Good News Communications Inc / MOVIEGUIDE®

The information on this page was last updated 5/23/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]


Summary

During Dr. Baehr's time in academia, he and a group of 60 academics compiled a list of 150 different criteria that cover the dramatic elements, the literary, the worldview, and the theological and much more. Using this same system, MOVIEGUIDE® reviews movies and television programs from a Christian perspective and determines how movies affect children at different stages of cognitive development.

MOVIEGUIDE® also meets with major movie studios and executives in Hollywood and advise them on how they can make their movies more family and Christian friendly. MOVIEGUIDE® compiles an Annual Report that clearly shows that movies with more Christian content do better at the box office. Furthermore, MOVIEGUIDE® trains future filmmakers through our script writing classes led Dr. Ted Baehr and guest speakers.

MOVIEGUIDE® interviews with top filmmakers and actors to hear about different faith themes in major Hollywood projects too. Some popular names include: Robert Duvall, Laura Dern, Tom Hanks, Angelina Jolie, Bruce Willis, Jerry Bruckheimer, Johnny Depp, Steven Spielberg and others.

During the Hollywood award season, MOVIEGUIDE® holds its Annual Faith & Values Awards Gala & Report where filmmakers and industry personnel gather to celebrate a year's worth of uplifting titles and receive our prestigious "Teddy Bear" award.


Contact information

Mailing address:
Good News Communications Inc
4073 Mission Oaks Blvd
Camarillo, CA 93012

Website: movieguide.org

Phone: 805-383-2000

Email: [email protected]


Organization details

EIN: 132965038

CEO/President: Robert Baehr

Chairman: Theodore Baehr

Board size: 17

Founder: Ted and Lili Baehr

Ruling year: 1979

Tax deductible: Yes

Fiscal year end: 08/31

Member of ECFA: No

Member of ECFA since:


Purpose


Mission statement

MOVIEGUIDE®'s mission is to redeem the values of the entertainment industry, according to biblical principles, by influencing industry executives and artists.


Statement of faith

Articles

2/13/2026MOVIEGUIDE Rises, American Heritage Girls Drops in Financial Efficiency
11/21/2025Trail Life USA Joins MinistryWatch's List of Shining Lights

Donor confidence score

Show donor confidence score details

To understand our donor confidence score, click here.


Transparency grade

D

To understand our transparency grade, click here.


Financial efficiency ratings

Sector: Educational Media

CategoryRatingOverall rankSector rank
Overall efficiency rating746 of 142020 of 47
Fund acquisition rating716 of 142022 of 47
Resource allocation rating559 of 142019 of 47
Asset utilization rating921 of 142127 of 47

To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.


Financial ratios

Funding ratiosSector median20252024202320222021
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts =
Fundraising expense /
Total contributions
7%6%11%14%21%12%
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio =
Fundraising expense /
Total revenue
5%5%10%11%19%11%
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance =
Total contributions /
Total revenue
94%87%93%82%90%89%
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio =
Fundraising expense /
Total expenses
6%6%10%11%22%16%
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance =
Total other revenue /
Total revenue
6%13%7%18%10%11%
 
Operating ratiosSector median20252024202320222021
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio =
Program services /
Total expenses
80%82%72%67%46%38%
Spending ratio Spending ratio =
Total expenses /
Total revenue
94%85%101%106%87%70%
Program output ratio Program output ratio =
Program services /
Total revenue
74%70%73%71%40%27%
Savings ratio Savings ratio =
Surplus (deficit) /
Total revenue
6%15%-1%-6%13%30%
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate =
Surplus (deficit) /
Net assets
6%14%0%-5%8%21%
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio =
Management and general expense /
Total expenses
13%12%18%23%32%46%
 
Investing ratiosSector median20252024202320222021
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total assets
0.820.770.780.760.500.47
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment =
Total assets /
Total current assets
1.331.501.781.801.771.90
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total current assets
1.501.151.381.370.880.89
 
Liquidity ratiosSector median20252024202320222021
Current ratio Current ratio =
Total current assets /
Total current liabilities
11.6715.8813.1913.9015.2515.81
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio =
Total current liabilities /
Total current assets
0.080.060.080.070.070.06
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level =
(Total current assets -
Total current liabilities) /
(Total expenses / 12)
6.679.768.068.1112.7212.65
 
Solvency ratiosSector median20252024202320222021
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio =
Total liabilities /
Total assets
12%4%4%4%4%3%
Debt ratio Debt ratio =
Debt /
Total assets
0%0%0%0%0%0%
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio =
Net assets /
Total expenses
88%125%123%126%193%207%

