How can I find out what % of McLean Bible Church's revenues (donations) go to programs

[Anonymous]

vs salaries, commercials, etc? I can't seem to find anything online, and I'd think that since they are a church that they are a charitable organization.

[Anonymous]

What do you mean by programs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you mean by programs?

Charity type things

[Anonymous]

"Some religious institutions, such as churches, aren't required to file Form 990." - http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/nonprofits-revised-irs-form-990-30274.html (The 990 is the IRS form most nonprofits file.)

[Anonymous]

Thank you PP, maybe they don't file it.

There is a "church" called New Spring that I learned about in South Carolina. They have $59 million in revenues/donations, but they gave about $2million to missions. Seems like such a scam. Where did the other $57 million go?

I'm trying to find out if McLean Bible Church is similar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you PP, maybe they don't file it.

There is a "church" called New Spring that I learned about in South Carolina. They have $59 million in revenues/donations, but they gave about $2million to missions. Seems like such a scam. Where did the other $57 million go?

I'm trying to find out if McLean Bible Church is similar.

You could always call the office and ask for the financial reports. Many churches have them are are willing to show them to people.

[Anonymous]

I go here. Just check out the church conferences held quarterly. They lay it out there.

[Anonymous]

Trolololololoo

[Anonymous]

If you go there, just ask the administration after today's service.

If you don't go there, why does it matter to you?

[Anonymous]

Most Church budgets largest expenditure is on salaries for staff members (which are usually less than you would expect). They facilitate missions and organize member contributions, but they need to spend most of their budget on running the Church.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most Church budgets largest expenditure is on salaries for staff members (which are usually less than you would expect). They facilitate missions and organize member contributions, but they need to spend most of their budget on running the Church.

This is quite true. And many people see personnel as administrative costs rather then program costs, which is what they are. If a church has a vibrant children's program, they can't do that without full-time ministry people and those salaries (which really are quite low) should be properly understood as a ministry/program expenditure. Facilities are generally the other large expenditures for a church.

[Anonymous]

Missions work is only a small part of most churches. Most church revenue is spent, wait for it, on maintaining the church, everything from facilities to charities. It's not like a Food Pantry or Homeless shelter, although many churches run those types of programs. You can argue that a church shouldn't be tax-exempt, but you can't argue it based on the fact that they don't spend enough on missions.

[Anonymous]

You should email the internet

[Anonymous]

I don't know a lot about McLean Bible but I do know that they have wonderful programming for people with significant disabilities. Their Jill's House and Soaring Over Seven programs are well regarded and can't be cheap to run.

[Anonymous]

They just released this information at service. Come to the church and pick up a copy of the 2015 Annual Report.