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JAARS INC

EIN 56-0818833 WAXHAW, NC

Revenue 2024
$10,369,317
Expenses 2024
$11,427,141

Program services were 82.7% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
S80
Classification
1200
Street
PO BOX 248

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 · 2024

Mission

We reduce barriers, ease burdens and deliver God's Word. We do that by training, equipping, deploying and sustaining individuals, teams and stations, primarily in the area of transportation using special purpose aircraft, boats and off-road vehicles to aid in the work of proclaiming the gospel to the whole creation.

Activities or mission (Part I)

The vision of JAARS is that people's lives and communities are transformed as they experience God's Word in their own language. Our mission is to reduce barriers, ease burdens and deliver God's Word, especially in the most remote and difficult places on earth.

  • BASE OPERATIONS--JAARS is heavily engaged in training pilots, mechanics, technicians and support personnel to aid Bible translation, literacy and scripture engagement in remote environments that primarily include jungle rainforests or difficult terrain. We support partners on four continents. The training assists our primary partner, SIL International, and others with transportation solutions where none readily exist with air, land and sea solutions. The approximately 500 personnel at our home base in North Carolina integrate and instruct training on aviation, maritime, land transport, communication, and intercultural relationships. The base also serves as a research & development and engineering station to create future solutions needed in the field. The base serves as the force and logistical provider, program manager, financial and personnel support base with capacity in counseling, healthcare services, housing for trainees, fundraising, and missionary support both domestic and abroad.

    Expenses $3,706,609 · Revenue $1,482,818

  • TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS-- We help facilitate our international partners' flight programs by recruiting and training staff, setting standards, acquiring and equipping aircraft, providing technical field support and R&D, and more. Currently, we partner with programs in Brazil, Cameroon, Gabon, Indonesia, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, and Peru. We help our international partners assess their travel challenges and determine the optimal vehicles for their situations and assist with acquiring, upfit and training.

    Expenses $3,111,543 · Revenue $357,633

  • TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS-- We have designed, developed, and now support FlightSpan, a custom application that helps to ensure efficiency, accountability, and safety before, during, and after conducting flight operations. In addition, technology is provided and supported with our international partners and at the JAARS base in North Carolina headquarters.

    Expenses $1,152,407 · Revenue $59,242

  • INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS-- We help our international partners assess needs, develop effective solutions, funding support, and effective implementation and training to help missionaries cross the last mile. In addition, we are exploring high-impact operating "hubs" to help missionaries cross the last mile and reach the unreached.

    Expenses $1,476,788

As filed on the 2024 return.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • Steve Russell

    President

    Total calculated
    $122,112
    From this org
    $122,112
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

  • Steve Biggerstaff

    Vice President of Engagement

    Total calculated
    $121,402
    From this org
    $121,402
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

  • Denise Shockley

    V P of Finance, CFO

    Total calculated
    $98,774
    From this org
    $98,774
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

  • Andrew Hood

    Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    8

  • Bonnie Nystrom

    Vice Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Lee Bramlett

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Dan Dugger

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Grace Goreth

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Daniel Johnson

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Ryan Kruse

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Nydia Garcia Schmidt

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Eleanor Berry

    Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Keith Burkhart

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Mark Snoddy

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Tim Johnson

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2024
    Revenue
    $10,369,317
    Expenses
    $11,427,141
    Contributions
    $8,598,846
    Grants paid
    $938,848
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $11,930,681
    Expenses
    $8,539,451
    Contributions
    $10,101,743
    Grants paid
    $547,409
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $9,830,256
    Expenses
    $7,703,667
    Contributions
    $8,189,288
    Grants paid
    $906,689

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

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $6,580,103
    Expenses
    $7,479,302
    Assets (EOY)
    $11,482,028

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $6,450,483
    Expenses
    $6,452,665
    Assets (EOY)
    $12,433,340

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $6,472,350
    Expenses
    $5,325,327
    Assets (EOY)
    $12,627,112

  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $5,502,545
    Expenses
    $5,325,119
    Assets (EOY)
    $11,504,967

  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $5,256,865
    Expenses
    $4,954,778
    Assets (EOY)
    $11,271,519

  • 2016 · 990

    Revenue
    $5,431,734
    Expenses
    $4,553,417
    Assets (EOY)
    $10,709,269

  • 2015 · 990

    Revenue
    $4,505,610
    Expenses
    $4,589,748
    Assets (EOY)
    $9,899,462

  • 2014 · 990

    Revenue
    $4,656,470
    Expenses
    $4,767,429
    Assets (EOY)
    $10,061,254

  • 2011 · 990

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    $6,312,900
    Assets (EOY)
    $14,162,384

  • 2010 · 990

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    $9,445,230
    Assets (EOY)
    $15,709,353

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

  • Samaritan's Purse

    $500,000

    2024 Funds received at JAARS to support Hurricane Helene relief which exceeded the support JAARS provided to the relief efforts. Samaritan's Purse as a relief organization remains active in the area and had financial needs to support the relief efforts.

  • Summer Institute of Linguistics Inc (SIL)

    $426,621

    2022 Internet connectivity for translators; audio/video media solutions,support for aviation operations, transport printed Bibles, support missionary in training

  • Summer Institute of Linguistics Inc (SIL)

    $386,725

    2023 Internet connectivity for translators, audio/video media solutions, support for aviation and maritime operations, transporting printed Bibles, support of missionaries in training.

  • Hosanna

    $162,961

    2022 Oral Bible Translation Project

  • Chazak Rescue

    $27,000

    2024 Chazak Rescue partnered with JAARS during the Hurricane Helene relief efforts. JAARS awarded a grant to supplement their continuing relief efforts.

  • Moody Aviation

    $20,000

    2022 Grant for scholarship/Aviation staff recruitment

  • Moody Aviation

    $10,000

    2024 Grant for scholarships

  • Moody Aviation

    $10,000

    2023 Grant for scholarship

  • South America Mission

    $7,200

    2023 Bible translation work

  • South America Mission

    $7,200

    2022 Scripture needs for Bible translation in Peru, South America

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

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

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

Related organizations

From Schedule R Part II, where a filer lists the tax-exempt organizations it is related to by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Declared on its 2024 return

Declared as related by

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility SO.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 26 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.