Light Ministries Inc

  • Orlando, FL
  • Tax exemption issued: March 1981
  • EIN: 41-1383940

Organization summary

Type of Nonprofit

Designated as a Organizations for any of the following purposes: religious, educational, charitable, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition (as long as it doesn't provide athletic facilities or equipment), or the prevention of cruelty to children or animals.

Category: Religion-Related, Spiritual Development / Christian (NTEE)

Donations to this organization are tax deductible.

Tax Filings by Year

Form 990 is an information return that most organizations claiming federal tax-exempt status must file yearly with the IRS. Nonprofit Explorer has IRS digitized Form 990 data for filings processed in 2012 and later. Duplicate download links may indicate a resubmission or amendment to this organization's original return. Organizations with gross receipts of less than $50,000 can file the form 990-N postcard filing, which doesn’t include financial details. All Form 990 data is from the IRS.

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2025

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$165,874
Expenses
$165,874
Net Income
$0
Net Assets
$417,128
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $165,874
100%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $0
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $0
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $0
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $1,017,013
Total Liabilities $599,885
Net Assets $417,128
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Franco Cretti (Director) $0 $0 $0
Timothy Buffham (Director) $0 $0 $0
Terry G Nelson (President) $0 $0 $0
Cary A Nelson (Vp-treasurer) $0 $0 $0
Patricia L Buffham (Secretary) $0 $0 $0
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Document Links

990
Filed on April 7, 2026

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

View Filing
XML

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2024

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$327,731
Expenses
$327,731
Net Income
$0
Net Assets
$585,151
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $327,731
100%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $0
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $0
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $0
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $1,213,710
Total Liabilities $628,559
Net Assets $585,151
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Franco Cretti (Director) $0 $0 $0
Timothy Buffham (Director) $0 $0 $0
Terry G Nelson (President) $0 $0 $0
Cary A Nelson (Vp-treasurer) $0 $0 $0
Patricia L Buffham (Secretary) $0 $0 $0
+ View more people

Document Links

990
Filed on May 25, 2025

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

View Filing
PDF XML

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2023

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$359,118
Expenses
$718,236
Net Income
-$359,118
Net Assets
$529,938
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $359,118
100%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $0
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $0
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $0
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $1,134,974
Total Liabilities $605,036
Net Assets $529,938
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Franco Cretti (Director) $0 $0 $0
Timothy Buffham (Director) $0 $0 $0
Terry G Nelson (President) $0 $0 $0
Cary A Nelson (Vp-treasurer) $0 $0 $0
Patricia L Buffham (Secretary) $0 $0 $0
+ View more people

Document Links

990
Filed on May 9, 2024

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

View Filing
PDF XML

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2022

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$240,819
Expenses
$240,819
Net Income
$0
Net Assets
$970,974
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $240,819
100%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $0
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $0
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $0
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $1,492,176
Total Liabilities $521,202
Net Assets $970,974
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Franco Cretti (Director) $0 $0 $0
Timothy Buffham (Director) $0 $0 $0
Terry G Nelson (President) $0 $0 $0
Cary A Nelson (Vp-treasurer) $0 $0 $0
Patricia L Buffham (Secretary) $0 $0 $0
+ View more people

Document Links

990
Filed on March 18, 2023

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

View Filing
XML

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2021

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$279,468
Expenses
$279,468
Net Income
$0
Net Assets
$1,224,641
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $279,468
100%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $0
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $0
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $0
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $1,733,717
Total Liabilities $509,076
Net Assets $1,224,641
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Franco Cretti (Director) $0 $0 $0
Timothy Buffham (Director) $0 $0 $0
Terry G Nelson (President) $0 $0 $0
Cary A Nelson (Vp-treasurer) $0 $0 $0
Patricia L Buffham (Secretary) $0 $0 $0
+ View more people

Document Links

990
Filed on April 16, 2022

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

View Filing
XML

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2020

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$0
Expenses
$157,333
Net Income
-$157,333
Net Assets
$1,488,888
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $0
Program Services $0
Investment Income $0
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $0
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $0
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $2,032,244
Total Liabilities $543,356
Net Assets $1,488,888
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Franco Cretti (Director) $0 $0 $0
Timothy Buffham (Director) $0 $0 $0
Terry G Nelson (President) $0 $0 $0
Cary A Nelson (Vp-treasurer) $0 $0 $0
Patricia L Buffham (Secretary) $0 $0 $0
+ View more people

