The Academy of Arts 
The information on this page was last updated 4/24/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Since 1971, The Academy of Arts has been dedicated to impacting our culture by "making the Bible come alive in minds and hearts" through gripping storytelling for stage and film. As we boldly and excellently craft stories that challenge the mind and engage the heart, lasting lessons of truth are planted into the soul.
Contact information
Mailing address:
The Academy of Arts
80 School Street
Taylors, SC 29687
Website: theacademyofarts.org
Phone: (864) 268-9342
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 591525472
CEO/President: Noah Stratton
Chairman: Noah Stratton
Board size: 9
Founder: Dr. & Mrs. Chavers
Ruling year: 1971
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 09/30
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
The Academy of Arts has stood against the tidal wave of error, not by cursing the darkness, but by being a light! We continue to boldly and kindly share the power of God's Word in creative and engaging ways through stage and film.
Mission statement
Founded in 1971, the Academy of Arts exists to train and inspire the next generation of servant leaders to properly use the universal gift of communication for others' good and God's glory.
Statement of faith
We believe that the Old and New Testament scriptures are verbally inspired of God and inerrant in the original writing, and that they are the supreme and final authority in faith and life. (II Tim. 3:16-17; Prov. 30:5-6; Matt. 5:17; John 17:17)
We believe in one God, an eternal Spirit existing in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - one in essence and equal in every divine perfection. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 3:13-17; II Corinthians 13:14)
We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the unique and only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and we believe that He is very God of very God and very man of very man, one Person with two natures, divine and human. (Matthew 1:18-20; John 1:1-2, 14)
We believe in the creation of man by the direct act of God, that man was made after God's image and in a state of innocency, but that man willfully transgressed God's law and lost communion with God, becoming dead in sin, corrupt in nature, and incapable of pleasing God in the strength of his (man's) flesh. (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 3:1-24; Romans 5:12-21; Ephesians 2:1-6)
We believe in the Genesis account of Creation. Scripture teaches a recent origin of man and the whole creation, with history spanning approximately 4,000 years from creation to Christ. The days in Genesis do not correspond to geologic ages but are six consecutive, 24-hour days of creation; the first day began in Genesis 1:1, and the seventh day, which was also a normal 24-hour day, ended in Genesis 2:3 (Genesis 1:1-2:3; Exodus 20:8-11, 31:17; Hebrews 4:3-4).
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, accomplishing a vicarious, substitutionary atonement for all of Mankind; and that He was buried according to the Scriptures; and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures; and that all who believe on Him are justified freely on the ground of His shed blood and are saved by grace through faith wholly apart from human merit or works. (I Corinthians 15:3; II Corinthians 5:21; Romans 3:21-28)
We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His bodily ascension into heaven, and in His present life there as High Priest and Advocate. (Matthew 28:1-10; Acts 1:9; Hebrews 7:25-28)
We believe that all who receive the Lord Jesus Christ born again by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God become the children of God, possessing eternal life. (John 1:12; 3:5-7)
We believe that every person who comes into this world is loved by God and has had their sins paid for by Christ on the cross (3:16-17). We believe that every person was made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and each person who reaches the age of accountability (and has a sound mind) then has the God-given ability and God-given free will (John 1:7-12) to make a choice to accept Christ's payment on the cross or reject His free gift. Consequently, we do not believe or teach Calvinistic or reformed methods of theology. Calvinism has been one of the most divisive topics in all of Christendom, and arguments for it and against it have been championed by brilliant theologians on both sides throughout church history. Knowing the schismatic nature of this issue, we seek to treat this subject with kindness and grace. We wish to be known as people of the Word - people of the Logos, and not people defined by a man or a belief system. Preachers, scholars, pastors and teachers have come and gone with their many prognostications (I Peter 1:24) but the Word of the Lord is what endures (I Peter 1:25). Being people of the Logos means that we are intimately involved with Christ and are seeking to deepen and strengthen our relationship with Him moment by moment. Instead of going to a favorite theologian or certain Scripture passages and trying to prove a point one way or another, we want to look at the heart of our Abba, Father, His character and nature, the totality of Scripture, and how we are made in His image. We believe a thoughtful study of these things will lead us to see that all people everywhere have a free will and ample opportunity to choose whether they will knowingly accept or reject our amazing Savior's love. Some Christian brothers and sisters will most certainly disagree with us, but our heart is to minister to everyone as we endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. We state these things for sake of clarity and so that our staff can move forward in unity.
