The Mustard Seed, Inc. 
Summary
The Mustard Seed, Inc. ("TMS") is an interdenominational, international, evangelical Christian missions organization, established in 1948. For over fifty years faithful supporters of TMS have sown seeds of hope through the wide range of evangelistic outreach ministries the organization sponsors across Southeast Asia. These include: orphanage/children's homes, christian schools (kindergarten through high school), vocational training, medical clinics, hospitals, Bible colleges, theological institutes, churches and as needed relief efforts. All TMS missions are staffed by indigenous Christian personnel and cross-cultural missionary families. The essence of TMS is best express in the following statement by the Founder:
"Our purpose: to present Christ to all we meet, to heal disease and all manner of suffering and to love sincerely and deeply those people whose lives we are privileged to touch." (Lillian Dickson (1901-1983)
This organization is a nonprofit. 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).
Contact information
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 20188
Charleston, SC 29413-0188
Website: www.mustardseed.org
Phone: (843) 388-9314
Email: info@mustardseed.org
Organization details
EIN: 952053950
CEO/President: Mr. William N. Deans
Chairman: Mr. Don Richardson
Board size: 11
Founder: Ms. Lilian Dickson
Year founded: 1948
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1993
Purpose
The Mustard Seed, Inc. ("TMS") is an interdenominational, international, evangelical Christian missions organization, established in 1948. For over fifty years faithful supporters of TMS have sown seeds of hope through the wide range of evangelistic outreach ministries the organization sponsors across Southeast Asia. These include: orphanage/children's homes, christian schools (kindergarten through high school), vocational training, medical clinics, hospitals, Bible colleges, theological institutes, churches and as needed relief efforts. All TMS missions are staffed by indigenous Christian personnel and cross-cultural missionary families. The essence of TMS is best express in the following statement by the Founder:
"Our purpose: to present Christ to all we meet, to heal disease and all manner of suffering and to love sincerely and deeply those people whose lives we are privileged to touch." (Lillian Dickson (1901-1983)
This organization is a nonprofit. 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
TMS uses the following to express its Mission Statement:
"To present Christ as Savior to all we meet, to heal disease and all manner of suffering and to love sincerely and deeply those people whose lives we are privileged to touch."
Statement of faith
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Evangelism Support
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 308 of 586 | 29 of 45 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 182 of 586 | 24 of 45 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 410 of 586 | 35 of 45 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 338 of 586 | 31 of 45 |
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% | 5% | 6% | 4% | 5% | 4% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 5% | 6% | 4% | 5% | 4% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 94% | 99% | 93% | 99% | 100% | 98% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 7% | 4% | 4% | 7% | 4% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 6% | 1% | 7% | 1% | 0% | 2% |
| 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% | 76% | 78% | 84% | 80% | 91% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 98% | 76% | 128% | 98% | 70% | 99% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 80% | 58% | 100% | 83% | 56% | 90% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 2% | 24% | -28% | 2% | 30% | 1% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | 22% | -26% | 2% | 54% | 3% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 11% | 17% | 17% | 12% | 13% | 6% |
| 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 | 1.07 | 0.62 | 0.85 | 1.14 | 0.96 | 1.51 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.69 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.18 | 0.62 | 0.85 | 1.14 | 0.96 | 1.51 |
| 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 | 8.79 | 32.14 | 9.01 | 146.75 | 90.02 | 65.17 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.11 | 0.03 | 0.11 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.02 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.71 | 18.74 | 12.57 | 10.43 | 12.30 | 7.82 |
| Solvency ratios | Median % for all ministries in MW database | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 10% | 15% | 30% | 15% | 25% | 35% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 75% | 138% | 83% | 74% | 78% | 43% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Cash | $224,875 | $195,027 | $225,660 | $222,099 | $59,082 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $29,795 | $1,791 | $0 | $19,735 | $0 |
| Short-term investments | $109,174 | $145,466 | $134,329 | $148,833 | $149,401 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $363,844 | $342,284 | $359,989 | $390,667 | $208,483 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total assets | $363,844 | $342,284 | $359,989 | $390,667 | $208,483 |
| Liabilities | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $11,322 | $37,989 | $2,453 | $4,340 | $3,199 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $11,322 | $37,989 | $2,453 | $4,340 | $3,199 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $41,666 | $63,251 | $52,669 | $91,912 | $70,048 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $41,666 | $63,251 | $52,669 | $91,912 | $70,048 |
| Total liabilities | $52,988 | $101,240 | $55,122 | $96,252 | $73,247 |
| Net assets | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Unrestricted | $310,853 | $241,044 | $272,136 | $281,834 | $113,249 |
| Temporarily restricted | $0 | $0 | $32,731 | $12,581 | $21,987 |
| Permanently restricted | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assets | $310,856 | $241,044 | $304,867 | $294,415 | $135,236 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Total contributions | $291,109 | $211,349 | $413,257 | $534,960 | $311,126 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $4,379 | $15,358 | $5,536 | $1,789 | $0 |
| Other revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $7,865 |
| Total other revenue | $4,379 | $15,358 | $5,536 | $1,789 | $7,865 |
| Total revenue | $295,488 | $226,707 | $418,793 | $536,749 | $318,991 |
| Expenses | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Program services | $172,549 | $227,516 | $346,061 | $300,044 | $285,517 |
| Management and general | $37,552 | $50,437 | $48,388 | $48,463 | $18,166 |
| Fundraising | $15,578 | $12,577 | $17,042 | $28,253 | $11,253 |
| Total expenses | $225,679 | $290,530 | $411,491 | $376,760 | $314,936 |
| Change in net assets | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $69,809 | ($63,823) | $7,302 | $159,989 | $4,055 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $69,809 | ($63,823) | $7,302 | $159,989 | $4,055 |
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
History
Mustard Seed can trace its roots to founder Lilian Dickson's (1901-1983) work in Taiwan just after World War II.
Program accomplishments
Needs
The Mustard Seed has communicated the following needs for 2003:
The Mustard Seed needs your prayers and financial support as they undertake a major effort to provide more adequate classrooms, housing, medical and worship facilities to meet the needs of the children and adults that the Lord has placed in their path.
The day to day operations of The Mustard Seed - USA office are moving to our new location in Charleston, South Carolina. Your use of the Charleston address will be helpful in processing requests and contributions.