Document Links

990
Filed on March 7, 2021

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

View Filing
PDF XML

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2019

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$163,300
Expenses
$326,600
Net Income
-$163,300
Net Assets
$2,206,128
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $163,300
100%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $0
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $0
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $0
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $2,206,128
Total Liabilities $0
Net Assets $2,206,128
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Franco Cretti (Director) $0 $0 $0
Timothy Buffham (Director) $0 $0 $0
Terry G Nelson (President) $0 $0 $0
Cary A Nelson (Vp-treasurer) $0 $0 $0
Patricia L Buffham (Secretary) $0 $0 $0
+ View more people

Document Links

990
Filed on Feb. 19, 2020

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

View Filing
PDF XML

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2018

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$318,646
Expenses
$171,211
Net Income
$147,435
Net Assets
$1,912,571
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $318,646
100%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $0
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $0
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $0
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $2,651,159
Total Liabilities $738,588
Net Assets $1,912,571
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Franco Cretti (Director) $0 $0 $0
Timothy Buffham (Director) $0 $0 $0
Patricia L Buffham (Secretary) $0 $0 $0
Terry G Nelson (President) $0 $0 $0
Cary A Nelson (Vp-treasurer) $0 $0 $0
+ View more people

Document Links

990
Filed on April 28, 2019

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

View Filing
PDF XML

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2017

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$154,852
Expenses
$156,773
Net Income
-$1,921
Net Assets
$2,515,478
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $154,852
100%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $0
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $6,179
3.9%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $0
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $2,515,478
Total Liabilities $0
Net Assets $2,515,478
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Terry G Nelson (President) $3,190 $0 $0
Cary A Nelson (Vp-treasurer) $2,989 $0 $0
Franco Cretti (Director) $0 $0 $0
Timothy Buffham (Director) $0 $0 $0
Patricia L Buffham (Secretary) $0 $0 $0
+ View more people

Document Links

990
Filed on Feb. 21, 2018

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

View Filing
PDF XML

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2016

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$226,868
Expenses
$232,464
Net Income
-$5,596
Net Assets
$2,671,267
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $226,868
100%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $0
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $32,945
14.2%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $0
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $2,671,267
Total Liabilities $0
Net Assets $2,671,267
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Cary A Nelson (Vp-treasurer) $19,549 $0 $0
Terry G Nelson (President) $13,396 $0 $0
Franco Cretti (Director) $0 $0 $0
Timothy Buffham (Director) $0 $0 $0
Patricia L Buffham (Secretary) $0 $0 $0
+ View more people

Document Links

990
Filed on March 30, 2017

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

View Filing
PDF XML

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2015

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$165,080
Expenses
$134,423
Net Income
$30,657
Net Assets
$2,678,435
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $165,080
100%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $0
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $48,274
35.9%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $0
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $2,678,435
Total Liabilities $0
Net Assets $2,678,435
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Terry G Nelson (President) $30,498 $0 $0
Cary A Nelson (Vp-treasurer) $17,776 $0 $0
Franco Cretti (Director) $0 $0 $0
Timothy Buffham (Director) $0 $0 $0
Patricia L Buffham (Secretary) $0 $0 $0
+ View more people

Document Links

990
Filed on March 12, 2016

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

View Filing
PDF XML

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2014

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$138,601
Expenses
$104,916
Net Income
$33,685
Net Assets
$0
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $138,601
100%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $0
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $20,327
19.4%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $0
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $2,676,014
Total Liabilities $2,676,014
Net Assets $0
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Terry G Nelson (President) $11,286 $0 $0
Cary A Nelson (Vp-treasurer) $9,041 $0 $0
Franco Cretti (Director) $0 $0 $0
Timothy Buffham (Director) $0 $0 $0
Patricia L Buffham (Secretary) $0 $0 $0
+ View more people

