World Renew formerly Christian Reformed World Relief Committee Inc. 
Summary
World Renew is a relief, development, and justice educational ministry supported by the Christian Reformed Church in North America. Founded in 1962, World Renew has grown to transform the lives of more than 1 million people in 37 countries around the world .Their programs offer emergency relief, justice/advocacy training, and with community development services in literacy, basic health, micro-enterprise, and agricultural development.
This organization is a nonprofit agency with home office in Burlington, ON and Grand Rapids, MI. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. It is a member of the Evangelical Council for financial Accountability.
Contact information
Mailing address:
1700 28th Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49508-1407
Website: www.worldrenew.net
Phone: (616) 224-0773
Email: site_manager@crwrc.org
Organization details
EIN: 381708140
CEO/President: Roy Zuidema - U.S./ James Joose - Canada
Chairman:
Board size: 7
Founder: Christian Reformed Church in North America
Year founded: 1962
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1993
Purpose
World Renew formerly The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee is a relief, development, and justice educational ministry supported by the Christian Reformed Church in North America. Founded in 1962, World Renew has grown to serve more than 100,000 people each year in North America and 27 countries around the world. Their programs offer emergency relief, justice/advocacy training, and with community development services in literacy, basic health, micro-enterprise, and agricultural development.
This organization is a nonprofit agency with home offices in Burlington, ON and Grand Rapids, MI. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. It is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
Mission statement
World Renew's Statement is:
Engage God's people in redeeming resources and developing gifts in collaborative activities of love, mercy, justice, and compassion.orld Renew is a relief, development, and justice educational ministry supported by the Christian Reformed Church in North America. Founded in 1962, World Renew has grown to transform the lives of more than 1 million people in 37 countries around the world .Their programs offer emergency relief, justice/advocacy training, and with community development services in literacy, basic health, micro-enterprise, and agricultural development.
This organization is a nonprofit agency with home office in Burlington, ON and Grand Rapids, MI. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. It is a member of the Evangelical Council for financial Accountability.
Statement of faith
World Renew's Confession of Faith is:
World Renew subscribes to the following confessions...
The Belgic Confession
Ecumenical Creeds*
World Renew subscribes to the following three creeds...
The Apostles' Creed
* Article 9 of the Belgic Confession names three writings, dating from the first centuries of the Christian church, that we willingly accept as creeds: the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed. The adoption of the Belgic Confession by the synods of the Reformed churches in the Netherlands during the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries implicitly approved the three creeds mentioned above. They are call ecumenical (general, universal) because they have been approved and accepted by nearly all Christian churches."
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Relief and Development
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 329 of 494 | 53 of 65 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 333 of 494 | 49 of 65 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 230 of 494 | 39 of 65 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 338 of 494 | 50 of 65 |
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% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 9% | 10% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 9% | 10% | 9% | 9% | 9% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 95% | 96% | 96% | 94% | 99% | 97% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 12% | 13% | 10% | 11% | 11% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 5% | 4% | 4% | 6% | 1% | 3% |
| 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% | 83% | 82% | 85% | 81% | 85% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 99% | 79% | 77% | 92% | 81% | 86% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 80% | 66% | 63% | 78% | 66% | 73% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 1% | 21% | 23% | 8% | 19% | 14% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | 11% | 14% | 5% | 14% | 12% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 11% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 8% | 4% |
| 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 | 0.40 | 0.45 | 0.56 | 0.56 | 0.72 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.52 | 1.22 | 1.20 | 1.18 | 1.19 | 1.02 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.31 | 0.48 | 0.54 | 0.66 | 0.67 | 0.74 |
| 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 | 40.60 | 43.71 | 29.00 | 26.88 | 20.73 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.10 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.04 | 0.05 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.41 | 24.24 | 21.52 | 17.58 | 17.29 | 15.51 |
