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Alliance Defense Fund, Inc.

Rating
Sector:

Advocacy

Total
Revenue:

$31,644,000

Total
Expenses:

$29,843,000

Net
Assets:

$31,666,000

Profile Changes

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Profile Contents

Research Analysis
Financial Information

Ministry Pie Chart

Database Avg This Ministry
Program 82.1% 76%
General & Admin 12.7% 5.1%
Fundraising 6.3% 13.4%
Savings -1.1% 5.6%


Ministry Pie Chart

Ministry Pie Chart

Age Size Box:

>50
Yr(s)25-50
<25
<$1m$1m-
$5m
>$5m

Summary

Alliance Defense Fund, Inc. ("ADF") was formed in 1993 to serve and litigate on behalf of those individuals and charities that promote religious liberty, the sanctity of human life, and family values. ADF provides individuals and charities with strategic planning, training, educational materials, and funding to coordinate and expand their ability to fight legal cases. ADF's mission is to fund the legal defense and advocacy of religious freedom, the sanctity of human life, and family values. ADF aims to dismantle the wall of legal precedents that negatively affect Christians. A seven-member Grants and Review Committee of volunteer attorneys reviews and evaluates each request for funding. 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: [ Back to top ]

Mailing Address:15100 North 90th Street
Scottsdale, AZ
85260-5260
Website: www.alliancedefensefund.org
Phone:(800) 835-5233, (480) 444-0020
Email:You need to enable javascript to see the email

Organization Details [ Back to top ]

EIN: 541660459
CEO/President: Mr. Alan E. Sears Tax Deductible: Yes
Chairman: Mr. Tom Minnery Fiscal Year End: June 30
Board Size: 10 Financial info from: 990
Founder: Bill Bright, Don Wildmon, & et al Member of ECFA: Yes
Year Founded: 1993 Member of ECFA since: 1995

Purpose [ Back to top ]

Alliance Defense Fund, Inc. ("ADF") was formed in 1993 to serve and litigate on behalf of those individuals and charities that promote religious liberty, sanctity of human life, and family values. ADF provides individuals and charities with strategic planning, training, educational materials, and funding to coordinate and expand their ability to fight legal cases.

ADF's mission is to fund the legal defense and advocacy of religious freedom, the sanctity of human life, and family values. ADF aims to dismantle the wall of legal precedents that negatively affect Christians. A seven-member Grants and Review Committee of volunteer attorneys reviews and evaluates each request for funding.

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 [ Back to top ]

Alliance Defense Fund communicates its mission statement as follows:

ADF is a servant organization that provides the resources that will keep the door open for the spread of the Gospel through the legal defense and advocacy of religious freedom, sanctity of life, and family values.

Program Accomplishments [ Back to top ]

Alliance Defense Fund provides strategic planning and coordination for attorneys and like-minded groups in preparation for and during litigation, trains attorneys to effectively argue court cases involving religious freedom, family values, and the sanctity of life, and provides grants to attorneys arguing cases that have a high likelihood of establishing positive precedents in areas of law consistent with ADF's mission.

As of June 1999, 200 attorneys have graduated from ADF's National Litigation Academy. The combined value of their volunteer legal work pledged will total in excess of $13 millions. This is is a 16:1 return on investment, when compared to the training costs.

ADF's Legal Resource Center provides ADF produced cutting edge legal education therough training manuals, videos, and other materials free of charge to attorneys. Since 1994, the Alliance Defense Fund has been involved in nearly every major legal case concerning religious liberty, family values, and the sanctity of life.

Statement of Faith [ Back to top ]

This profile needs a statement of faith

History [ Back to top ]

ADF uses the following to express its history:

Responding to the urgent need for the legal defense and advocacy of religious freedom, the leaders of more than 30 ministries came together in 1993 to launch ADF. These leaders included the late Dr. Bill Bright, the late Larry Burkett, Dr. James Dobson, Dr. D. James Kennedy, and Marlin Maddoux. Their prime concern was the dramatic loss of religious freedom in America's courts and the resulting challenges to people of faith to live and proclaim the Gospel.

Ministry Needs [ Back to top ]

Ministry Needs as reported by the ADF:

The Alliance Defense Fund is a nonprofit organization financially supported by the tax-deductible contributions of people who share the vision of ADF's Founders. ADF will not accept any government funding. Your financial and prayer support is needed and appreciated.