Document Links

990
Filed on Oct. 6, 2015

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

View Filing
PDF XML

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2013

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$115,482
Expenses
$116,847
Net Income
-$1,365
Net Assets
$0
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $115,482
100%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $0
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $20,262
17.3%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $0
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $1,230,757
Total Liabilities $1,230,757
Net Assets $0
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Terry G Nelson (President) $11,760 $0 $0
Cary A Nelson (Vp-treasurer) $8,503 $0 $0
Patricia L Buffham (Secretary) $0 $0 $0
Franco Cretti (Director) $0 $0 $0
Timothy Buffham (Director) $0 $0 $0
+ View more people

Document Links

990
Filed on March 18, 2014

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

View Filing
PDF XML

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2012

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$151,400
Expenses
$117,455
Net Income
$33,945
Net Assets
$0
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $151,400
100%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $0
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $19,694
16.8%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $0
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $1,235,080
Total Liabilities $1,235,080
Net Assets $0

Document Links

990

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

PDF

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2011

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$266,263
Expenses
$268,931
Net Income
-$2,668
Net Assets
$0
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $266,263
100%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $0
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $48,050
17.9%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $0
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $1,250,851
Total Liabilities $1,250,851
Net Assets $0

Document Links

990

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

PDF

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2010

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

990

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

PDF

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2009

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

990-EZ

Short form tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

PDF

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2008

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

990-EZ

Short form tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

PDF

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2007

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

990

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

PDF

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2006

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

990

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

PDF

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2005

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

990

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

PDF

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2004

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

990

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

PDF

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2003

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

990

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

PDF

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2002

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

990

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

PDF

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2001

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

990

Primary tax return for a nonprofit’s activities, finances, and governance

PDF

About This Data

What Is This Data?

Nonprofit Explorer includes summary data for nonprofit tax returns and full Form 990 documents, in both PDF and digital formats.

The summary data contains financial information from tax returns processed by the IRS since the 2012 calendar years, as well as data extracted from digital filings. IRS summary data also includes limited older records. This data release includes only a subset of what can be found in the full Form 990s.

In addition to the raw summary data, we link to PDFs and digital copies of full Form 990 documents wherever possible. This consists of separate releases by the IRS of Form 990 documents processed by the agency, which we update regularly.

We also link to copies of audits for nonprofit organizations that spent $750,000 or more in federal grant money in a single fiscal year since 2016. These audits are copied from the Federal Audit Clearinghouse.

Which Organizations Are Here?

Most organizations that have been recognized as tax exempt by the IRS have to file the Form 990 every year, unless they make less than $200,000 in revenue and have less than $500,000 in assets, in which case they have to file the Form 990-EZ. Organizations making less than $50,000 don’t have to file either form but do have to let the IRS they’re still in business via a Form 990N "e-Postcard," which does not contain financial details. Churches are not required to file Form 990.

Nonprofit Explorer has organizations that are claiming tax exemption in any of the 27 subsections of the 501(c) section of the tax code. Taxable trusts and private foundations that are required to file a form 990PF are also included.

Types of Nonprofits

There are 27 nonprofit designations based on the numbered subsections of section 501(c) of the tax code. See the list »

Get the Data

For those interested in acquiring the original data from the source, here’s where our data comes from:

  • Raw filing data. Includes Employer Identification Numbers and summary financials as structured data.
  • Exempt Organization profiles. Includes organization names, addresses, etc. You can merge this with the raw filing data using EIN numbers.
  • Form 990 documents. Prior to 2017, these documents were obtained and processed by Public.Resource.org and ProPublica.
  • Form 990 documents as XML files. Includes complete filing data (financial details, names of officers, tax schedules, etc.) in machine-readable format. Only available for electronically filed documents. Electronic data released prior to October 2021 is also available through Amazon Web Services.
  • Audits. PDFs of single or program-specific audits for nonprofit organizations that spent $750,000 or more in federal grant money in a single fiscal year. Available for fiscal year 2015 and later.

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About Nonprofit Explorer

Nonprofit Explorer

Browse millions of annual returns filed by tax-exempt organizations with ProPublica’s Nonprofit Explorer. See details like executive compensation, revenue, expenses and more. Search for an organization or a person, or search the full text of filings.

By Andrea Suozzo, Alec Glassford, Ash Ngu and Brandon Roberts.

Design by Jeff Frankl. Additional development by Ken Schwencke, Mike Tigas, and Sisi Wei.

E-file viewer adapted from IRS e-File Viewer by Ben Getson. Code for scraping audit documents adapated from Govwiki.

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