InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA 
Summary
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA is an evangelical campus mission serving more than 34,000 students and faculty on more than 770 college and university campuses nationwide. Incorporated in 1941, InterVarsity has a rich tradition of campus witness, thoughtful discipleship, and a concern for world missions.
Intervarsity Christian Fellowship/USA is a nonprofit organization and contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. In addition, it is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
Contact information
Mailing address:
635 Science Dr.
PO Box 7895
Madison, WI 53707-7895
Website: www.intervarsity.org
Phone: (608) 274-9001
Email: information@intervarsity.org
Organization details
EIN: 362171714
CEO/President: Mr. Tom Lin
Chairman: Elizabeth Nielsen
Board size: 17
Founder: Mr. Stacey Woods
Year founded: 1941
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1980
Purpose
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA is an evangelical campus mission serving more than 35,000 students and faculty on more than 560 college and university campuses nationwide. Incorporated in 1941, InterVarsity has a rich tradition of campus witness, thoughtful discipleship, and a concern for world missions.
Intervarsity Christian Fellowship/USA is a nonprofit organization and contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. In addition, it is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
Mission statement
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship using the following to express its mission:
Our Vision is to see students and faculty transformed, campuses renewed, and world changers developed.
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship communicates its Purpose Statement as the following:
In response to God's love, grace and truth:
The Purpose of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA is to establish and advance at colleges and universities witnessing communities of students and faculty who follow Jesus as Savior and Lord: growing in love for God,
God's Word, God's people of every ethnicity and culture and God's purposes in the world.
Statement of faith
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's uses the following to express its Statement of Fath:
We believe in:
- The only true God, the almighty Creator of all things,existing eternally in three persons- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit-full of love and glory.
- The unique divine inspiration, entire trustworthiness and authority of the Bible.
- The value and dignity of all people: created in God's image to live in love and holiness,but alienated from God and each other because of our sin and guilt,and justly subject to God's wrath.
- Jesus Christ, fully human and fully divine,who lived as a perfect example, who assumed the judgment due sinners by dying in our place,and who was bodily raised from the dead and ascended as Savior and Lord.
- Justification by God's grace to all who repent and put their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.
- The indwelling presence and transforming power of the Holy Spirit, who gives to all believers a new life and a new calling to obedient service.
- The unity of all believers in Jesus Christ, manifest in worshiping and witnessing churches making disciples throughout the world.
- The victorious reign and future personal return of Jesus Christ, who will judge all people with justice and mercy, giving over the unrepentant to eternal condemnation but receiving the redeemed into eternal life.
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Fellowship Evangelism
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 280 of 494 | 13 of 24 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 368 of 494 | 20 of 24 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 289 of 494 | 14 of 24 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 168 of 494 | 12 of 24 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Median % for all ministries in MW database | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 8% | 12% | 12% | 11% | 10% | 10% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 9% | 9% | 8% | 8% | 8% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 95% | 75% | 75% | 76% | 75% | 79% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 9% | 9% | 8% | 8% | 8% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 5% | 25% | 25% | 24% | 25% | 21% |
| Operating ratios | Median % for all ministries in MW database | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 82% | 80% | 80% | 81% | 83% | 83% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 99% | 98% | 99% | 103% | 101% | 94% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 81% | 79% | 79% | 83% | 83% | 78% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 1% | 2% | 1% | -3% | -1% | 6% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | 4% | 1% | -6% | -1% | 11% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 11% | 10% | 11% | 11% | 9% | 9% |
| Investing ratios | Median measure for all ministries in MW database | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.19 | 1.74 | 1.64 | 1.64 | 1.61 | 1.40 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.52 | 1.28 | 1.31 | 1.34 | 1.33 | 1.29 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.31 | 2.22 | 2.15 | 2.21 | 2.13 | 1.81 |
| Liquidity ratios | Median measure for all ministries in MW database | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 9.12 | 6.65 | 5.90 | 5.38 | 6.85 | 6.00 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.10 | 0.15 | 0.17 | 0.19 | 0.15 | 0.17 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.41 | 4.58 | 4.64 | 4.43 | 4.81 | 5.53 |
| Solvency ratios | Median % for all ministries in MW database | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 10% | 12% | 13% | 14% | 11% | 13% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 70% | 50% | 53% | 52% | 55% | 62% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Cash | $2,739,000 | $2,460,000 | $1,672,000 | $3,977,000 | $3,973,000 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $13,075,000 | $10,513,000 | $10,330,000 | $10,101,000 | $15,191,000 |
