Help Proofread the Casual English Bible

"Psalm 23 - sponsored in loving memory of"

Lova Lee Williams, 1908-1979

The Lord was her shepherd

Every book professionally proofread - all 66 books, 1,189 chapters, and about 1.5 million words checked for accuracy, clarity, and consistency.

Freely readable online - available at CasualEnglishBible.com for anyone, anywhere, at no cost.

A Bible anyone can understand - written in clear, everyday English for people who've never read the Bible or struggled with traditional translations.

Your name on the Sponsors page - permanently recognized as someone who helped make this possible.

Why did the fundraising goal change?

Our original budget used a proofreading company's rate of 6 cents per word. We have since been able to hire Steve's preferred proofreader, a trusted professional he has worked with for years, at 2 cents per word. That lowers the estimated proofreading cost from about $90,000 to about $30,000. The work has not been reduced. Sponsors will remain recognized for the book or chapter they selected, and any money left after that work is fully covered will be assigned to another book that still needs proofreading.

Why does proofreading cost so much?

The Casual English Bible is about 1.5 million words - roughly the length of 10 full novels. At the current rate of 2 cents per word, professional proofreading is expected to cost about $30,000. We chose an experienced professional proofreader who has spent years working on Bibles, commentaries, theology books, and other Christian publications. When it comes to Scripture, close enough isn't good enough. Every word needs to be clear, accurate, and consistent.

Where does my money go?

Every penny of your donation goes toward professional proofreading. Fractured Atlas, our fiscal sponsor, retains a small processing fee from each gift - but the Casual English Bible covers that cost so your entire contribution goes directly to proofreading. If a sponsored book or chapter costs less than originally estimated, the sponsor keeps full recognition for the selection and the balance is applied to another book that still needs proofreading. No salaries, no overhead. Just making sure every verse reads the way it should.

Why not use volunteers or AI?

We love volunteers - they've helped us get this far. But a complete, consistent proofread of an entire Bible requires trained professionals who do this for a living. AI is helpful for drafts, but it hallucinates, invents things, and can't be trusted with Scripture. Human eyes are the only way to get this right.

Can I sponsor just one chapter instead of a whole book?

Absolutely. Many chapters cost about $10 to $40, depending on length; exceptionally long chapters may cost more. Pick a chapter that means something to you - Psalm 23, John 3, Romans 8 - and make sure it reads beautifully. You can even dedicate it in honor or memory of someone you love.

Why does the donate button take me to a different website?

Your donation goes through Fractured Atlas, a well-established 501(c)(3) public charity that has been serving creative projects since 1998. They are our fiscal sponsor - which means they handle the tax-deductible side of donations on our behalf. When you give through Fractured Atlas, your gift is tax-deductible as the law allows, and the funds come back to us to pay for proofreading. It's a common arrangement used by thousands of independent projects that don't have their own nonprofit status. Think of Fractured Atlas as our financial partner - they make it possible for your gift to be tax-deductible while we stay focused on the Bible.

Is my donation really tax-deductible?

Yes. Fractured Atlas is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity, and your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. You'll receive a receipt from Fractured Atlas that you can use for your tax records.