Daystar U. S. 
Summary
Daystar U.S., Inc. ("Daystar") raises funds to support Daystar University, a Christian liberal arts university in Nairobi, Kenya. Daystar provides a broad-based, biblically oriented approach to training men and women for more effective service in church and society without the culturally disruptive and prohibitive cost of overseas training. Daystar's origins go back to 1967 when Dr. Donald K. Smith, an American, and S.E.M. Pheko, an African, founded Daystar Communications to evaluate various media used in communicating the message of Christ; to analyze the target audience of such messages; and, to design and develop more effective communication strategies for reaching such audiences. 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:
5701 Normandale Rd
Suite #323
Edina, MN 55424-2400
Website: www.daystarus.org
Phone: (952) 928-2550
Email: Daystar@daystarus.org
Organization details
EIN: 953732280
CEO/President: Dr. Dennis Morrow
Chairman: Mr. Ronald Tschetter
Board size: 19
Founder: Dr. Donald K. Smith & S.E.M. Pheko
Year founded: 1982
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1989
Purpose
Daystar U.S., Inc. ("Daystar") raises funds to support Daystar University, a Christian liberal arts university in Nairobi, Kenya. Daystar provides a broad-based, biblically oriented approach to training men and women for more effective service in church and society without the culturally disruptive and prohibitive cost of overseas training. Daystar's origins go back to 1967 when Dr. Donald K. Smith, an American, and S.E.M. Pheko, an African, founded Daystar Communications to evaluate various media used in communicating the message of Christ; to analyze the target audience of such messages; and, to design and develop more effective communication strategies for reaching such audiences.
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
Daystar's Mission Statement is:
Daystar has a two-fold mission:
- First, to help church and missionary organizations increase their effectiveness in communicating Christ to the culturally diverse societies of Africa.
-Second, to provide a university-level educational center where Christians throughout Africa can earn accredited degrees and be equipped as men and women of integrity.
Statement of faith
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Foreign Missions
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 420 of 442 | 75 of 77 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 422 of 442 | 74 of 77 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 405 of 442 | 75 of 77 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 284 of 442 | 52 of 77 |
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 | 7% | 21% | 17% | 14% | 9% | 10% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 20% | 16% | 14% | 9% | 10% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 95% | 92% | 95% | 95% | 96% | 97% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 16% | 14% | 15% | 13% | 14% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 5% | 8% | 5% | 5% | 4% | 3% |
| 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% | 70% | 73% | 71% | 70% | 71% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 99% | 122% | 116% | 90% | 67% | 74% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 81% | 85% | 85% | 64% | 47% | 53% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 1% | -22% | -16% | 10% | 33% | 26% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | -12% | -11% | 6% | 26% | 21% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 11% | 14% | 13% | 14% | 17% | 15% |
| 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 | 1.27 | 0.67 | 0.75 | 0.52 | 0.47 | 0.53 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.53 | 1.20 | 1.21 | 1.34 | 1.29 | 1.00 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.46 | 0.80 | 0.90 | 0.69 | 0.60 | 0.53 |
| 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 | 7.97 | 68.02 | 10.02 | 13.80 | 7.41 | 7.11 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.11 | 0.01 | 0.10 | 0.07 | 0.13 | 0.14 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.05 | 14.76 | 12.02 | 16.10 | 17.17 | 19.33 |
| Solvency ratios | Median % for all ministries in MW database | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 10% | 1% | 8% | 5% | 10% | 14% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 63% | 148% | 123% | 183% | 191% | 161% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Cash | $481,143 | $653,732 | $768,857 | $784,579 | $905,770 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $165,105 | $306,115 | $139,372 | $188,791 | $37,101 |
| Short-term investments | $768,521 | $700,948 | $677,518 | $683,688 | $756,039 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $1,414,769 | $1,660,795 | $1,585,747 | $1,657,058 | $1,698,910 |
| Long-term investments | $282,152 | $339,287 | $532,634 | $476,337 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $2,405 | $1,541 | $1,501 | $2,434 | $2,181 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $284,557 | $340,828 | $534,135 | $478,771 | $2,181 |
| Total assets | $1,699,326 | $2,001,623 | $2,119,882 | $2,135,829 | $1,701,091 |
| Liabilities | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $20,799 | $165,755 | $114,887 | $223,487 | $238,910 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $20,799 | $165,755 | $114,887 | $223,487 | $238,910 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $20,799 | $165,755 | $114,887 | $223,487 | $238,910 |
| Net assets | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Unrestricted | $296,465 | $272,404 | $232,071 | $193,192 | $98,170 |
| Temporarily restricted | $755,144 | $962,658 | $1,195,649 | $1,175,086 | $845,029 |
| Permanently restricted | $626,918 | $600,806 | $577,275 | $544,064 | $518,982 |
| Net assets | $1,678,527 | $1,835,868 | $2,004,995 | $1,912,342 | $1,462,181 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Total contributions | $853,568 | $1,221,350 | $1,152,087 | $1,440,971 | $1,189,240 |
| Program service revenue | $249 | $85 | $200 | $72 | $1,883 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $76,966 | $64,975 | $64,250 | $59,026 | $29,022 |
| Other revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total other revenue | $77,215 | $65,060 | $64,450 | $59,098 | $30,905 |
| Total revenue | $930,783 | $1,286,410 | $1,216,537 | $1,500,069 | $1,220,145 |
| Expenses | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Program services | $791,677 | $1,093,289 | $779,287 | $701,383 | $642,327 |
| Management and general | $159,067 | $191,665 | $151,744 | $169,979 | $140,092 |
| Fundraising | $182,570 | $207,371 | $165,297 | $130,306 | $124,066 |
| Total expenses | $1,133,314 | $1,492,325 | $1,096,328 | $1,001,668 | $906,485 |
| Change in net assets | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($202,531) | ($205,915) | $120,209 | $498,401 | $313,660 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($202,531) | ($205,915) | $120,209 | $498,401 | $313,660 |
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
History
Daystar's origins go back to 1967 when Dr. Donald K. Smith, an American, and S.E.M. Pheko, an African, founded Daystar Communications to evaluate various media used in communicating the message of Christ; to analyze the target audience of such messages; and, to design and develop more effective communcaiton strategies for reaching such audiences.
In 1971 Daystar began short-term training programs to assist church leaders in developing cross-cultural communication strategies. In 1976, Daystar added a two-year diploma program; in 1978, a Master of Arts degree; and in 1984, a Bachelor of Arts degree.
The student body of Daystar is growing as new programs and courses are added. Over the past years more than 4,000 students, from more than 50 different countries and numerous denominations, have participated in Daystar's programs.