| Solvency ratios | Median % for all ministries in MW database | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 10% | 3% | 2% | 4% | 3% | 5% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 70% | 245% | 216% | 172% | 173% | 131% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Cash | $17,687,152 | $13,925,470 | $10,832,445 | $9,883,718 | $6,546,993 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $1,267,773 | $1,737,830 | $1,771,027 | $2,128,745 | $2,702,867 |
| Short-term investments | $8,888,628 | $8,445,722 | $7,895,426 | $7,148,483 | $7,068,985 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $27,843,553 | $24,109,022 | $20,498,898 | $19,160,946 | $16,318,845 |
| Long-term investments | $29,535 | $32,697 | $33,894 | $35,058 | $35,602 |
| Fixed assets | $481,515 | $418,411 | $366,899 | $371,650 | $335,939 |
| Other long-term assets | $5,502,803 | $4,451,298 | $3,240,351 | $3,311,135 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $6,013,853 | $4,902,406 | $3,641,144 | $3,717,843 | $371,541 |
| Total assets | $33,857,406 | $29,011,428 | $24,140,042 | $22,878,789 | $16,690,386 |
| Liabilities | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $543,633 | $460,883 | $607,852 | $555,752 | $578,070 |
| Other current liabilities | $142,106 | $90,637 | $98,976 | $157,129 | $209,182 |
| Total current liabilities | $685,739 | $551,520 | $706,828 | $712,881 | $787,252 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $176,213 | $78,663 | $225,072 | $76,455 | $130,396 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $176,213 | $78,663 | $225,072 | $76,455 | $130,396 |
| Total liabilities | $861,952 | $630,183 | $931,900 | $789,336 | $917,648 |
| Net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Unrestricted | $20,296,762 | $16,888,406 | $16,794,255 | $15,504,951 | $14,111,589 |
| Temporarily restricted | $12,698,692 | $11,492,839 | $6,413,887 | $6,584,502 | $1,637,758 |
| Permanently restricted | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $23,391 |
| Net assets | $32,995,454 | $28,381,245 | $23,208,142 | $22,089,453 | $15,772,738 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Total contributions | $16,370,507 | $16,451,436 | $13,860,864 | $15,639,783 | $13,496,346 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $637,998 | $648,867 | $839,480 | $170,804 | $458,727 |
| Other revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total other revenue | $637,998 | $648,867 | $839,480 | $170,804 | $458,727 |
| Total revenue | $17,008,505 | $17,100,303 | $14,700,344 | $15,810,587 | $13,955,073 |
| Expenses | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Program services | $11,164,119 | $10,797,941 | $11,517,998 | $10,428,097 | $10,170,712 |
| Management and general | $725,215 | $692,421 | $633,636 | $1,016,198 | $525,659 |
| Fundraising | $1,556,467 | $1,647,785 | $1,359,237 | $1,360,712 | $1,321,794 |
| Total expenses | $13,445,801 | $13,138,147 | $13,510,871 | $12,805,007 | $12,018,165 |
| Change in net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $3,562,704 | $3,962,156 | $1,189,473 | $3,005,580 | $1,936,908 |
| Other changes in net assets | $1,051,505 | $1,210,947 | ($70,784) | ($427,332) | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $4,614,209 | $5,173,103 | $1,118,689 | $2,578,248 | $1,936,908 |
Response from ministry
World Renew maintains the highest standards of donor accountability and has consistently proven to be an efficient and effective ministry since our inception in 1962.
Although Wall Watchers tries to make fair comparisons regarding costs, they fail to acknowledge that there are numerous ways for non-profits to represent their true spending on fund development and other costs through various accounting methods.
Your statement speaks for itself when you say ratings "do not consider program outcome measurements" The effectiveness of our programs has been clearly demonstrated and our supporters understand the uniqueness of our ministry's day to day needs and our efficient and stewardly use of resources.
Many agencies have moved to gifts-in-kind programs that artificially inflate the bottom line, which in turn will improve their rations. As you can see from our Form 990, we do not inflate our revenue numbers this way. If these distinctions are not made, it will lead to unfair comparisons.
We have been members of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) since 1993 and in 2001 we were recertified by ECFA. According to David F. Brugger, Manager of Member Certification at ECFA, World Renew helps "set the example of integrity within the nonprofit community"
ECFA has been asked many times over the years to rate and rank Christian non-profits in terms of efficiency. They steadfastly decline to do so. Their response is as follows, "There are many variables that may affect the percentages, including: the age and size of the organization, the popularity of its purposes, differences in accounting procedures, etc. ECFA has tried to dispel the myth that organizations with a low percentage of fund raising and overhead are more efficient or effective than those with higher percentages of fund raising and overhead costs." We agree.
