ACTON INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF RELIGION AND LIBERTY

As filed

Subsection

03

NTEE code

R600

Classification

1000

Street

98 FULTON ST E UNIT 101

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2025

• EDUCATION:THE PROGRAMS AND EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF THE ACTON INSTITUTE EQUIPS CURRENT AND EMERGING LEADERS IN ECONOMICS, RELIGION, AND BUSINESS THROUGH HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES. THESE PROGRAMS EMPHASIZE THE MORAL FOUNDATIONS OF A FREE ECONOMY AND AIM TO FOSTER AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE ALL INDIVIDUALS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE. WHILE OPEN TO ALL, PRIORITY IS GIVEN TO APPLICANTS WITH A DEMONSTRATED ABILITY TO EFFECT CHANGE AND INFLUENCE WITHIN THEIR INSTITUTIONS, COMMUNITIES, AND DENOMINATIONS BOTH NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY.THE INSTITUTE OFFERS A RANGE OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, FROM INTIMATE SEMINARS TO LARGE-SCALE CONFERENCES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)ITS FLAGSHIP EVENT, ACTON UNIVERSITY, IS A FOUR-DAY ANNUAL CONFERENCE THAT ATTRACTS OVER 900 PARTICIPANTS FROM NEARLY 80 COUNTRIES TO EXPLORE THE PRINCIPLES OF A FREE AND VIRTUOUS SOCIETY. MANY ATTENDEES RECEIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP COVER EXPENSES SUCH AS LODGING, MEALS, REGISTRATION, AND, WHEN NEEDED, TRAVEL. ADDITIONALLY, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ACTIVELY BUILDS ECUMENICAL NETWORKS OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS, STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS TO BROADEN THE INSTITUTE'S IMPACT, FORM STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, AND STAY RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF ITS GLOBAL AUDIENCE.

  Expenses $4,973,801 · Grants $547,731 · Revenue $492,077

• Withheld by Nonprofiteer: this text may name a private individual.

  Expenses $1,953,812 · Grants $381,099 · Revenue $1,255

• THE CENTER FOR SOCIAL FLOURISHING FOCUSES THE ACTON INSTITUTE'S WORK PROMOTING THE IDEAS NECESSARY FOR A FREE AND VIRTUOUS SOCIETY ON THE ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY AND RELATED SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN THE UNITED STATES. THE CENTER DOES THIS THROUGH CONFERENCES, RESEARCH, A PARTNERSHIP NETWORK, AND FILM AND MEDIA, INCLUDING A NEW FEATURE-LENGTH DOCUMENTARY MOVIE ABOUT ATTEMPTS TO ADDRESS POVERTY IN THE UNITED STATES. THE CENTER'S TEAM ALSO OPERATES A RELATED INITIATIVE OF THE ACTON INSTITUTE: THE POVERTYCURE PROJECT, WHICH IS AN EXPRESSION OF ACTON'S WORK ON GLOBAL POVERTY AND DEVELOPMENT.THE LARGEST INDIVIDUAL PROJECT OF THE CENTER IS THE NEW DOCUMENTARY ON POVERTY IN THE UNITED STATES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)DIRECTED BY MICHAEL MILLER, WHO IS ALSO THE CENTER'S DIRECTOR, THE FILM, TITLED POVERTY TRAP, CRITIQUES AMBITIOUS SOLUTIONS TO POVERTY THAT HAVE HAD THE UNINTENDED EFFECT OF PREVENTING UPWARD MOBILITY. DRAWING FROM 130 INTERVIEWS FILMED IN 16 STATES, THE FILM WILL BE COMPLETED BY SUMMER 2026, AT WHICH POINT IT WILL BE SUBMITTED FOR FILM FESTIVALS.THE CENTER CONTINUES TO PROMOTE OTHER ACTON MEDIA PRODUCTS, INCLUDING THE POVERTYCURE SERIES AND THE DOCUMENTARY POVERTY, INC. MANY CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, AND UNIVERSITIES HAVE INCORPORATED THE POVERTYCURE SERIES RESOURCE INTO THEIR CURRICULUMS. 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 $1,518,566 · Grants $31,455 · Revenue $1,000