Your Donor's Bill of Rights
As a donor to the Alliance Defense Fund, you have the right:

  1. To know that ADF will never sell, rent, or make available your name or information related to your gifts.
  2. To know how ADF spends all funds available to us and to know about the cases or operations your gifts help fund.
  3. To know that ADF is in compliance with federal, state, and municipal laws.
  4. To restrict or designate your gift to a specific project.
  5. To receive a quick response to your inquires about ADF finances and programs.
  6. To visit our offices and meet personally with ADF staff.
  7. To expect that ADF will never use high-pressure tactics to solicit your prayers and support.
  8. To know that ADF is well managed.
  9. To know that ADF has a very involved and responsible board of directors that takes its oversight duties very seriously.
  10. To know that ADF appeals for funds are truthful and accurate to the very best of our ability.

Research Analysis

Transparency Grade [ Back to top ]

Transparency Grade of : A
Criteria categoryGradeOther Comments
Timeliness:100
Financial Information:100
Foundational Clarity:
Level of Cooperation:
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MinistryWatch.com 5 Star Financial Efficiency Ratings [ Back to top ]

Ranking CategoryRatingOverall RankAdvocacy Sector
Overall Efficiency RatingStarStar305 of 357    19 of 21
Fund Acquisition DecisionStarStar314 of 357      17 of 21
Resource Allocation DecisionStarStarStar207 of 357      11 of 21
Asset Utilization DecisionStarStar267 of 357      19 of 21
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Ministry Statement or Response [ Back to top ]

This organization has not offered MinistryWatch.com with an official statement or response for their profile. This area is meant as a mechanism for the profiled ministry to communicate anything they may choose. It is open ended as to the topic, issues, facts or news to address. It is not negative if there is no official statement as many don’t have anything to add than what is already on the profile. This section is not tied to transparency or to communication in general. Many very open and talkative ministries with us choose not to post an official statement. This section is just an open ended offering to the profiled ministry for anything extra to say as they may choose.

Financial Information:

Financial Ratios[ Back to top ]

Funding RatiosDatabase Average20082007200620052004
Return on FR Efforts9%14%12%11%12%0%
Fundraising Cost Ratio6%13%11%11%12%0%
Contributions Reliance83%96%97%97%98%0%
Fundraising Expense Ratio6%14%13%13%12%0%
Other Revenue Reliance17%4%3%3%2%0%
Operating RatiosDatabase Average20082007200620052004
Program Expense Ratio81%81%81%81%80%0%
Spending Ratio101%94%86%87%93%0%
Program Output Ratio82%76%70%70%75%0%
Savings Ratio-1%6%14%13%7%0%
Reserve Accumulation Rate2%6%16%14%7%0%
General & Admin Ratio13%5%6%7%7%0%
Investing RatiosDatabase Average20082007200620052004
Total Asset Turnover2.61x.89x.7x.85x.9x0x
Degree of L-T Investment3x2.27x1.72x3.19x1.05x0x
Current Asset Turnover4.93x2.01x1.21x2.72x.95x0x
Age of Assets9.6yr(s)2.8yr(s)4.2yr(s)2.9yr(s)2.8yr(s)0.0yr(s)
Liquidity RatiosDatabase Average20082007200620052004
Current Ratio116.98x8.62x13.05x11.56x34.54x0x
Current Liabilities Ratio.32x.12x.08x.09x.03x0x
Liquid Reserve Level5.67x5.28x9.19x4.04x12.27x0x
Solvency RatiosDatabase Average20082007200620052004
Liabilities Ratio.23x.06x.23x.05x.03x0x
Debt Ratio.06x0x.18x0x0x0x
Reserve Coverage Ratio86%103%101%105%104%0%

Financials[ Back to top ]

