Circle Urban Ministries 
Summary
Circle Urban Ministries, Inc. ("CRCL") is an Illinois based organization that was incorporated in 1981. Its stated purpose is to provide quality professional services in a Christian environment by developing and fostering Christian service programs committed to assisting low income individuals and families primarily on the West side of Chicago. CRCL operates primarily on contributions and grants. The programs currently offered by CRCL include providing food, clothing, shelter and emergency care; counseling and job training for the unemployed; youth leadership development, education and evangelism, economic development, and a small elementary preparatory school for kindergarten through fourth grade. CRCL includes Circle Christian Development Corporation ("CCDC") and its wholly owned subsidiary, Austin Real Estate and Investment Corporation ("AREIC"), and Circle Automotive Industries, Inc. ("CAI"). CCDC, a nonprofit corporation, is the owner, general partner and manager of certain inner city ministry-related properties through AREIC. CCDC's purpose is to develop rental properties for low and moderate-income tenants. CAI provides job training assistance to Chicago's Austin community residents. This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. This ministry is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
Contact information
Mailing address:
118 N Central Ave.
Chicago, IL 60644-3199
Website: www.circleurban.org
Phone: (773) 921-1446
Email: askcircle@aol.com
Organization details
EIN: 363136997
CEO/President: Rev. Abraham L. Washington
Chairman: Ms Ellen Turner
Board size: 7
Founder:
Year founded: 1974
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1998
Purpose
Circle Urban Ministries, Inc. ("CRCL") is an Illinois based organization that was incorporated in 1981. Its stated purpose is to provide quality professional services in a Christian environment by developing and fostering Christian service programs committed to assisting low income individuals and families primarily on the West side of Chicago.
CRCL operates primarily on contributions and grants. The programs currently offered by CRCL include providing food, clothing, shelter and emergency care; counseling and job training for the unemployed; youth leadership development, education and evangelism, economic development, and a small elementary preparatory school for kindergarten through fourth grade.
CRCL includes Circle Christian Development Corporation ("CCDC") and its wholly owned subsidiary, Austin Real Estate and Investment Corporation ("AREIC"), and Circle Automotive Industries, Inc. ("CAI"). CCDC, a nonprofit corporation, is the owner, general partner and manager of certain inner city ministry-related properties through AREIC. CCDC's purpose is to develop rental properties for low and moderate-income tenants. CAI provides job training assistance to Chicago's Austin community residents. This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. This ministry is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
Mission statement
Statement of faith
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Community Development
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 428 of 500 | 16 of 22 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 473 of 500 | 21 of 22 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 497 of 500 | 22 of 22 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 124 of 500 | 4 of 22 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Median % for all ministries in MW database | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 8% | 34% | 35% | 18% | 30% | 32% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 17% | 9% | 6% | 11% | 12% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 95% | 49% | 26% | 35% | 37% | 38% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 11% | 12% | 6% | 10% | 11% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 5% | 51% | 74% | 65% | 63% | 62% |
| Operating ratios | Median % for all ministries in MW database | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 82% | 29% | 57% | 37% | 76% | 75% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 98% | 158% | 74% | 109% | 112% | 111% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 80% | 45% | 42% | 40% | 85% | 83% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 2% | -58% | 26% | -9% | -12% | -11% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | -126% | 52% | -23% | -28% | -21% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 10% | 61% | 31% | 58% | 14% | 14% |
| Investing ratios | Median measure for all ministries in MW database | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.19 | 1.69 | 1.22 | 1.96 | 1.59 | 1.33 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.52 | 6.12 | 1.64 | 4.33 | 8.79 | 5.34 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.31 | 10.34 | 2.01 | 8.48 | 13.98 | 7.10 |
| Liquidity ratios | Median measure for all ministries in MW database | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 9.10 | 0.56 | 5.04 | 1.21 | 0.33 | 0.51 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.10 | 1.78 | 0.20 | 0.83 | 3.01 | 1.96 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.42 | -0.90 | 4.80 | 0.25 | -1.73 | -1.63 |
| Solvency ratios | Median % for all ministries in MW database | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 10% | 51% | 18% | 33% | 39% | 37% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 22% | 6% | 10% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 70% | 29% | 67% | 34% | 38% | 48% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Cash | $89,244 | $335,518 | $102,208 | $85,721 | $149,843 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $34,040 | $345,084 | $51,429 | $24,421 | $74,040 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $123,284 | $680,602 | $153,637 | $110,142 | $223,883 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $366,678 | $402,466 | $451,466 | $857,432 | $971,169 |
| Other long-term assets | $264,488 | $32,866 | $60,260 | $500 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $631,166 | $435,332 | $511,726 | $857,932 | $971,169 |
| Total assets | $754,450 | $1,115,934 | $665,363 | $968,074 | $1,195,052 |
| Liabilities | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $219,394 | $135,070 | $126,780 | $161,165 | $183,439 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $170,712 | $256,068 |
| Total current liabilities | $219,394 | $135,070 | $126,780 | $331,877 | $439,507 |
| Debt | $166,350 | $69,340 | $66,772 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $23,926 | $45,873 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $166,350 | $69,340 | $90,698 | $45,873 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $385,744 | $204,410 | $217,478 | $377,750 | $439,507 |
| Net assets | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Unrestricted | $368,706 | $911,524 | $447,885 | $590,324 | $743,545 |
| Temporarily restricted | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $12,000 |
| Permanently restricted | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assets | $368,706 | $911,524 | $447,885 | $590,324 | $755,545 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Total contributions | $392,275 | $486,869 | $422,342 | $513,401 | $549,593 |
| Program service revenue | $403,723 | $584,602 | $741,426 | $854,399 | $870,726 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $0 | $745,908 | $73 | $387 | $571 |
| Other revenue | $12,484 | $24,436 | $34,977 | $6,118 | $9,677 |
| Total other revenue | $416,207 | $1,354,946 | $776,476 | $860,904 | $880,974 |
| Total revenue | $808,482 | $1,841,815 | $1,198,818 | $1,374,305 | $1,430,567 |
| Expenses | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Program services | $365,864 | $773,079 | $477,026 | $1,169,799 | $1,188,288 |
| Management and general | $774,153 | $421,349 | $750,362 | $215,517 | $222,875 |
| Fundraising | $134,391 | $170,296 | $75,875 | $154,210 | $178,044 |
| Total expenses | $1,274,408 | $1,364,724 | $1,303,263 | $1,539,526 | $1,589,207 |
| Change in net assets | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($465,926) | $477,091 | ($104,445) | ($165,221) | ($158,640) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($465,926) | $477,091 | ($104,445) | ($165,221) | ($158,640) |
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
History
Program accomplishments
In 1998, Circle Family Care ("CFC") doctors saw 3500 patients at their clinic, made over 70 home and nursing home visits and over 1400 hospital visits. 4389 families (9903 people) went home with bags of food from CRCL. Over 120 youth and children participated in CRCL's after-school program and summer day camp. 102 children, grades K-3, were taught at Circle-Rock Preparatory School. CRCL chaplains counseled 36 families, made 200 hospital visits and introduced 390 people to Christ. 20 children who were behind in skills received one-on-one tutoring, with each of those children advancing through to the next grade level. 40 families (237 family members) found a home and a place to "spread their wings" in CRCL's "Eagle Nest" shelter. 28 adult learners progressed through various levels of literacy up from 12 students at the beginning of the year.