Sincerely,
Andy Ryskamp
Director - US
History
World Renew is the relief and development agency of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, providing hope and assistance to those in need. Founded in 1962, World Renew has grown to serve more than 1 million around the world each year with emergency relief and with community development services in literacy, basic health, micro-enterprise, and agricultural development.
In the 1970's, World Renew realized the need to relieve long-term human suffering, and so created and built indigenous grass roots development organizations to respond to long-term human suffering. This strategy evolved in the 1980's into consultation with already existing indigenous development organizations to build their capacities in management and in technical areas such as adult literacy, income generation, agriculture, and primary health. Today World Renew seeks to build capacity through partnership with local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in six regions around the world, and in several North American cities. World Renew's purpose is to bring about positive sustainable measurable change in the lives of the poor.
World Renew is a BI-national entity incorporated in Canada and the United States. It is organized according to six geographical teams (East Africa, West Africa, Latin America, Asia, and North America) supported by three functional teams (Program, Administration, and Communication and Resource Development) based in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Burlington, Ontario. Geographical teams are comprised of both national and expatriate staff. Regional planning meetings include representatives of partner organizations. In 2013-14, World Renew's total U.S. budget was $14,240,397 of $6,304,134 was spent on development programs and $3,741,825 on emergency relief.
World Renew's organizational goal is to bring about positive sustainable change in the lives of those in poverty by building strong organizations. World Renew believes that sustainable development requires strengthening the community fabric and building healthy collaborations. This capacity to network both within the community and outside--with local and national governments, other NGOs, etc.--allows the community to draw on both local and outside expertise and financial resources. World Renew's work includes community development, program and resource development, church ministry development, relief and disaster response, and biblical justice education and service learning.
Program accomplishments
World Renew offers:
- Agricultural training
- Adult literacy classes
- Biblical values training
- Business mentoring and job creation (through Partners Worldwide)
- Civic education
- Community development
- Diaconal training
- Disaster response and recovery
- Discipleship
- Emergency food distribution
- Environmental protection
- Health and nutrition programs
- HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention
- Income generation
- Justice education and advocacy
- Leadership development
- Organizational strengthening
- Refugee resettlement (Canada)
- Savings-based credit/loan programs
- Small business development
- Volunteer placement
- Well digging and water treatment
- World Renew had 1,067,648 people participate in their programs in the last year.
- 2,916 people volunteered with World Renew for more than 247,486 hours over the year.
Needs
World Renew communicates the following needs:
World Renew has something for everyone who wants to serve, no matter what your age, interests, or background. Read on to find out more about which service opportunities are right for you!
TO SUPPORT...
Free A Family is your opportunity to show God's love through prayers and pledge gifts to families in need.
Canadian Foodgrains Bank and Food Resource Bank enables Canadian and US supporters to provide food quickly to hungry people with no other hope of survival. You can organize local grain drives and make cash or grain donations.
Staff Partners build special relationships with a World Renew staff member.
Planned Giving helps you plan your giving to World Renew wisely. You can choose a gill annuity, a revocable gift, or estate options.
Individual Donations can be mailed directly to World Renew. We also offer an electronic fired transfer program. All donations are tax deductible.
Partnership Projects help you learn about and support a particular World Renew development project.
Church Offering Resources complement your church's giving program. You can organize special offerings for disaster and other causes, and World Renew will help you effectively promote your offering.
Peter Fish Project offers you the means to combat world hunger. An orange-colored fish bank, The Peter Fish makes giving your gifts a fun and educational activity.
Refugee Sponsorship enables you to help resettle refugees and speak tip for their rights in your own community.
TO LEARN...
World Hunger Week is a time for churches, families, and individuals to learn about hunger, its causes, and how to respond. World Renew offers videos, study guides, and giving opportunities.
Poverty Education Network offers you a way to "think globally and act locally." Local committees help members find ways to put their faith into action.
Children's and Youth Projects provide education, games, and fundraising goals related to hunger, poverty, and Christian service.
Audiovisuals are available free of charge from World Renew. Our videos and slide-tape shows cover a broad range of topics, including hunger, development, disaster response, and more.
TO ACT...
Volunteer Opportunities for short-term and long-term placements are available locally, in North America, and for a limited number of overseas positions.
Service and Training is for you if you're motivated for Christian service and interested in working overseas to a two-year term.