Pioneers, Inc. 
The information on this page was last updated 11/22/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Founded in 1979 by former businessman Ted Fletcher and his wife, Peggy, Pioneers partners with local churches to make disciples and initiate church-planting movements among unreached peoples. The unreached are cultural and ethnic groups without a self-sustaining witness to the gospel in their own cultures.
From business and education to healthcare, agriculture, the arts, and more, our 3,000 global members use their diverse gifts and experience to serve in needy communities. As they do, they see God transform lives across cultures and people groups everywhere.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Pioneers-USA
10123 William Carey Dr.
Orlando, FL 32832
Website: www.pioneers.org
Phone: (407) 382-6000
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 521206938
CEO/President: Steve Richardson
Chairman: Howard Costley
Board size: 15
Founder: Ted and Peggy Fletcher
Ruling year: 1981
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 09/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1987
Purpose
Whether in sprawling cities or rural villages, our teams make their homes in unreached contexts and learn new languages. They use innovative and creative means to build relationships and make disciples. They introduce people to the Bible and share the gospel in culturally understandable ways.
We work in partnership with the local church. Each missionary is commissioned by a sending church. The sacrificial gifts of friends, family, and churches provide financial support. This makes it possible for cross-cultural missionaries to work alongside local believers with a heart to see disciples making disciples, worldwide.
Mission statement
Pioneers mobilizes teams to glorify God among unreached peoples by initiating church planting movements in partnership with local churches.
Statement of faith
We believe in one God, Creator of all things, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, His virgin birth, sinless life, divine miracles, vicarious and atoning death on the cross, bodily resurrection, ascension and exaltation, mediatorial work, and personal, imminent, and visible return in power and glory.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who indwells all believers, enabling them to live holy lives and to witness and work for the Lord Jesus Christ despite opposition from the world, the flesh and Satan.
We believe that the Holy Scriptures, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, were originally given by God, divinely inspired, without error, infallible, and are entirely trustworthy and the supreme authority in all matters of faith and practice.
We believe that Adam and Eve, created in the image of God, were tempted by Satan, the god of this world, and fell; that their sin has passed to all people, who as a result are lost, are unable to save themselves from the wrath of God, and need to be saved.
We believe that salvation is a gift of God to those who repent and personally believe in Jesus Christ; that it is accomplished by God's grace through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit.
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of eternal life with God, they that are lost unto the resurrection of eternal condemnation separated from God.
We believe in the spiritual unity of all true believers, the Universal Church, the Body of Christ.
We believe that Christ commanded the Church to go into all the world and make disciples of all peoples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching those who believe to obey all that Christ commanded.
Our Position on Secondary Issues
Pioneers is an international fellowship comprised of evangelicals drawn from many different churches and backgrounds. Our desire is to work in harmony with our national church partners and Christian colleagues on the basis of essential doctrines as found in our Statement of Faith. These are doctrines on which, historically, there has been general agreement among all true followers of Christ.
In matters not addressed by our Statement of Faith, Pioneers acknowledges differing points of view provided they are based on the Bible as supreme authority, and that no interpretation or practice will undermine the work of the gospel or the unity among those with whom we serve. We seek to live, work and relate to one another in a spirit of love and humility, as outlined in Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 13 and other passages.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Foreign Missions
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 689 of 1104 | 85 of 143 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 509 of 1105 | 67 of 143 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 629 of 1105 | 78 of 143 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 752 of 1104 | 92 of 143 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 5% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 4% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 5% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 99% | 82% | 95% | 95% | 95% | 94% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 6% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 5% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 1% | 18% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 6% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 84% | 83% | 83% | 84% | 83% | 83% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 99% | 79% | 93% | 101% | 98% | 97% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 82% | 66% | 78% | 84% | 82% | 81% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 1% | 21% | 7% | -1% | 2% | 3% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | 31% | 11% | -2% | 4% | 5% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 8% | 11% | 12% | 11% | 11% | 12% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.32 | 1.08 | 1.38 | 1.65 | 1.49 | 1.43 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.21 | 1.38 | 1.60 | 1.79 | 1.84 | 1.87 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.96 | 1.49 | 2.20 | 2.96 | 2.74 | 2.67 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 18.81 | 13.60 | 12.13 | 6.55 | 13.87 | 16.61 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.05 | 0.07 | 0.08 | 0.15 | 0.07 | 0.06 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.67 | 7.46 | 5.01 | 3.44 | 4.06 | 4.23 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 7% | 5% | 10% | 9% | 11% | 11% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 5% | 0% | 7% | 8% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 68% | 88% | 65% | 55% | 60% | 62% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Cash | $6,246,095 | $7,864,901 | $973,978 | $1,248,472 | $1,830,915 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Short-term investments | $42,025,035 | $22,705,553 | $22,915,769 | $22,899,030 | $21,252,301 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $48,271,130 | $30,570,454 | $23,889,747 | $24,147,502 | $23,083,216 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $17,605,767 | $17,327,967 | $17,877,510 | $18,374,178 | $18,790,553 |
| Other long-term assets | $965,851 | $942,304 | $942,572 | $1,847,360 | $1,294,369 |
| Total long-term assets | $18,571,618 | $18,270,271 | $18,820,082 | $20,221,538 | $20,084,922 |
| Total assets | $66,842,748 | $48,840,725 | $42,709,829 | $44,369,040 | $43,168,138 |
| Liabilities | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $3,548,998 | $2,521,217 | $3,646,377 | $1,740,991 | $1,389,385 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $3,548,998 | $2,521,217 | $3,646,377 | $1,740,991 | $1,389,385 |
| Debt | $0 | $2,447,465 | $0 | $2,950,000 | $3,500,000 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $0 | $2,447,465 | $0 | $2,950,000 | $3,500,000 |
| Total liabilities | $3,548,998 | $4,968,682 | $3,646,377 | $4,690,991 | $4,889,385 |
| Net assets | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Without donor restrictions | $56,486,271 | $38,480,969 | $34,387,848 | $16,499,940 | $15,759,354 |
| With donor restrictions | $6,807,479 | $5,391,074 | $4,675,604 | $23,178,109 | $22,519,399 |
| Net assets | $63,293,750 | $43,872,043 | $39,063,452 | $39,678,049 | $38,278,753 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Total contributions | $74,469,050 | $68,677,028 | $66,593,558 | $64,381,310 | $59,540,335 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $726,328 | $1,418,161 | $1,343,917 | $1,227,944 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $4,764,766 | $1,842,803 | $1,199,265 | $1,409,682 | $2,303,330 |
| Other revenue | $12,132,444 | $754,481 | $786,618 | $486,488 | $296,107 |
| Total other revenue | $16,897,210 | $3,323,612 | $3,404,044 | $3,240,087 | $3,827,381 |
| Total revenue | $91,366,260 | $72,000,640 | $69,997,602 | $67,621,397 | $63,367,716 |
| Expenses | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Program services | $60,056,950 | $55,907,441 | $59,085,860 | $55,111,445 | $51,119,019 |
| Management and general | $7,918,144 | $7,777,091 | $7,701,684 | $7,103,841 | $7,169,938 |
| Fundraising | $3,969,459 | $3,507,517 | $3,824,655 | $4,006,815 | $3,230,755 |
| Total expenses | $71,944,553 | $67,192,049 | $70,612,199 | $66,222,101 | $61,519,712 |
| Change in net assets | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $19,421,707 | $4,808,591 | ($614,597) | $1,399,296 | $1,848,004 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $19,421,707 | $4,808,591 | ($614,597) | $1,399,296 | $1,848,004 |
Compensation
Compensation data for this ministry has not been collected.
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 11/22/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
PIONEERS was founded in 1976 by Ted and Peggy Fletcher. In 1994, World Outreach Fellowship merged with PIONEERS, and today the organization continues to grow as it brings the gospel to unreached people groups.
Ted met Christ at a Billy Graham Campaign during the Korean War. At that time he began thinking about God's concern for all peoples and began praying for a part in reaching people of other cultures with the gospel. As a promise, God gave him Psalm 2:8, "Ask of me, and I shall give thee the nations for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." From a successful business career and a rise to the position of national sales manager with the Wall Street Journal, Ted and Peggy stepped out in faith to found a new mission agency-PIONEERS. Their vision was to mobilize missionaries to reach the unreached peoples of the world.
1976 Founded as World Evangelical Outreach in Sterling, VA by Ted and Peggy Fletcher
1979 First career missionaries sent to Nigeria
1979 First summer missionaries sent to Papua New Guinea
1980 Opened the field of Papua New Guinea under the direction of Asia Pacific Christian Mission (APCM)
1982 PIONEERS-India began, a ministry by nationals
1983 First Candidate Orientation Program held
1984 Name changed to PIONEERS
1988 John Fletcher appointed as Executive Director
1992 Relocated U.S. mobilization base from Washington, D.C. to Orlando, FL
1993 International Leadership Team established
1994 Incorporated World Outreach Fellowship into PIONEERS ministries
1994 PIONEERS-Canada became a mobilization base
1994 PIONEERS-USA purchased property in Orlando, FL for future headquarters/training site
1994 Began process of formally internationalizing the mission
1994 PIONEERS-Africa established, based in Ghana, West Africa
1997 Cooperation of Asia Pacific Christian Mission and South Pacific Partners to form PIONEERS of Australia and PIONEERS-New Zealand
1998 Dr. C. Douglas McConnell appointed first International Director.
1998 PIONEERS-USA moves into new administrative facilities.
1999 Steve Richardson appointed as U.S. Director/President.
2001- Action Partners, an Australian mission agency, joins the Pioneers family, and a new mobilizatio base begins in Brazil.
2002- Pioneers sends 162 summer missionaries and dedicates the Frizen Missionary Training Center.
2003- John Fletcher begins term as Pioneers sencond international director.