2021-09-21T13:36:47-05:00 2020-12-31 363990892 Capin Crouse LLP 345 Massachusetts Avenue Suite 300 Indianapolis IN 46204 990 2020-01-01 382926822 Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty ACTO 6164543080 98 E Fulton St No 101 Grand Rapids MI 49503 Kris Mauren Executive Director 6164543080 2021-09-21 1 Kris Mauren 999009999 Ted R Batson Jr P00721951 5055022746 2 AAL1 IAL1 2020 2022-09-23 18:48:47Z Robert Sirico 98 E Fulton St No 101 Grand Rapids MI 49503 9421361 0 X www.acton.org X 1990 MI To promote a free and virtuous society characterized by individual liberty 14 12 51 10 477159 406474 9603513 8177879 323651 35580 604230 569891 -55550 21531 10475844 8804881 826606 360377 0 0 4015433 3177818 0 0 829815 5778435 3547308 10620474 7085503 -144630 1719378 16306282 18578686 225828 366961 16080454 18211725 X Mission of the Acton Institute is to promote a free and virtuous society characterized by individual liberty and sustained by religious principles. 0 0 2428908 47855 30509 Education:The Education Department of the Acton Institute seeks to equip current and future leaders in business, education, and religion through quality educational programming to understand 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, drew over 1,000 participants from more than 60 nations in 2019. In 2020, the event was held virtually due to COVID-19 with over 2400 people from 88 countries participated. 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. 1690868 209922 366 Research:The Institute's academic investigations are conducted by its Research Department. This work centers on political economy, theology, economics, philosophy, and history, among other topics. Additionally, the materials and research produced at the Acton Institute are delivered locally in Grand Rapids as well as at national and international conferences with the goal of reaching the scholarly community at large.The Research Department publishes books, journals, monographs and occasional papers, and its staff regularly publishes books with external publishing houses. The Journal of Markets & Morality is a semi-annual refereed journal that provides a forum for scholars from many disciplines to engage issues concerning the morality of the marketplace. The Christian Social Thought Series examines, in each volume, a key economic issue facing Christians. Non-Christians have also written articles and books addressing relevant themes of interest to the Acton Institute. The Research Department also manages Acton's academic scholarship programs. Fellowships are awarded to provide financial assistance, in the form of academic fellowships and travel grants, to promising doctoral candidates, graduate students, and seminarians who are advancing an understanding of the connection between economic liberty and religious values. The annual Novak Award recipient is presented with a prize to acknowledge and reward new research on the relationship between religion, economic freedom, and the free and virtuous society.Lastly, the Research Department manages a number of programs, including (1) small specific conferences for scholars and graduate students that mostly are held in Grand Rapids, (2) larger conferences for scholars, graduate students, public intellectuals and leading religious figures, and (3) overseeing the scholarly and programmatic outreach of Acton's Rome office.Internationally, we have held conferences on various topics such as economic liberty, economic history, poverty and development, Catholic social teaching, Protestant social thought, Judaism and the economy, property rights, monetary policy, and limited government. Our office in Rome also hosts regular lectures and small conferences at the office. 1238944 102600 79443 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 2020 annual dinner celebrating 30 years of the Acton Institute was held virtually to promote outreach and to thank supporters for their partnership. The dinner and program festivities included discourse with prominent public speakers and Institute supporters. Over 1000 participated, representing many states and several foreign countries. COVID-19 restrictions did not allow for the normal busy slate of activities and events in our local facility, though we were able to take many of these activities, such as the Acton Lecture Series, to a virtual format for discussions of a variety of topics related to our work. 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 the PowerBlog 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 Religion & Liberty, Acton Notes, and the weekly email newsletter, Acton News & Commentary. The Communications Department also connects Acton experts with print and broadcast journalists covering faith and policy issues. 254132 Media:The Media Department promotes Acton's message through various media products and outlets. The distribution of our feature-length films continued across the U.S. and internationally, including translation into several languages. Acton's media products were distributed with a focus on digital platforms. They can be found on familiar platforms such as Amazon, Netflix, and iTunes. 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. 