• GENERAL EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATIONS:THE INSTITUTE ADVANCES ITS MISSION BY ENGAGING BUSINESS LEADERS, POLICYMAKERS, STUDENTS, CLERGY, AND COMMUNITY INFLUENCERS THROUGH A WIDE RANGE OF EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES. THESE INCLUDE LECTURES, CONFERENCES, MEDIA PRODUCTIONS, DIGITAL CONTENT, AND WRITTEN MATERIALS DESIGNED TO DEEPEN PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE INTERSECTION OF FAITH, ECONOMICS, AND HUMAN FLOURISHING.THROUGHOUT 2025, THE INSTITUTE HOSTED AN ACTIVE CALENDAR OF EVENTS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND INTERNATIONALLY TO CONNECT WITH SUPPORTERS AND EXPAND ITS EDUCATIONAL REACH. LUNCHEONS AND DINNERS FEATURING DISTINGUISHED ACTON SCHOLARS AND GUEST LECTURERS PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSION ON ECONOMIC FREEDOM, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND THE MORAL FOUNDATIONS OF A FREE SOCIETY.THE INSTITUTE ALSO CELEBRATED ITS 35TH ANNUAL DINNER IN GRAND RAPIDS, A MAJOR OUTREACH EVENT BRINGING TOGETHER NEARLY 700 ATTENDEES FROM NUMEROUS STATES AND SEVERAL COUNTRIES. THE EVENING FEATURED PROMINENT SPEAKERS AND HIGHLIGHTED ACTON'S GLOBAL IMPACT, WHILE EXPRESSING GRATITUDE TO SUPPORTERS AND PARTNERS WHO ADVANCE THE INSTITUTE'S MISSION.ACTON'S HEADQUARTERS CONTINUED TO SERVE AS A VIBRANT HUB FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING. THE ACTON LECTURE SERIES AND OTHER IN HOUSE EVENTS CONVENED SCHOLARS, PRACTITIONERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR DISCUSSIONS ON TOPICS CENTRAL TO THE INSTITUTE'S WORK, INCLUDING RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, ECONOMIC POLICY, AND CULTURAL RENEWAL.THE INSTITUTE OPERATES A BOOKSTORE THAT PROMOTES ACTON'S OWN PUBLICATIONS AS WELL AS CAREFULLY SELECTED EXTERNAL WORKS ALIGNED WITH ITS MISSION. THESE MATERIALS WERE SOLD, DISTRIBUTED, AND EXHIBITED AT EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD, EXTENDING ACTON'S EDUCATIONAL INFLUENCE TO NEW AUDIENCES.ACTON'S DIGITAL PRESENCE CONTINUED TO EXPAND IN 2025. THE INSTITUTE'S PRIMARY WEBSITE (WWW.ACTON.ORG), ALONG WITH PLATFORMS SUCH AS RELIGION & LIBERTY, OFFERED A GROWING LIBRARY OF ARTICLES, VIDEOS, PODCASTS, AND ARCHIVAL RESOURCES. ACTON'S SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS ALSO SAW NOTABLE ENGAGEMENT, ENABLING THE INSTITUTE TO REACH A BROADER PUBLIC WITH TIMELY COMMENTARY AND EDUCATIONAL CONTENT.THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OVERSEES ACTON'S WEBSITES, PODCASTS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS, INTEGRATING TEXT, AUDIO, AND VIDEO USING MODERN DIGITAL TOOLS TO MAKE ACTON'S MESSAGE ACCESSIBLE ACROSS PLATFORMS. THE DEPARTMENT ALSO SUPPORTS BOTH PRINT AND DIGITAL EDITIONS OF RELIGION & LIBERTY AND CONNECTS ACTON EXPERTS WITH JOURNALISTS COVERING ISSUES RELATED TO FAITH, ECONOMICS, AND PUBLIC POLICY.ACTON'S DOCUMENTARY WORK CONTINUED TO GENERATE SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC INTEREST IN 2025. THE HONG KONGER, RELEASED IN 2023 AND SCREENED AT NUMEROUS FILM FESTIVALS, REMAINED AN IMPORTANT TOOL FOR RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPRISONMENT OF JIMMY LAI AND THE BROADER STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM IN HONG KONG. IN 2025, ACTON ADVANCED PRODUCTION AND OUTREACH EFFORTS FOR ITS UPCOMING DOCUMENTARY POVERTY TRAP, A FOLLOW UP TO THE AWARD WINNING POVERTY, INC. THE INSTITUTE BEGAN SCHEDULING PRE SCREENINGS, SUBMITTING THE FILM TO FESTIVALS, AND HOSTING DISCUSSIONS IN PREPARATION FOR ITS 2026 EVENT SCREENING CYCLE. THE FILM IS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE IN 2027.

