International Fellowship of Evangelical Students USA 
The information in this column was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 3/24/2021. To update the information in this column, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
Summary
A global movement of students sharing and living out the good news of Jesus Christ. IFES connects more than half a million students in over 160 countries.
Contact information
Mailing address:
PO Box 436
Platteville, WI 53818
Website: ifesworld.org
Phone: 608-348-6234
Email: donor.services@ifesworld.org
Organization details
EIN: 263538114
CEO/President: Mr. Kevin Van Horne
Chairman: Dave Berry
Board size: 7
Founder:
Year founded: 2009
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2011
Purpose
IFES works alongside national movements in pioneering new student ministries in unreached campuses, cities and countries.
IFES provides training, funding and materials to help strengthen national movement evangelism.
Through regional consultations, resources and mentoring, IFES empowers and equips national movements to help their students think biblically and live missionally in all areas of university life.
IFES invests in student leaders and graduates all over the world, through student groups, national movements and regional events.
IFES regional teams provide training, resources and support to enable national movements to flourish in their different contexts.
Mission statement
At the heart of everything we do is a desire to see students built into communities of disciples, transformed by the gospel and impacting the university, the church and society for the glory of Christ.
Statement of faith
The doctrinal basis of IFES shall be the fundamental truths of Christianity, including:
The unity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the Godhead.
The sovereignty of God in creation, revelation, redemption and final judgement.
The divine inspiration and entire trustworthiness of Holy Scripture, as originally given, and its supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
The universal sinfulness and guilt of all people since the fall, rendering them subject to God's wrath and condemnation.
Redemption from the guilt, penalty, dominion and pollution of sin, solely through the sacrificial death (as our representative and substitute) of the Lord Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God.
The bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and his ascension to the right hand of God the Father.
The presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the work of regeneration.
The justification of the sinner by the grace of God through faith alone.
The indwelling and work of the Holy Spirit in the believer.
The one holy universal Church which is the body of Christ and to which all true believers belong.
The expectation of the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Evangelism
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 449 of 913 | 23 of 47 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 322 of 915 | 19 of 47 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 496 of 915 | 23 of 47 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 543 of 913 | 29 of 47 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 9% | 6% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 10% | 6% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 96% | 99% | 99% | 99% | 101% | 99% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 8% | 7% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 4% | 1% | 1% | 1% | -1% | 1% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 82% | 82% | 87% | 87% | 84% | 84% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 94% | 81% | 89% | 103% | 119% | 91% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 78% | 67% | 78% | 90% | 99% | 77% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 6% | 19% | 11% | -3% | -19% | 9% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 8% | 28% | 31% | -12% | -57% | 20% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 11% | 12% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 9% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.15 | 0.81 | 1.50 | 1.85 | 1.73 | 1.67 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.50 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.05 | 0.81 | 1.50 | 1.85 | 1.74 | 1.68 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 6.87 | 4.50 | 3.10 | 2.75 | 5.11 | 4.45 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.14 | 0.22 | 0.32 | 0.36 | 0.20 | 0.22 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.34 | 11.51 | 5.41 | 4.13 | 5.55 | 5.55 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 16% | 32% | 44% | 54% | 52% | 22% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 10% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 70% | 84% | 37% | 25% | 28% | 46% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Cash | $1,406,356 | $1,686,269 | $1,369,209 | $1,978,417 | $1,516,531 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $864,668 | $61 | $61 | $80,300 | $502,299 |
