Bridges for Peace, Inc./ BFPUSA 
Summary
Bridges for Peace is working to build positive relationships between Christians and Jews and to educate the church about its rich Hebraic heritage. They offer assistance to Jewish immigrants and other poor people in Israel by providing food baskets, blankets, medical assistance, etc. In addition, they provide education and ministry through various means such as television programs, prayer and teaching letters, newspapers and other periodicals. Bridges for Peace is a nonprofit organization and contributions to it are 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:
PO Box 410037
5995 N. Wickham Rd
Melbourne, FL 32941-0037
Website: www.BFPUSA.org
Phone: (800) 566-1998
Email: www.bridgesforpeace.com
Organization details
EIN: 411334042
CEO/President: Rev. James B. Solberg
Chairman: Rev. Rebecca J. Brimmer
Board size: 13
Founder: Dr. G. Douglas Young
Year founded: 1977
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1996
Purpose
Bridges For Peace, Inc. ("BFP") is a Jerusalem-based, multi-faceted, Christian organization dedicated to the building of sincere relationships between the Christian and Jewish communities, while encouraging greater concern for the land and people of Israel. It is BFP's desire to see Christians and Jews working side by side for better understanding and a more secure Israel. BFP has the following programs:
Dispatch from Jerusalem: A bi-monthly publication with pertinent and positive news from Israel and informative insights into the hopes and aspirations of the Israeli people, all in a prophetic context. Israel Teaching Letter: Monthly in-depth studies bringing to light the fuller meanings of biblical concepts from the Hebraic roots of the Scriptures.
Update From Jerusalem: Weekly e-mail update with prayer focus.
Chai Night Prayer and Study Groups: A monthly intercessory prayer program sponsored by individuals and churches around the world who desire to "Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem."
Bridge-Building Projects: Promote better Christian-Jewish understanding and support for Israel on the local and regional level around the world. Projects such as Hebrew classes, film series, Israel Awareness Programs, speakers bureau, study seminars, etc. are offered.
Operation Ezra: A vital social assistance program providing a channel of practical help to a variety of worthy projects in Israel utilizing cash contributions and gifts-in-kind from Christians to bless Israel.
Operation Rescue: This program helps the poorest Jews, from the countries of the former Soviet Union, prepare to immigrate to Israel.
Short Term Service: A wonderful opportunity for Christians to build sincere relationships by volunteering to serve as short term staff assisting Israel's poor and new immigrants directly via our BFP Food Bank/Distribution Center, Gleaning Program, and Home Repair Project.
Bridges for Peace Forest in Israel: Located on Mt. Tabor, this forest gives Christians the opportunity to participate in the greening of Israel and the fulfillment of the prophecies about the restoration of the Land.
Bible Study Tours in Israel: Bridges for Peace provides a variety of travel opportunities and lectures to help you or your tour group gain a deeper understanding of Israel, the Jewish people and the Jewish roots of our Christian faith in light of the Bible, history, archaeology, and current events.
Bridges For Peace is a nonprofit organization and contributions to it are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. In addition, it is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
Mission statement
Bridges For Peace communicates its goals as the following:
- To encourage meaningful and supportive relationships between Christians and Jews in Israel and around the world.
- To educate and equip Christians to identify with Israel, the Jewish people, and the biblical/Hebraic foundations of our Christian faith.
- To bless Israel and the Jewish people in Israel and worldwide, through practical assistance, volunteer service, and prayer.
- To communicate Christian perspectives to the attention of Israeli leaders and the Jewish community-at-large.
- To counter Anti-Semitism worldwide and support Israel's divine God-given right to exist in her God-given land.
Statement of faith
Bridges for Peace communicates its statement of faith as follows:
The Bible:
The Bible is the inspired Word of God (II Timothy 3:16).
God:
God is one (Deuteronomy 6:4; I Corinthians 8:6);
The Father, Son and Holy Spirit exist in Unity (Matthew 28:19);
Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son (Matthew 16:16; John 3:16);
Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and Man (Timothy 2:5).
Man:
All men have sinned and come short of the Glory of God (Romans 3:23);
The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23, John 3:16, 36).
Salvation:
Salvation is by grace through faith as a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8);
Repentance and Baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are outward signs of an inward faith; Faith is also exhibited by a consecrated and holy life; faith without works is dead (James 2:18).