| Short-term investments | $36,762,000 | $36,702,000 | $36,213,000 | $35,781,000 | $33,815,000 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $52,576,000 | $49,675,000 | $48,215,000 | $49,859,000 | $52,979,000 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $14,578,000 | $15,252,000 | $16,485,000 | $16,381,000 | $15,369,000 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $14,578,000 | $15,252,000 | $16,485,000 | $16,381,000 | $15,369,000 |
| Total assets | $67,154,000 | $64,927,000 | $64,700,000 | $66,240,000 | $68,348,000 |
| Liabilities | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $7,647,000 | $7,023,000 | $8,310,000 | $6,480,000 | $6,258,000 |
| Other current liabilities | $256,000 | $1,401,000 | $652,000 | $795,000 | $2,572,000 |
| Total current liabilities | $7,903,000 | $8,424,000 | $8,962,000 | $7,275,000 | $8,830,000 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $299,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $299,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $8,202,000 | $8,424,000 | $8,962,000 | $7,275,000 | $8,830,000 |
| Net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Unrestricted | $35,237,000 | $35,238,000 | $35,578,000 | $38,186,000 | $40,098,000 |
| Temporarily restricted | $23,715,000 | $21,265,000 | $20,160,000 | $20,779,000 | $19,420,000 |
| Permanently restricted | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assets | $58,952,000 | $56,503,000 | $55,738,000 | $58,965,000 | $59,518,000 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Total contributions | $89,248,000 | $81,060,000 | $78,229,000 | $78,950,000 | $80,751,000 |
| Program service revenue | $26,849,000 | $20,582,000 | $20,672,000 | $25,691,000 | $20,073,000 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $2,502,000 | $3,042,000 | $3,884,000 | $72,000 | $851,000 |
| Other revenue | $811,000 | $2,747,000 | $409,000 | $1,055,000 | $398,000 |
| Total other revenue | $30,162,000 | $26,371,000 | $24,965,000 | $26,818,000 | $21,322,000 |
| Total revenue | $119,410,000 | $107,431,000 | $103,194,000 | $105,768,000 | $102,073,000 |
| Expenses | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Program services | $93,910,000 | $85,169,000 | $86,062,000 | $88,167,000 | $79,710,000 |
| Management and general | $12,271,000 | $11,819,000 | $11,943,000 | $9,997,000 | $8,321,000 |
| Fundraising | $10,780,000 | $9,678,000 | $8,416,000 | $8,157,000 | $7,759,000 |
| Total expenses | $116,961,000 | $106,666,000 | $106,421,000 | $106,321,000 | $95,790,000 |
| Change in net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $2,449,000 | $765,000 | ($3,227,000) | ($553,000) | $6,283,000 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $2,449,000 | $765,000 | ($3,227,000) | ($553,000) | $6,283,000 |
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
History
InterVarsity communicates its history as the following:
Our movement began with students at the University of Cambridge, England in 1877. There, a group of Christian students began to meet together, in spite of the disapproval of some University officials, to pray, to study the Bible and to witness to fellow students. Soon, similar groups sprung up on other campuses. Eventually, they formed the British Inter-Varsity. (Hence our name, inter - meaning between, varsity - the British term for college level students.) From the very beginning they had a strong concern to take the gospel to those all over the world who had never heard it - a concern that continues in InterVarsity today.
In response to a plea for help, British InterVarsity sent Howard Guinness, a medical school graduate and vice-chairman of the British movement, to Canada in1928. Students helped raise the money to provide one-way passage to Canada. Between bouts of seasickness, Guinness led his cabin mate to Christ during the crossing, As God supplied the funds, he slowly worked his way across Canada, starting up and assisting evangelical student groups.
By 1937 the Canadians began to hear requests for help from students in the United States as independent evangelical student groups began springing up. In 1938 Stacey Woods, the Canadian InterVarsity director, met with students on the University of Michigan campus. As an immediate result of that visit, students formed the first InterVarsity chapter in the United States.
By May of 1941 InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA was an official organization, with three staff on loan from Canada and Stacey Woods at the helm as Secretary General. In 1947 InterVarsity USA became a founding member of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students, a federation of national Christian student movements. The other charter members are Australia, Britain, Canada, China, France, Holland, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland. (To see which 143 countries are currently members of IFES go to www.ifesworld.org).
By 1950 there were 35 staff serving students in 499 InterVarsity chapters across the country. InterVarsity Press had been started to supply quality literature suitable for the campus. And the Urbana student missions convention had begun the tradition of calling every student generation to consider global missions. By the early seventies there were more than 200 staff.
Today, there are more than 1600 InterVarsity staff serving more than 36,000 students and faculty nationwide. In addition we produce training materials, camps, books, and media tools which serve both the Church and campus. Our work touches every kind of student including graduate students and faculty. We are seeking to build witnessing communities on the campus which are bold, broad and ethnically diverse.
In 2018, InterVarsity announced our 2030 Calling, a movement to establish Christian community on all 2,500 U.S. college and university campuses with more than 1,000 students: "Longing for revival, we catalyze movements that call every corner of every campus to follow Jesus."
InterVarsity president Tom Lin said, ""The 2030 Calling represents a new shift in how InterVarsity approaches campus ministry. More than ever before, InterVarsity is inviting partners from every part of God's kingdom to participate in his work among students and faculty. This is not about planting InterVarsity's flag on every campus; it's about declaring God's glory on every campus."