Presiding over the Bible Society for the past 11 years is Eugene B.

FORBES: Self-Employment

This year there are three: American Bible Society, New York, and Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S., Kansas City, Mo.

FORBES: Charity Begins With The Boss

In particular he quoted a poll by the Bible Society which suggested a quarter of churchgoers were opposed to women bishops.

BBC: News

The American Bible Society was founded in 1816 at City Hall, in New York City, by such luminaries as New York Governor DeWitt Clinton and writer James Fenimore Cooper.

FORBES: Venerable

Five charities on our list didn't reach that: Paralyzed Veterans of America (66%), United States Holocaust Museum (68%), American Bible Society, Disabled American Veterans and Jewish National Fund (all 69%).

FORBES: Personal Finance

Olive created it as the World Bible Society of America in 1979, and first drew attention with a book predicting the rapture of the faithful on the Jewish New Year, 1988.

FORBES: Charity begins with a commission

"Today the world lost a Christian statesman, a dedicated servant of prisoners and a powerful example of God's ability to transform a life, " said Lamar Vest, president and CEO of the New York-based American Bible Society.

CNN: Watergate figure, Christian leader Chuck Colson dies

The understanding of marriage, that has existed for centuries and is enshrined in the Bible, is for the good of society.

BBC: Viewpoints: Gay marriage

In interviews with FORBES, Habecker defends his administration, saying fundraising has remained strong, rising by 26% between 1991 and 2001. (That, however, would mean a 4% decline in real terms.) Over the last year the society distributed 2.1 million Bibles and 5.5 million Bible portions.

FORBES: Self-Employment