Alpha USA 
The information in this column was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 6/7/2021. To update the information in this column, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
Summary
Alpha is a series of sessions exploring the Christian faith, typically run over eleven weeks. Each talk looks at a different question around faith and is designed to create conversation. Alpha is run all around the globe, and everyone is welcome. Alpha is an opportunity to explore life & the Christian faith in a friendly, open & informal environment. Millions of people have tried Alpha all around the world. Alpha runs in cafes, churches, universities, homes -you name it. No two Alphas look the same, but they generally have three key things in common: food, a talk and good conversation.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Alpha USA
1635 Emerson Lane
Naperville, IL 60540
Website: alphausa.org
Phone: 1-800-362-5742
Email: questions@alphausa.org
Organization details
EIN: 133962840
CEO/President: Craig Springer
Chairman: Mark Emery
Board size: 15
Founder:
Year founded: 1998
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2010
Purpose
We believe everyone should have the opportunity to explore a personal relationship with Jesus, wherever they are in the world, for free. Alpha USA exists to serve and support churches in making disciples of Jesus Christ, while we play our part in the re-evangelization of the nations and the transformation of society. Together we can see churches revitalized across the country and hundreds of thousands of lives transformed by an encounter with Jesus.
Mission statement
Alpha's mission is to see the evangelization of the nations, the revitalization of the church and the transformation of society.
Statement of faith
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Evangelism
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 190 of 940 | 12 of 46 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 662 of 942 | 31 of 46 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 165 of 942 | 11 of 46 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 105 of 940 | 5 of 46 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 8% | 5% | 4% | 6% | 8% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 7% | 5% | 4% | 6% | 8% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 96% | 96% | 97% | 96% | 95% | 94% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 8% | 5% | 4% | 6% | 7% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 4% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 5% | 6% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 82% | 89% | 94% | 95% | 92% | 91% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 94% | 98% | 90% | 103% | 95% | 104% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 77% | 87% | 84% | 98% | 88% | 95% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 6% | 2% | 10% | -3% | 5% | -4% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 8% | 10% | 65% | -51% | 67% | -145% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 11% | 4% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.15 | 3.94 | 4.77 | 6.72 | 6.45 | 7.28 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.51 | 1.02 | 1.03 | 1.03 | 1.05 | 1.06 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.03 | 4.00 | 4.94 | 6.91 | 6.74 | 7.75 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 7.14 | 4.62 | 7.63 | 2.45 | 3.49 | 4.59 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.13 | 0.22 | 0.13 | 0.41 | 0.29 | 0.22 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.32 | 2.35 | 2.11 | 1.03 | 1.27 | 1.21 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 17% | 22% | 17% | 56% | 48% | 81% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 1% | 4% | 16% | 20% | 61% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 71% | 20% | 17% | 7% | 8% | 3% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Cash | $1,698,178 | $1,377,561 | $767,854 | $793,898 | $926,308 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $376,149 | $353,238 | $393,886 | $655,632 | $387,552 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $2,074,327 | $1,730,799 | $1,161,740 | $1,449,530 | $1,313,860 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $10,591 | $15,103 | $30,331 | $53,725 | $57,197 |
| Other long-term assets | $23,236 | $45,365 | $2,059 | $11,664 | $28,149 |
| Total long-term assets | $33,827 | $60,468 | $32,390 | $65,389 | $85,346 |
| Total assets | $2,108,154 | $1,791,267 | $1,194,130 | $1,514,919 | $1,399,206 |
| Liabilities | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $448,967 | $226,740 | $179,223 | $245,182 | $260,466 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $295,500 | $170,500 | $25,500 |
| Total current liabilities | $448,967 | $226,740 | $474,723 | $415,682 | $285,966 |
| Debt | $11,020 | $79,000 | $193,845 | $305,164 | $851,393 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $11,020 | $79,000 | $193,845 | $305,164 | $851,393 |
| Total liabilities | $459,987 | $305,740 | $668,568 | $720,846 | $1,137,359 |
| Net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Without donor restrictions | $1,648,167 | $1,485,527 | $525,562 | $693,709 | $225,999 |
| With donor restrictions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $100,364 | $35,848 |
| Net assets | $1,648,167 | $1,485,527 | $525,562 | $794,073 | $261,847 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Total contributions | $8,156,010 | $9,258,067 | $7,437,963 | $9,833,708 | $9,244,485 |
| Program service revenue | $166,423 | $92,336 | $31,868 | $53,311 | $44,027 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $3,250 | $1,005 | $1,239 | $727 | $1,051 |
| Other revenue | $141,759 | $150,865 | $284,654 | $421,057 | $515,381 |
| Total other revenue | $311,432 | $244,206 | $317,761 | $475,095 | $560,459 |
| Total revenue | $8,467,442 | $9,502,273 | $7,755,724 | $10,308,803 | $9,804,944 |
| Expenses | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Program services | $7,361,878 | $7,990,888 | $7,613,275 | $9,034,910 | $9,315,771 |
| Management and general | $315,405 | $113,132 | $107,937 | $124,658 | $124,507 |
| Fundraising | $627,519 | $438,288 | $303,023 | $617,009 | $744,107 |
| Total expenses | $8,304,802 | $8,542,308 | $8,024,235 | $9,776,577 | $10,184,385 |
| Change in net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $162,640 | $959,965 | ($268,511) | $532,226 | ($379,441) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $162,640 | $959,965 | ($268,511) | $532,226 | ($379,441) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| John Andrew Wentz | Ministry Director | $298,466 |
| Craig Springer | National Director | $211,457 |
| Sean Hogan | Chief Operating Officer | $164,581 |
| Christopher Todd Proct | Church Networks Director | $150,080 |
| Dana Sanders | Development Director | $116,088 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2019
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 6/7/2021. To update the information below, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
History
Developed as a short course at HTB in London, UK, in 1990 Nicky Gumbel took over running Alpha and found that many people outside of the church wanted to explore the Christian faith. Alpha now runs in every part of the global church, including the Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church and all mainline Protestant denominations.
Alpha USA was birthed in the 1990's as a response to the way we saw the Holy Spirit using Alpha as a tool for American churches.
Program accomplishments
Millions of people have tried Alpha in 169 countries, and it has been translated into 112 different languages.