Ankerberg Theological Research Institute 
Summary
Ankerberg Theological Research Institute ("ATRI") produces the John Ankerberg Show, a half hour television and radio ministry, broadcast nationwide. Producer and host, John Ankerberg, presents contemporary spiritual issues and defends biblical/Christian answers. ATRI also provides the Harbor Lighthouse web site, which contains 15 categories of material to help present, defend, and live our Christian faith. The site has 52 different scholars making contributions in the following areas: Science; Biblical Prophecy; The Bible For Dummies; Theological Dictionary; Practical Christianity; Islam; New Age; Media Wise; Roman Catholicism; Apologetics; Verse by Verse; Special Television Presentations; A Fact A Day; Discussion Forum; and, Special Events. Other activities of ATRI include the sale and distribution of tapes, books, videos and other materials. This organization is a Tennessee nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully deductible to the extent allowed by law. It is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
Contact information
Mailing address:
PO Box 8977
Chattanooga, TN 37421-7421
Website: www.johnankerberg.org
Phone: (423) 892-7722
Email: feedback@ankerberg.org
Organization details
EIN: 621138444
CEO/President: Dr. John Ankerberg
Chairman: Dr. John Ankerberg
Board size: 7
Founder: Dr. John Ankerberg
Year founded: 1982
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1993
Purpose
Ankerberg Theological Research Institute ("ATRI") produces the John Ankerberg Show, a half hour television and radio ministry, broadcast nationwide. Producer and host, Dr. John Ankerberg, presents contemporary spiritual issues and defends biblical/Christian answers. The ministry website, www.johnankerberg.org provides the weekly television and radio broadcast, over 1500 articles written by various Christian scholars on the following areas: Science; Bible for Dummies; Theological Dictionary; Practical Christianity; Islam; New Age; Media Wise; Roman Catholicism; Apologetics; Verse by Verse; Special Television Presentations; A Fact A Day; Discussion Forum; and Special Events. The site also offers books and tapes featured in connection with the many series topics and a video clip library (actual footage of a scholar answering a specific question. Over 200 questions featured). Other activities of ATRI include the sale and distribution of tapes, books, videos and other materials.
ATRI is a Tennessee nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully deductible to the extent allowed by law. It is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
Mission statement
Statement of faith
ATRI uses the following to express its statement of faith:
We believe in the Scripture of the Old and New Testaments as inspired by God and inerrant in the original writings, and that they are the supreme and final authority in faith and life.
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary and is true God and true man.
We believe that man was created in the image of God; that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death but also that spiritual death which is separation from God; and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature and, in the case of those who reach moral responsibility, become sinners in thought, word and deed.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice and that all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood.
We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, His ascension into heaven and His present life there for us as a High Priest and Advocate.
We believe that aall who receive by repentance and faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit, and become children of God.
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved and the everlasting punishment of the lost.
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Educational Media
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 305 of 593 | 26 of 52 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 189 of 593 | 18 of 52 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 432 of 593 | 34 of 52 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 305 of 593 | 26 of 52 |
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% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 11% | 7% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 11% | 7% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 93% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 7% | 6% | 7% | 11% | 6% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 7% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| 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% | 76% | 81% | 79% | 73% | 82% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 98% | 84% | 83% | 82% | 99% | 109% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 80% | 65% | 67% | 65% | 72% | 90% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 2% | 16% | 17% | 18% | 1% | -9% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 3% | 27% | 41% | 69% | 6% | -63% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 11% | 17% | 13% | 15% | 16% | 12% |
| 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 | 1.04 | 1.11 | 1.38 | 1.74 | 2.53 | 2.28 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.73 | 2.67 | 1.85 | 2.71 | 6.17 | 4.40 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.18 | 2.96 | 2.54 | 4.71 | 15.59 | 10.06 |
| 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 | 8.84 | 5.57 | 7.14 | 3.18 | 0.47 | 0.58 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.11 | 0.18 | 0.14 | 0.31 | 2.14 | 1.72 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.72 | 3.32 | 4.05 | 1.75 | -0.88 | -0.86 |
| Solvency ratios | Median % for all ministries in MW database | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 11% | 24% | 31% | 44% | 65% | 69% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 17% | 23% | 32% | 30% | 30% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 77% | 68% | 50% | 32% | 14% | 14% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Cash | $1,472,439 | $1,707,467 | $895,403 | $154,143 | $252,026 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $244,724 | $261,276 | $78,988 | $68,403 | $76,981 |
| Short-term investments | $5,991 | $17,991 | $16,366 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $1,723,154 | $1,986,734 | $990,757 | $222,546 | $329,007 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $16,366 | $16,366 |
| Fixed assets | $2,404,263 | $1,139,073 | $1,071,444 | $1,017,947 | $1,003,921 |
| Other long-term assets | $469,822 | $547,117 | $621,864 | $115,215 | $99,881 |
| Total long-term assets | $2,874,085 | $1,686,190 | $1,693,308 | $1,149,528 | $1,120,168 |
| Total assets | $4,597,239 | $3,672,924 | $2,684,065 | $1,372,074 | $1,449,175 |
| Liabilities | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $270,792 | $241,947 | $274,485 | $448,576 | $542,096 |
| Other current liabilities | $38,842 | $36,311 | $37,040 | $27,427 | $22,711 |
| Total current liabilities | $309,634 | $278,258 | $311,525 | $476,003 | $564,807 |
| Debt | $799,065 | $836,347 | $865,841 | $412,241 | $429,681 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $11,270 | $18,575 | $1,370 | $9,677 | $7,969 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $810,335 | $854,922 | $867,211 | $421,918 | $437,650 |
| Total liabilities | $1,119,969 | $1,133,180 | $1,178,736 | $897,921 | $1,002,457 |
| Net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Unrestricted | $3,435,270 | $2,493,191 | $1,452,433 | $474,153 | $446,718 |
| Temporarily restricted | $42,000 | $46,553 | $52,896 | $0 | $0 |
| Permanently restricted | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assets | $3,477,270 | $2,539,744 | $1,505,329 | $474,153 | $446,718 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Total contributions | $6,042,543 | $6,088,618 | $5,691,419 | $3,490,648 | $3,019,229 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | ($13,058) | $239 | $316 | $0 | $1,450 |
| Other revenue | $13,075 | $1,685 | $4,761 | $5,836 | $5,161 |
| Total other revenue | $17 | $1,924 | $5,077 | $5,836 | $6,611 |
| Total revenue | $6,042,560 | $6,090,542 | $5,696,496 | $3,496,484 | $3,025,840 |
| Expenses | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Program services | $3,900,986 | $4,076,609 | $3,677,196 | $2,523,783 | $2,713,218 |
| Management and general | $872,015 | $654,337 | $683,016 | $566,218 | $398,147 |
| Fundraising | $332,033 | $325,181 | $305,108 | $379,048 | $197,022 |
| Total expenses | $5,105,034 | $5,056,127 | $4,665,320 | $3,469,049 | $3,308,387 |
| Change in net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $937,526 | $1,034,415 | $1,031,176 | $27,435 | ($282,547) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $937,526 | $1,034,415 | $1,031,176 | $27,435 | ($282,547) |
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
History
John Ankerberg is the founder and President of Ankerberg Theological Research Institute which he established in 1982. John has a BA from the University of Illinois, a MA in Church History and the History of Christian Thought from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, a Mdiv and PhD from Luther Rice Seminary. He is an ordained Baptist minister and former pastor. In addition to the television and radio shows, John has authored and co-authored 69 books. John believes that Christianity can not only stand its ground in the area of the world's ideas but that Christianity alone is true.