  Expenses $1,266,423 · Grants $42,694 · Revenue $111,094

As filed on the 2025 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.

Officers and directors · 2025

As listed in Part VII of the 2025 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

• 2025

  Revenue

  $8,912,544

  Expenses

  $12,018,869

  Contributions

  $7,921,689

  Grants paid

  $1,002,980

• 2023

  Revenue

  $12,022,890

  Expenses

  $12,677,342

  Contributions

  $9,838,879

  Grants paid

  $1,543,442

• 2022

  Revenue

  $13,230,695

  Expenses

  $11,795,621

  Contributions

  $11,861,238

  Grants paid

  $1,541,972

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

• 2025 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2023 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2022 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2021 · 990

  Revenue

  $14,973,316

  Expenses

  $7,787,441

  Assets (EOY)

  $30,417,639

• 2021 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2020 · 990

  Revenue

  $8,804,881

  Expenses

  $7,085,503

  Assets (EOY)

  $18,578,686

• 2020 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2019 · 990

  Revenue

  $10,475,844

  Expenses

  $10,620,474

  Assets (EOY)

  $16,306,282

• 2018 · 990

  Revenue

  $9,931,504

  Expenses

  $10,887,803

  Assets (EOY)

  $16,064,623

• 2017 · 990

  Revenue

  $10,528,684

  Expenses

  $10,964,910

  Assets (EOY)

  $17,016,179

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

• Sacred Heart Academy Education Foundation

  $154,960

  2022 · Organization support

• Donor's Trust Inc

  $150,000

  2022 · Organization support

• Better Way Detroit

  $80,235

  2023 · Organization support

• Woodlawn Foundation

  $56,776

  2022 · Organization support

• Better Way Detroit

  $25,000

  2022 · Organization support

• EVERGREEN COMMONS

  $15,000

  2025 · ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT

• Center for Civil Society

  $12,500

  2023 · Organization support

• Center for Civil Society

  $12,500

  2022 · Organization support

• WHEATON COLLEGE

  $8,800

  2025 · ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT

• THE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO FOUNDATION

  $8,000

  2025 · ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

• DONORS TRUST INC

  $1,652,000

  2023 · for general operations

• DONORS TRUST INC

  $1,421,900

  2022 · for general operations

• DONORS TRUST INC

  $837,000

  2024 · for general operations

• ATLANTIC COUNCIL OF THE U S INC

  $692,453

  2023 · SUPPORTING THE WORK OF INDEPENDENT NGOS/THINK TANKS WORKING ON FREEDOM AND PROSPERITY THEMES.

• BRADLEY IMPACT FUND INC

  $435,000

  2024 · GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT.

• NATIONAL CHRISTIAN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

  $392,750

  2024 · MEDIA AND PUBLISHING

• NATIONAL CHRISTIAN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

  $270,200

  2022 · GROWTH

• NATIONAL CHRISTIAN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

  $261,300

  2023 · GROWTH

• DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING

  $259,046

  2024 · PUBLIC, SOCIETAL BENEFIT

• DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING

  $254,015

  2023 · PUBLIC, SOCIETAL BENEFIT

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

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