The Future:
The return of Jesus Christ is imminent (Acts 1:11);
There will be a literal resurrection of the dead (John 5:28);
Those in Christ shall be immortalized (I Corinthians 15:53, 54);
Those wicked shall be destroyed (Revelation 21:8);
Israel will be restored as the Kingdom of God under the kingship of Messiah Jesus (Luke 1:32);
All believers shall be joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Advocacy
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 123 of 430 | 7 of 24 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 328 of 430 | 16 of 24 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 122 of 430 | 7 of 24 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 41 of 430 | 5 of 24 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Median % for all ministries in MW database | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 7% | 17% | 18% | 19% | 13% | 23% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 10% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 95% | 45% | 45% | 40% | 42% | 41% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 9% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 5% | 55% | 55% | 60% | 58% | 59% |
| Operating ratios | Median % for all ministries in MW database | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 83% | 86% | 86% | 87% | 89% | 86% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 99% | 100% | 100% | 104% | 93% | 106% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 81% | 86% | 85% | 90% | 82% | 91% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 1% | 0% | 0% | -4% | 7% | -6% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 3% | -1% | 2% | -27% | 45% | -60% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 10% | 6% | 6% | 6% | 5% | 5% |
| Investing ratios | Median measure for all ministries in MW database | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.32 | 4.12 | 4.05 | 5.15 | 4.60 | 6.95 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.53 | 1.73 | 1.70 | 2.00 | 2.41 | 1.54 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.53 | 7.14 | 6.88 | 10.28 | 11.09 | 10.73 |
| Liquidity ratios | Median measure for all ministries in MW database | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 9.09 | 2.54 | 1.96 | 2.48 | 3.90 | 3.05 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.10 | 0.39 | 0.51 | 0.40 | 0.26 | 0.33 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.07 | 1.02 | 0.85 | 0.70 | 0.80 | 0.75 |
| Solvency ratios | Median % for all ministries in MW database | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 10% | 39% | 41% | 30% | 21% | 31% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 63% | 15% | 15% | 14% | 17% | 10% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
| Cash | $326,011 | $343,318 | $293,281 | $274,383 | $230,727 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $164,310 | $147,472 | $161,598 | $172,207 | $194,893 |
| Short-term investments | $160,568 | $201,164 | $35,302 | $4,477 | $20,500 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $650,889 | $691,954 | $490,181 | $451,067 | $446,120 |
| Long-term investments | $376,399 | $346,594 | $347,680 | $487,887 | $167,573 |
| Fixed assets | $98,842 | $134,926 | $139,929 | $130,558 | $72,736 |
| Other long-term assets | $640 | $2,703 | $1,500 | $18,100 | $2,059 |
| Total long-term assets | $475,881 | $484,223 | $489,109 | $636,545 | $242,368 |
| Total assets | $1,126,770 | $1,176,177 | $979,290 | $1,087,612 | $688,488 |
| Liabilities | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $239,020 | $339,439 | $183,799 | $77,216 | $120,202 |
| Other current liabilities | $17,269 | $13,819 | $13,952 | $38,539 | $26,248 |
| Total current liabilities | $256,289 | $353,258 | $197,751 | $115,755 | $146,450 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $49,153 | $22,959 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $134,789 | $103,434 | $100,800 | $109,642 | $68,335 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $183,942 | $126,393 | $100,800 | $109,642 | $68,335 |
| Total liabilities | $440,231 | $479,651 | $298,551 | $225,397 | $214,785 |
| Net assets | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
| Unrestricted | $375,946 | $433,221 | $379,592 | $596,543 | $272,038 |
| Temporarily restricted | $310,593 | $263,305 | $301,147 | $265,672 | $201,665 |
| Permanently restricted | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assets | $686,539 | $696,526 | $680,739 | $862,215 | $473,703 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
| Total contributions | $2,091,469 | $2,166,305 | $1,938,449 | $2,286,512 | $1,861,308 |
| Program service revenue | $2,505,228 | $2,588,309 | $2,938,446 | $3,082,506 | $2,606,248 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $31,959 | $17,652 | ($26,870) | $12,117 | $26,973 |
| Other revenue | $6,155 | $7,392 | $7,545 | $7,971 | $4,646 |
| Total other revenue | $2,543,342 | $2,613,353 | $2,919,121 | $3,102,594 | $2,637,867 |
| Total revenue | $4,634,811 | $4,779,658 | $4,857,570 | $5,389,106 | $4,499,175 |
| Expenses | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
| Program services | $4,008,257 | $4,082,100 | $4,368,113 | $4,443,757 | $4,094,524 |
| Management and general | $282,213 | $291,685 | $307,482 | $255,569 | $254,332 |
| Fundraising | $354,328 | $390,086 | $363,451 | $301,268 | $436,244 |
| Total expenses | $4,644,798 | $4,763,871 | $5,039,046 | $5,000,594 | $4,785,100 |
| Change in net assets | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($9,987) | $15,787 | ($181,476) | $388,512 | ($285,925) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($9,987) | $15,787 | ($181,476) | $388,512 | ($285,925) |
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
History
Founded in 1976, Bridges for Peace seeks to be a ministry of hope and reconciliation. Through programs both in Israel and worldwide, BFP are giving Christians the opportunity to actively express their biblical responsibility before God to be faithful to Israel and the Jewish community. The ministry's founder, Dr. G. Douglas Young, came to Israel in 1957, and today Bridges for Peace is an international organization with offices serving six continents.
Program accomplishments
Needs
Bridges For Peace has communicated the following needs:
Prayers are one of the most important and needed commitments.