254132 5612852 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 102 0 1 51 1 1 1 1 IT 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 14 12 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 AK AL AR CO CT FL IL KS KY MA MD ME MI MN MS NC NH NJ NM NV OH OK OR PA RI SC TN UT VA WA WI WV X X Tom Vogt 6164543080 98 E Fulton St No 101 Grand Rapids MI 49503 Kris Mauren Executive Director 50.00 X X 220943 0 20376 Rev Robert A Sirico President 50.00 X X 209146 0 4000 Alejandro Chafuen Managing Director of International 50.00 X 158745 0 22780 Stephen Barrows Managing Director of Programs 50.00 X 158124 0 20512 Sam Gregg Director of Research 50.00 X 162565 0 4000 Michael Miller Director of Media 50.00 X 104363 0 20376 Eric Kohn Director of Communications 50.00 X 106910 0 15621 Tom Vogt Director of Finance 50.00 X 93291 0 16968 David Humphreys Chairman 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Frank Hanna III Vice Chairman 1.00 X X 0 0 0 JC Huizenga Secretary 1.00 X X 0 0 0 John Kennedy III Treasurer 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Michael Muraski Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Nathaniel Fischer Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 John Crowe Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Kyle Bode Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Leslie Graves Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 David A Durell Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Nathan Bond Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Rick DeVos Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 1214087 0 124633 7 0 1 0 Bluewater Technologies Group Inc 30303 Beck Road Wixom MI 48393 Media Production 310589 1 128105 8049774 437893 8177879 Education 900099 26987 26987 Gen. Edu/Comm. 900099 4705 4705 Research 900099 366 366 3522 3522 35580 545020 477159 67861 8250 2218 6032 6032 6032 549726 524855 24871 24871 24871 6310 128105 65549 -59239 -59239 98596 23858 74738 74738 8804881 110318 477159 39525 X 171330 171330 64010 64010 125037 125037 745602 521922 119296 104384 1835471 1373971 103373 358127 143074 105093 12343 25638 270070 198376 23299 48395 183601 134862 15839 32900 4497 4497 26988 26988 1374908 1330907 1765 42236 230149 230149 304673 186288 14297 104088 210079 190401 11328 8350 187897 133557 37131 17209 96460 68466 13931 14063 310693 305418 1247 4028 449820 268562 126168 55090 22606 19146 1883 1577 Tax on UBI 112531 112531 Equipment 45447 39905 3425 2117 Meals and Entertainment 13005 12008 373 624 157555 133444 13122 10989 7085503 5612852 642836 829815 1417166 4243436 23850 312900 1267351 630011 34492 62385 139834 77975 303146 187594 9460842 3050281 6850864 6410561 3580379 3687424 2689200 2966400 16306282 18578686 225828 366961 225828 366961 X 12051115 14272684 4029339 3939041 16080454 18211725 16306282 18578686 X 1719378 626047 -214154 X 0 1 X 1 0 X 8291603 9563359 8877746 9603513 8177879 44514100 8291603 9563359 8877746 9603513 8177879 44514100 15429088 29085012 169135 223184 259577 199598 76111 927605 342563 327546 361159 458077 405274 1894619 296072 119031 75075 58525 6310 555013 47891337 2588693 0.60730 0.62140 X Schedule A, Part II, Line 10, Explanation of Other Income: Miscellaneous Revenue - 2016 Amount: $ 27,430. 2017 Amount: $ 46,031. Special Events - 2016 Amount: $ 51,975. 2017 Amount: $ 73,000. 2018 Amount: $ 75,075. 2019 Amount: $ 58,525. 2020 Amount: $ 6,310. Property tax refund - 2016 Amount: $ 216,667. RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 572429 12809 79745 21936 643047 510261 72429 10261 572429 554319 -23107 20951 510261 502330 51989 554319 500000 2330 502330 1.00000 0 0 1080000 1080000 6089084 1144712 4944372 1540882 1279644 261238 750876 625925 124951 6410561 Common Stock of Privately Held Corp. 2966400 F 2966400 9694671 626047 475679 2218 1103944 8590727 214154 214154 8804881 7563400 475679 2218 477897 7085503 0 7085503 Part V, Line 4: The intended use for the endowment fund is to support the Novak award. Sch. D, Part V, lines 2a-2c: In accordance with the principles of FASB ASU 2016-14 (ASC 958), the organization has implemented required changes to its audited financial statements for the period ended 12/31/2020. To date, Schedule D has not been updated to reflect changes made by this standard. Thus, we have reported the revised net asset categories from the audited financial statements as follows on Form 990, Schedule D, Part V, Lines 2a-2c: Line 2a - Without donor restrictions Line 2b - With donor restrictions Part XI, Line 2d - Other Adjustments: Rental expense included on Part VIII, Line 6b 2,218. Part XI, Line 4b - Other Adjustments: Book to tax difference for UBTI reported on Schedule K-1 214,154. Part XII, Line 2d - Other Adjustments: Rental expense included on Part VIII, Line 6b 2,218. 1 Europe (Including Iceland & Greenland) 1 2 Program Services Education 262619 Europe (Including Iceland & Greenland) 0 0 Grants to Recipients 68084 South America 0 0 Grants to Recipients 30640 Sub-Saharan Africa 0 0 Grants to Recipients 19713 Central America and the Caribbean 0 0 Grants to Recipients 5600 East Asia and the Pacific 0 0 Grants to Recipients 1000 1 2 0 0 1 2 387656 0 387656 South America The Acton Institute has established relationships with several international affiliate organizations that share our mission and seek to promote ideas of the Acton Institute. The affiliates are independent organizations that work with Acton to promote the ideas of a free and virtuous society in their own countries and within their own cultural context. Acton provides these affiliates with small grants for conferences, publications, website maintenance, translation, and other activities. 