Balance Sheet
Assets20082007200620052004
Cash$8,087,000$19,596,000$8,003,000$9,023,000$19,802,000
Receivables, Inventories & Prepaids$952,000$577,000$361,000$553,000$275,000
Short-Term Investments$5,818,000$2,422,000$0$11,998,000$0
Total Current Assets$14,858,000$22,596,000$8,365,000$21,575,000$20,078,000
Long-Term Investments$0$0$16,976,000$0$0
Fixed Assets$18,810,000$16,279,000$1,295,000$1,102,000$917,000
Other Long-Term Assets$32,000$29,000$21,000$19,000$11,000
Total Long-Term Assets$18,842,000$16,309,000$18,294,000$1,121,000$928,000
TOTAL ASSETS$33,700,000$38,905,000$26,659,000$22,697,000$21,007,000
Liabilities20082007200620052004
Payables & Accrued Expenses$1,724,000$1,730,000$723,000$624,000$425,000
Other Current Liabilities$0$0$0$0$0
Total Current Liabilities$1,724,000$1,730,000$723,000$624,000$425,000
Debt$0$7,000,000$0$0$0
Other Long-Term Liabilities$309,000$309,000$487,000$0$0
Total Long-Term Liabilities$309,000$7,309,000$487,000$0$0
TOTAL LIABILITIES$2,034,000$9,040,000$1,211,000$624,000$425,000
Assets20082007200620052004
Unrestricted$29,383,000$28,505,000$24,666,000$20,902,000$20,006,000
Temporarily Restricted$2,283,000$1,360,000$781,000$1,170,000$574,000
Permanently Restricted$0$0$0$0$0
NET ASSETS$31,666,000$29,865,000$25,448,000$22,072,000$20,581,000
Revenue and Expenses
Revenue20082007200620052004
Total Contributions$30,499,000$30,616,000$25,335,000$21,611,000$17,756,000
Program Service Revenue$0$0$0$0$0
Membership Dues$0$0$0$0$0
Investment Income$613,000$292,000$760,000$374,000$165,000
Other Revenue$531,000$765,000$0$0$0
Total Other Revenue$1,145,000$1,057,000$760,000$374,000$165,000
TOTAL REVENUE$31,644,000$31,674,000$26,095,000$21,986,000$17,921,000
Expenses20082007200620052004
Program Services$24,067,000$22,150,000$18,335,000$16,415,000$12,787,000
Management & General$1,530,000$1,517,000$1,479,000$1,528,000$1,293,000
Fundraising$4,244,000$3,589,000$2,905,000$2,550,000$2,354,000
TOTAL EXPENSES$29,843,000$27,256,000$22,720,000$20,495,000$16,434,000
Change in Net Assets20082007200620052004
SURPLUS (DEFICIT)$1,801,000$4,417,000$3,375,000$1,491,000$1,486,000
Other Changes in Net Assets$0$0$0$0$0
TOTAL CHANGE IN NET ASSETS$1,801,000$4,417,000$3,375,000$1,491,000$1,486,000

Functional Expenses [ Back to top ]

Funding Ratios20082007200620052004
Grants & Allocations$1,620,000$1,838,000$2,003,000$2,502,000$3,184,000
Specific Assistance to Individuals$0$0$0$0$0
Benefits Paid To or For Members$0$0$0$0$0
Compensation of Officers, Directors$1,069,000$1,039,000$832,000$886,000$629,000
Other Salaries, Wages$9,778,000$10,383,000$8,767,000$5,573,000$4,180,000
Pension Plan Contributions$354,000$0$0$165,000$109,000
Other Employee Benefits$1,689,000$0$0$1,450,000$458,000
Payroll Taxes$773,000$0$0$0$532,000
Professional Fundraising Fees$506,000$0$0$0$223,000
Accounting Fees$14,000$0$0$0$21,000
Legal Fees$14,000$0$0$0$32,000
Supplies$248,000$330,000$254,000$0$87,000
Telephone$198,000$162,000$0$114,000$111,000
Postage & Shipping$1,912,000$3,131,000$180,000$0$119,000
Occupancy$1,062,000$1,007,000$839,000$639,000$442,000
Equipment Rental & Maintenance$159,000$138,000$122,000$112,000$45,000
Printing & Publications$3,780,000$1,976,000$0$0$104,000
Travel$1,605,000$2,101,000$2,045,000$1,690,000$1,520,000
Conferences, Conventions & Meetings$769,000$0$0$0$0
Interest$175,000$0$0$0$0
Depreciation, Depletion etc.$880,000$405,000$374,000$277,000$195,000
Other Expenses$3,231,000$4,739,000$7,299,000$7,082,000$4,434,000
Total Functional Expenses$29,843,000$27,256,000$22,720,000$20,495,000$16,434,000