| Short-term investments | $1,953,721 | $1,883,309 | $1,491,168 | $1,072,591 | $983,857 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $4,224,745 | $3,569,639 | $2,860,438 | $3,131,308 | $3,002,687 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $1,405 | $3,363 | $5,020 | $7,433 | $4,912 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $1,405 | $3,363 | $5,020 | $7,433 | $4,912 |
| Total assets | $4,226,150 | $3,573,002 | $2,865,458 | $3,138,741 | $3,007,599 |
| Liabilities | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $439,963 | $1,152,971 | $1,039,202 | $613,234 | $674,565 |
| Other current liabilities | $497,928 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $937,891 | $1,152,971 | $1,039,202 | $613,234 | $674,565 |
| Debt | $413,670 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $410,338 | $500,809 | $1,005,823 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $413,670 | $410,338 | $500,809 | $1,005,823 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $1,351,561 | $1,563,309 | $1,540,011 | $1,619,057 | $674,565 |
| Net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Without donor restrictions | $635,845 | $641,902 | $531,947 | $499,206 | $698,428 |
| With donor restrictions | $2,238,744 | $1,367,791 | $793,500 | $1,020,478 | $1,634,606 |
| Net assets | $2,874,589 | $2,009,693 | $1,325,447 | $1,519,684 | $2,333,034 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Total contributions | $4,197,326 | $5,942,887 | $5,090,712 | $4,607,377 | $5,448,527 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,684 | $46,301 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $24,679 | $47,778 | $40,522 | $25,262 | $10,599 |
| Other revenue | $2,465 | $3,106 | $2,658 | ($60,610) | $0 |
| Total other revenue | $27,144 | $50,884 | $43,180 | ($33,664) | $56,900 |
| Total revenue | $4,224,470 | $5,993,771 | $5,133,892 | $4,573,713 | $5,505,427 |
| Expenses | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Program services | $2,815,456 | $4,689,561 | $4,602,532 | $4,548,082 | $4,253,913 |
| Management and general | $422,083 | $437,133 | $445,972 | $456,425 | $453,698 |
| Fundraising | $188,265 | $235,120 | $238,297 | $437,107 | $329,016 |
| Total expenses | $3,425,804 | $5,361,814 | $5,286,801 | $5,441,614 | $5,036,627 |
| Change in net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $798,666 | $631,957 | ($152,909) | ($867,901) | $468,800 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $798,666 | $631,957 | ($152,909) | ($867,901) | $468,800 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| David Acierno | Executive Director (part year) | $85,093 |
| Kevin Van Horne | Executive Director | $47,500 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2020
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 3/24/2021. To update the information below, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
History
In 1889, a gathering of 500 Christian students in Japan sent a telegram that reached students in the USA, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Their message was simply: Make Jesus King.
At an international gathering in 1946, there was a unanimous feeling that God was calling for an international fellowship to be formed to further the growth of student ministry around the world.
The group then received an unexpected telegram from the rapidly-growing movement in China, suggesting the formation of a global movement of students witnessing for Jesus. It felt like the confirmation they had been waiting for.
Just a year later, in 1947, representatives from ten national student movements came together at Harvard University, USA, to form the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES).
They agreed on a basis of faith, a constitution and the autonomy of every national movement member. Though they were from different cultures, languages and continents, they were united in their love for Christ and their vision to see a faithful witness to him on every campus of every university in the world.
This vision has been handed down through every generation of students. Through persistent prayer. Through sacrificial giving. Through a willingness to leave everything behind to go to the universities of the nations and make Jesus known.
There are now student movements in countries like Cuba, Myanmar, Timor-Leste and Albania, where it once seemed impossible to dream that a visible witness could be established. In the face of opposition, Christian students are boldly sharing the gospel in the Middle East, in Eurasia and across the continent of Africa.
And our global fellowship keeps growing. At World Assembly 2019, thirteen national movements affiliated to IFES: Cambodia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, Cayman Islands, Vanuatu, Myanmar, Faroe Islands, Montenegro, Guinea-Bissau, Cyprus, Grenada and two other movements in Eurasia and Europe.
In total, there are now 160 IFES-affiliated national movements and we're working in over 170 different countries.
Through our regional teams and by supporting national movements, IFES is inspiring students in evangelism, equipping students and faculty to engage biblically and holistically with the university, pioneering new student groups, and forming disciples and future leaders who will go on to impact the church and society for the glory of Christ.