26000 Electronic transfer 1 0 Education and travel assistance Europe (Including Iceland & Greenland) 33 68084 Wire Education and travel assistance Sub-Saharan Africa 13 19713 Wire Education and travel assistance Central America and the Caribbean 4 5600 Wire Education and travel assistance South America 5 4640 Wire Education and travel assistance East Asia and the Pacific 1 1000 Wire 0 0 0 0 0 0 Part I, Line 2: Grant recipients are required to submit a written report detailing how the grant funds were used. The reports are reviewed by Acton staff to verify proper use. Some grants relate to Acton sponsored events and can be verified internally. Grant funds may be revoked for use outside of grant purpose. Part I, line 3: Expenditures are accounted for using the accrual method of accounting. Part III Accounting Method: Annual Dinner 134415 128105 6310 65549 134415 128105 6310 65549 65549 -59239 1 Donor's Trust Inc 1800 Diagonal Rd Ste 280 Alexandria VA 22314 522166327 501(c)(3) 100000 Organization support Better Way Detroit 1452 Hawthorne Dr Grosse Pointe Woods MI 48236 844915322 501(c)(3) 25000 Organization support Palm Beach Atlantic University 901 S Flagler Dr West Palm Beach FL 33401 591092732 501(c)(3) 16500 Organization support Faulkner University 5345 Atlanta Highway Montgomery AL 36109 630329409 501(c)(3) 8000 Organization support 4 0 Travel Scholarships 41 44040 Novak Award 1 15000 Research, Fellowship 13 4970 Part I, Line 2: Grant recipients are required to submit a written report detailing how the grant funds were used. The reports are reviewed by Acton staff to verify proper use. Some grants relate to Acton sponsored events and can be verified internally. Grant funds may be revoked for use outside of grant purpose. X 1 1 X X X X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Kris Mauren Executive Director 192749 0 28194 0 0 0 4000 0 16822 0 241765 0 0 0 Rev Robert A Sirico President 172708 0 36438 0 0 0 4000 0 774 0 213920 0 0 0 Alejandro Chafuen Managing Director of International 138745 0 20000 0 0 0 4000 0 19282 0 182027 0 0 0 Stephen Barrows Managing Director of Programs 138124 0 20000 0 0 0 4000 0 16937 0 179061 0 0 0 Sam Gregg Director of Research 142565 0 20000 0 0 0 4000 0 547 0 167112 0 0 0 Part I, Line 1a 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. Part I, Line 7 Non-fixed payments in the form of bonuses were given to the following individuals: Kris Mauren, Executive Director Rev Robert A. Sirico, President Alejandro Chafuen, Managing Director of International Stephen Barrows, Managing Director of Programs Samuel Gregg, Director of Research Michael Miller, Director of Media Eric Kohn, Director of Communications Tom Vogt, Director of Finance X 12 437893 Cost 0 0 1 0 Part I, Column (b): The number of contributions represent the number of contributions received, not the number of items donated. Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 6 The corporation is organized on a membership basis. There are two classes of members: full members and associate members. Only full members are entitled to vote. The full members elect one or more members of the governing body, the Board of Directors. The original members were appointed in the founding documents of incorporation. New members may be added by a two-thirds vote of the full members. The Board of Directors, by unanimous action, may terminate the membership of any member who fails to comply with the bylaws or regulations. Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 7a Members have the ability to elect or appoint one or more members of the organization's governing body, the Board of Directors. The bylaws grant members the power to fill vacancies or remove existing directors by a majority vote. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 11b The Form 990 is prepared by an independent CPA firm. It is reviewed in detail by the Director of Finance. A draft copy of the Form 990 is electronically provided to the members of the Board of Directors for review prior to filing. In addition, a copy of the Form 990 draft will be available in a secured part of the website. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 12c Officers and board members sign annual conflict of interest statements which are reviewed by the Director of HR and the Executive Director. Should any potential conflicts of interest be disclosed, the board member or officer would be asked to refrain from participation in any decision with regard to matters affected by the relationship. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 15 The Board, along with the Compensation Committee, investigates and determines the compensation package for the President and Executive Director. The Executive Director and Human Resources determine the compensation for all other officers. The process includes comparison to similar organizations and salary surveys as well as analysis of responsibilities and performance. The approval process for the President, Executive Director and all other officers is documented in the minutes. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, line 19 The organization's governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements are made available upon request. Form 990, Part IX, line 11g Contracted services: Program service expenses 307,882. Management and general expenses 715. Fundraising expenses 24,297. Total expenses 332,894. Other fees: Program service expenses 122,672. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 7,338. Total expenses 130,010. Media Production Services: Program service expenses 512,095. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 512,095. Graphics and Design Services: Program service expenses 28,344. Management and general expenses 300. Fundraising expenses 9,851. Total expenses 38,495. Editorial Services: Program service expenses 198,259. Management and general expenses 750. Fundraising expenses 750. Total expenses 199,759. Honorariums: Program service expenses 161,655. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 161,655. Form 990, Part XI, line 9: Book to tax difference for UBTI reported on Schedule K-1 -214,154.