of Jimmy Lai and his fight for freedom in Hong Kong.
Expenses $2,183,610 · Grants $10,942 · Revenue $130,211
-
Withheld by Nonprofiteer: this text may name a private individual.
Expenses $2,110,414 · Grants $664,409 · Revenue $2,217
-
The Center for Social Flourishing promotes Acton's message in the context of poverty alleviation, both domestic and global. The Center does this through educational events, research, a partnership network, and multimedia products, including a new feature-length documentary film about poverty in the United States. In 2023, the Center organized three "CityFAVS" conferences in collaboration with Acton's Programs department. These events gathered a mix of roughly 25 students, business leaders, nonprofit professionals, and pastors for 2.5 days of lectures and discussion on themes relevant to urban poverty. The Center also organized monthly "listening sessions" with local Grand Rapids nonprofits to build our partnership network and learn about the work being done in our community as we refine our approaches to delicate topics. A new website is under development. The Center also began identifying affiliate research fellows and organizations that will be invited to join our partner network. Research was conducted into the Center's approach to different topics. The largest individual project of the Center is the new documentary on poverty in the United States. Directed by Michael Miller, who is also the Center's director, the film will explore the sources of American poverty and social isolation. In 2023, about 40 interviews were filmed in Washington, D.C., Detroit, Los Angeles, and other locations. The film is expected to be completed by mid-2025 and be submitted for film festivals. Acton's media products were distributed with a focus on digital platforms. They can be found on familiar platforms such as Amazon and iTunes, in addition to others. A curriculum and related website about enterprise solutions to poverty in the developing world (PovertyCure) continued to be promoted. Many schools and universities have incorporated this resource into their curriculums. The project seeks to build a network of likeminded organizations as well as to promote a proper understanding of the human person and society. The media projects will encourage solutions that create opportunity and unleash the entrepreneurial spirit. Acton's documentary Poverty, Inc. has earned more than 45 film festival awards to date, including the $100,000 Templeton Freedom Award. The film has screened more than 500 times in 28 countries. Its impact continues and it streams on multiple platforms.
Expenses $786,632 · Grants $28,795
As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here. A text marked withheld matched a screen for wording that may name a private individual, such as an honorific or "in memory of". Most of what it withholds names no one; it is withheld so that what does is never shown.
Listed in Part VII
-
David Humphreys
Chairman
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Frank Hanna III
Vice Chairman
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
JC Huizenga
Secretary
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
John Kennedy III
Treasurer
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Kris Mauren
President
- Total calculated
- $378,880
- From this org
- $336,734
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $42,146
- Hours/week
- 50
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $319,834
- Bonus
- $13,500
- Other
- $3,400
- Deferred
- $9,702
- Nontaxable benefits
- $32,444
- Filer's total
- $378,880
-
Rev Robert A Sirico
President Emeritus
- Total calculated
- $170,030
- From this org
- $162,100
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $7,930
- Hours/week
- 50
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $150,000
- Bonus
- $4,500
- Other
- $7,600
- Deferred
- $7,202
- Nontaxable benefits
- $728
- Filer's total
- $170,030
-
David Durell
Director
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Joan Quintana
Director
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
John Hern
Director
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Leslie Graves
Director
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Maria Montserrat
Director
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Michael Muraski
Director
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Nathan Bond
Director
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Nathaniel Fischer
Director (Part Year)
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Patricia Duthler
Director
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Rick DeVos
Director (Part Year)
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Tom Vogt
Chief Financial Officer
- Total calculated
- $160,671
- From this org
- $125,515
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $35,156
- Hours/week
- 50
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $123,015
- Bonus
- $2,500
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $6,929
- Nontaxable benefits
- $28,227
- Filer's total
- $160,671
-
Stephen Barrows
Chief Operating Officer
- Total calculated
- $218,844
- From this org
- $181,378
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $37,466
- Hours/week
- 50
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $178,878
- Bonus
- $2,500
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $7,687
- Nontaxable benefits
- $29,779
- Filer's total
- $218,844
-
Alejandro Chafuen
Managing Director of International
- Total calculated
- $210,180
- From this org
- $175,902
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $34,278
- Hours/week
- 50
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $173,902
- Bonus
- $2,000
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $7,580
- Nontaxable benefits
- $26,698
- Filer's total
- $210,180
-
Eric Kohn
Director of Communications
- Total calculated
- $160,556
- From this org
- $132,534
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $28,022
- Hours/week
- 50
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $131,034
- Bonus
- $1,500
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $6,953
- Nontaxable benefits
- $21,069
- Filer's total
- $160,556
-
John Pinheiro
Director of Research
- Total calculated
- $161,448
- From this org
- $129,862
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $31,586
- Hours/week
- 50
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $127,862
- Bonus
- $2,000
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $5,812
- Nontaxable benefits
- $25,774
- Filer's total
- $161,448
-
Kevin Augustyn
VP of Development
- Total calculated
- $201,751
- From this org
- $165,646
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $36,105
- Hours/week
- 50
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $163,646
- Bonus
- $2,000
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $7,068
- Nontaxable benefits
- $29,037
- Filer's total
- $201,751
-
Michael Miller
Director of Media
- Total calculated
- $205,583
- From this org
- $166,794
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $38,789
- Hours/week
- 50
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $155,294
- Bonus
- $11,500
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $7,523
- Nontaxable benefits
- $31,266
- Filer's total
- $205,583
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
- 1a · Health or social club dues or initiation fees
- 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
- 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
- 3 · Compensation committee
- 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
- 3 · Compensation survey or study
- 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
- 7 · Other non-fixed payments
Answered no
- 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
- 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
- 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
- 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
- 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
- 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception
The filer's explanations (Part III)
- Schedule J, Part I, Line 1a Health or social club dues or initiation fees
- Kris Mauren utilizes the organization's membership with University Club for bona-fide business purposes to conduct offsite meetings with staff and donors. It is policy to have him reimburse the organization for any personal charges that are not considered bona-fide business expenses. This benefit is treated as nontaxable.
- Schedule J, Part I, Line 7 Non-fixed payments
- Non-fixed payments in the form of bonuses were given to the following individuals: Robert Sirico, President Emeritus Kris Mauren, President Michael Miller, Chief of Strategic Initiatives Alejandro Chafuen, Managing Director of International Eric Kohn, Director of Communications Stephen Barrows, Chief Operating Officer Kevin Augustyn, VP Development Tom Vogt, CFO John Pinheiro, Director of Research
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
-
$80,235
Organization support
-
$12,500
Organization support
-
$7,000
Organizational Support
Provenance
- Return type
- form_990
- Tax year
- 2023
- Filed
- 4 September 2024
- IRS schema version
- 2023v5.1
- Source object
- 202412489349301771
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