LifeWise Academy raised more than $39 million last year, but profit dropped to $11.1 million
LifeWise Academy, a controversial Hilliard-based religious instruction program, saw total revenue and expenses increase while profits declined last year, according to its latest filing with the IRS.
LifeWise raised more than $39.2 million in fiscal year 2024-25 — nearly $4 million more than the previous year, according to a nonprofit IRS filing published on ProPublica. More than $34.4 million of that came from contributions and grants.
LifeWise’s net profit was $11.1 million — down about $6 million from last year, according to the filings. LifeWise’s expenses were $28.1 million — about $10 million more than last year.
LifeWise is a non-denominational Christian program that teaches the Bible to public school students during the school day at a special release time. It has received much criticism and parents have said their students have been ostracized and bullied for not taking part in LifeWise.
This comes after LifeWise had another historic year in Ohio. LifeWise is operating in more than 260 of the state’s 607 districts.
The nonprofit plans to be in about 300 school districts across the state by the end of the school year. Compared to last January, LifeWise was in about 160 Ohio school districts, meaning it grew 62.5% in Ohio in 2025.
This growth comes as Ohio school districts are now required to have a religious release time policy, which has helped pave the way for an expansion of LifeWise Academy.
The new law took effect in April. Previously, the law merely permitted a religious release time policy. LifeWise Founder and CEO Joel Penton testified in favor of the legislation.
LifeWise spent $208,000 in lobbying in fiscal year 2024-25, according to the IRS filing.
At least 12 states require school districts to offer religious release time upon a parent’s request: Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, Montana, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont, and Wisconsin, according to Education Week.
LifeWise serves 60,000 students in 32 states and the nonprofit hopes to reach 100,000 students nationally in 2026.
LifeWise’s total program services were $21.5 million — with almost half coming from conducting religious release time in schools, according to the filings.
The United States Supreme Court upheld release time laws during the 1952 Zorach v. Clauson case, which allowed a school district to have students leave school for part of the day to receive religious instruction.
Religious release time instruction must meet three criteria: the courses must take place off school property, be privately funded, and students must have parental permission.
LifeWise had 1,329 people employed and more than 10,000 volunteers last fiscal year, according to the filing. Their salary payroll was $18 million — about $8 million more than last year, according to the filing.
Steve Clifton — LifeWise’s chief operating officer, vice president, chief financial officer, and secretary — was the highest-paid employee, receiving $137,825 and an additional $62,166 from other reportable compensation.
Derek Stemen, vice president of advancement, made $125,558 and an additional $12,919 from other reportable compensation. Jeffrey Peterson, vice president of operations, earned $105,577 and an additional $14,224 from other reportable compensation.
Penton earned $40,333 and made an additional $79,966 from other reportable compensation, according to the filing.
LifeWise moved to a new, nearly 24,000-square-foot headquarters in Hilliard in 2025. The building is a former aquatic facility that LifeWise bought for $2.8 million in December 2023 and donations were used to renovated the building.
Follow OCJ Reporter Megan Henry on X.
Ohio Capital Journal is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Ohio Capital Journal maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor David Dewitt for questions: info@ohiocapitaljournal.com.