Financials

Balance sheet
 
Assets20252024202320222021
Cash$2,434,719$1,974,454$1,998,766$2,021,820$1,768,099
Receivables, inventories, prepaids$347,264$77,661$29,549$134,398$77,033
Short-term investments$36,063$0$0$0$0
Other current assets$0$0$0$0$0
Total current assets$2,818,046$2,052,115$2,028,315$2,156,218$1,845,132
Long-term investments$0$150,494$143,050$142,042$136,676
Fixed assets$1,402,914$1,438,837$1,475,154$1,512,625$1,531,090
Other long-term assets$0$2,627$0$0$0
Total long-term assets$1,402,914$1,591,958$1,618,204$1,654,667$1,667,766
Total assets$4,220,960$3,644,073$3,646,519$3,810,885$3,512,898
 
Liabilities20252024202320222021
Payables and accrued expenses$130,678$109,745$100,889$77,932$54,497
Other current liabilities$46,766$45,866$44,985$63,428$62,199
Total current liabilities$177,444$155,611$145,874$141,360$116,696
Debt$0$0$0$0$0
Due to (from) affiliates$0$0$0$0$0
Other long-term liabilities$0$0$0$0$1,081
Total long-term liabilities$0$0$0$0$1,081
Total liabilities$177,444$155,611$145,874$141,360$117,777
 
Net assets20252024202320222021
Without donor restrictions$4,043,516$3,488,462$3,500,645$3,669,525$3,395,121
With donor restrictions$0$0$0$0$0
Net assets$4,043,516$3,488,462$3,500,645$3,669,525$3,395,121
 
Revenues and expenses
 
Revenue20252024202320222021
Total contributions$3,312,688$2,619,197$2,155,101$1,972,274$2,089,871
Program service revenue$498,924$157,772$457,214$210,867$248,150
Membership dues$0$0$0$0$0
Investment income$27,219$19,486$2,554$407$1,120
Other revenue($36,257)$12,987$334$0$0
Total other revenue$489,886$190,245$460,102$211,274$249,270
Total revenue$3,802,574$2,809,442$2,615,203$2,183,548$2,339,141
 
Expenses20252024202320222021
Program services$2,663,803$2,042,023$1,861,209$872,957$629,101
Management and general$376,227$501,943$626,776$607,916$749,898
Fundraising$207,463$281,207$296,496$420,367$260,722
Total expenses$3,247,493$2,825,173$2,784,481$1,901,240$1,639,721
 
Change in net assets20252024202320222021
Surplus (deficit)$555,081($15,731)($169,278)$282,308$699,420
Other changes in net assets$0$0$0$0$0
Total change in net assets$555,081($15,731)($169,278)$282,308$699,420

Compensation

NameTitleCompensation
Robert BaehrPresident/CEO$147,024
Theodore BaehrChairman/Founder$116,236
Michael HowellVice President of Development$114,550
Jeremy CarrollDirector of Creative Content$66,890
Thomas SnyderEditor$60,000
Evelyn CarrollAssistant Vice President$45,000
Taylor BaehrDirector of Print Publications and Donor Com$42,000

Compensation data as of: 8/31/2025


Response from ministry

No response has been provided by this ministry.


The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 5/23/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]


History

In 1985, Dr. Ted Baehr and his wife, Lili Baehr, founded MOVIEGUIDE® in Altanta, Georgia, in hopes to cultivate a better media landscape for their children and future generations.

MOVIEGUIDE® started as a radio program, then a TV program and finally as a bi-weekly magazine. Even though the struggles in the beginning seemed insurmountable, God blessed the ministry with success.

In the 1990s, MOVIEGUIDE® relocated its headquarters to the greater Los Angeles region, to be closer to all the Hollywood action. To date, MOVIEGUIDE® now has TV and radio shows that are broadcasted in over 200 countries and a website filled with resources including movie reviews and articles.


Program accomplishments

Dr. Ted Baehr speaks all around the world, from European Parliament to conferences, to many renowned colleges like Yale, Dartmouth and U.C.L.A. He has also been a featured guest on Oprah, Hannity, CNN, ABC, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, and Entertainment Tonight.


Needs

MOVIEGUIDE® is making a difference in the Hollywood but cannot do so without the support of amazing donors. Contributions make MOVIEGUIDE®'s visions a reality and allow us to positively influence culture. By supporting MOVIEGUIDE®, culture is being influenced and the message of Christ is being shared with the masses.