We believe in the personal, visible, imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ to reign upon the earth. (I Thess. 4:16-17; Revelation 22:12; Matthew 24:42)
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all the dead: the saved to a life of eternal glory and bliss in Heaven with God; the unsaved to eternal judgment of conscious suffering and woe in the Lake of Fire. (I Thessalonians 4:15-17; John 5:21-29, Revelation 21:1-27)
We believe in the biblical separation of the believer from worldliness, recognizing that it hinders his growth toward the Christ-ideal and detracts from his Christian influence; and we believe in the biblical separation of the believer unto Christ. (II Timothy 3:1-5; Romans 12:1-2 I Corinthians 6:17-20; II Corinthians 6:16-18; I John 2:1-l7)
We believe that the term 'marriage' has only one meaning and that is marriage sanctioned by God which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography or any attempt to change one's sex, or disagreement with one's biological sex, is sinful and offensive to God. We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with scripture nor the doctrines of the church. (Prov. 18:22; Matt. 19:4-6; Hebrews 13:4; Matt. 5:27-28: I Cor. 6:9-10; Rom. 1:26)
We believe in aggressively contending for the faith against atheism, agnosticism, liberalism, the so-called scientific adulterations of Scripture and compromise with unbelief. (Psalm 14:1; Romans 1:20-22; John 14:6; Psalm 119:89; Matthew 24:35; I Timothy 6:20-21; II Corinthians 6:14-18)
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has commissioned believers to take the Gospel to the world, and that the evangelization and edification of the believer is the primary purpose of every Christian and every Christian institution. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; I Timothy 4:11; Acts 5:42; II Timothy 2:2)
Articles
| 6/19/2026 | Life Action Ministries No Longer Files Form 990, Falls Into 'Exercise Caution' Category |
Donor confidence score
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Transparency grade
D
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Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Christian Growth
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 523 of 1420 | 22 of 72 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 575 of 1420 | 27 of 72 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 918 of 1420 | 42 of 72 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 344 of 1421 | 17 of 72 |
To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 4% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 74% | 7% | 10% | 18% | 19% | 27% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 4% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 26% | 93% | 90% | 82% | 81% | 73% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 80% | 79% | 76% | 72% | 70% | 69% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 98% | 98% | 98% | 79% | 89% | 102% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 80% | 77% | 75% | 57% | 62% | 71% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 2% | 2% | 2% | 21% | 11% | -2% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 3% | 3% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 13% | 21% | 24% | 28% | 30% | 31% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.11 | 1.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.43 | 4.95 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.89 | 7.44 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 10.83 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.07 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.77 | 1.61 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 9% | 9% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 9% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 72% | 60% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Cash | $437,101 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $437,101 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $1,727,837 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $1,727,837 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total assets | $2,164,938 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Liabilities | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Debt | $204,902 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $754 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $205,656 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $205,656 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Without donor restrictions | $1,959,282 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| With donor restrictions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assets | $1,959,282 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Total contributions | $248,027 | $303,903 | $350,540 | $307,162 | $309,324 |
| Program service revenue | $3,060,379 | $2,653,897 | $1,617,378 | $1,278,898 | $829,762 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $96 | $689 | $49 | $25 | $0 |
| Other revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total other revenue | $3,060,475 | $2,654,586 | $1,617,427 | $1,278,923 | $829,762 |
| Total revenue | $3,308,502 | $2,958,489 | $1,967,967 | $1,586,085 | $1,139,086 |
| Expenses | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Program services | $2,562,999 | $2,210,302 | $1,119,392 | $985,924 | $803,944 |
| Management and general | $689,074 | $694,723 | $444,705 | $419,410 | $362,955 |
| Fundraising | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total expenses | $3,252,073 | $2,905,025 | $1,564,097 | $1,405,334 | $1,166,899 |
| Change in net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $56,429 | $53,464 | $403,870 | $180,751 | ($27,813) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $56,429 | $53,464 | $403,870 | $180,751 | ($27,813) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Seth Deason | CFO | $31,591 |
| Noah Stratton | President | $19,173 |
| Nicole Stratton | Artistic Dir | $19,143 |
Compensation data as of: 9/30/2024
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 4/24/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
https://theacademyofarts.org/history/