Where Does $100 to the Oral Roberts Ministry Go (2023)?

The Oral Roberts Ministries is legally known as the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association (OREA) – a Tulsa, Oklahoma based non-profit 501 (c) (3) whose “evangelistic mission is to pray for healing of the whole man.”  Established in 1947 by Oral Roberts, a televangelist, OREA is now run by Oral’s son, Richard Roberts, along with his wife, Linda Salem Roberts who also appears to be known as Lindsay Roberts.

There are 11 voting members (trustees) of the governing body, 10 of whom are independent; although only 8 are listed on the most recent Form 990 (2022):  5 of whom are male, 3 of whom are female.

According to the most recent Form 990 (2022 for the year ending April 30, 2023):

OREA reported total revenue of $5.5 million in 2023 (compared to $6.6 million in 2022, $5.9 million in 20221, $6.3 million in 2020, $7.9 million in 2019 and $7.3 million in 2018 – which indicates revenue is on a downward trend), almost all of which came from contributions, gifts, and grants.

Expenses totaled $5.9 million ($400,000 more than total revenue or 107% of revenue) and can be categorized as follows:

• $2.8 million (51% of revenue):  Compensation
• $1.0 million: (18% of revenue):  Media Time and Broadcasting
• $0.7 million (13% of revenue):  Printing and Publications, Postage and Shipping
• $0.2 million (4% of revenue):  Other Expenses (primarily other with no detail provided)
• $0.3 million (5% of revenue):  Office-Related Expenses
• $0.6 million (11% of revenue):  Grants (i.e. for preaching the gospel and ministry)
• $0.3 million (5% of revenue):  Fees for Services

Compensation is the largest expense for OREA.  68 employees received $2.8 million in compensation which equates to an average compensation of $41,000.  OREO reports 5 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation although 6 are listed on the Form 990, Part VII, Section A:

• $424,684:  Richard Roberts, CEO
• $182,357:  Linda Salem Roberts, Program Host
• $194,284:  Michael Bernard, VP, Secretary
• $153,305:  Colleen Barker, VP
• $111,679  Diane Peterson, Staff
• $114,630:  Jeff Ogle, Staff

It is important to point out that Richard Roberts and Linda Salem Roberts and married. Collectively, the couple’s compensation totaled $607,041.  

Using the above information, every $100 in revenue was spent as follows:

 $100:  Revenue

-$ 51:  Compensation

-$  4:  Other Expenses

-$  5:  Office-Related Expenses

-$  5:  Fees for Services (primarily mailing services and health insurance)

-$ 65: Subtotal:  Compensation, Office, Fees, and Other Expenses

 $ 35:  Revenue Remaining

-$ 18:  Media Time and Broadcasting

-$ 13:  Printing and Publications, Shipping and Postage

-$ 11:  Grants (primarily preaching and ministry)

-$ 42:  Subtotal: Media, Broadcasting, Printing, Publications, shipping, and Grants

-$  7:  Excess Expenses over Revenue

As illustrated above, OREA spent $65 out of every $100 on staff and organization expenses.  $42 out of every $100 was spent on media time and broadcasting, printing and publications, shipping, and grants that were primarily for preaching and ministry.  The organization spent $400,000 more than they raised which they were able to cover because net assets were $1.9 million.

It is important to point out that OREA has $4.7 million in liabilities to a related organization, a rather large liability for a small non-profit organization (note:  OREA had a nearly $3 million federal tax liability and it is unclear if a related organization paid the liability creating a liability to the related organization that paid off the debt).

OREA has $7 million in assets (of which $2.9 million is in publicly traded securities and $3.1 million is in cash).  Net assets at year-end were reported to be $1.6 million.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2022 for the year ending April 30, 2023), click here.