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PO BOX 4947
Wheaton IL 60189-4947
Wheaton IL | IRS ruling year: 1996 | EIN: 75-2661374
MEI IS A NON-PROFIT MISSION AGENCY THAT ESTABLISHES AND CULTIVATES SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY AMONG CHRISTIAN LEADERS AND THEIR FAMILIES SERVING INTERNATIONALLY. WITHIN THI ... (More)
MEI IS A NON-PROFIT MISSION AGENCY THAT ESTABLISHES AND CULTIVATES SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY AMONG CHRISTIAN LEADERS AND THEIR FAMILIES SERVING INTERNATIONALLY. WITHIN THIS CONTEXT OF COMMUNITY MEI PROVIDES SOUL CARE, SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT, AND DEVELOPMENTAL RESOURCES TO ADDRESS BOTH URGENT AND LONG-TERM NEEDS OF CHRISTIAN LEADERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. (Less)
Great
This charity's score is 95%, earning it a Four-Star rating. If this organization aligns with your passions and values, you can give with confidence.
This overall score is calculated from multiple beacon scores: 90% Accountability & Finance, 10% Leadership & Adaptability. Learn more about our criteria and methodology.
We recognize that not all metrics and beacons equally predict a charity’s success. The percentage each beacon contributes to the organization’s overall rating depends on the number of beacons an organization has earned.
Use the tool below to select different beacons to see how the weighting shifts when only one, two, or three beacons are earned.
Rating histories are available for a growing number of rated organizations. Check back later to see if this organization has a rating history!
The IRS is significantly delayed in processing nonprofits' annual tax filings (Forms 990). As a result, the Accountability & Finance score for Ministry Essentials is outdated and the overall rating may not be representative of its current operations. Please check with the charity directly for any questions you may have.
Ministry Essentials has earned a 94% for the Accountability & Finance beacon. See the metrics below for more information.
This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies.
This Accountability & Finance score represents IRS Form 990 data up until FY 2019, which is the most recent Form 990 currently available to us.
Learn more
Full Credit
Partial Credit
No Credit
Not ApplicableBoard Composition - 3/4 - 25/25 ptsBoard Composition - 3/4 - 25/25 pts
Charity Navigator looks for at least 3 board members, with more than 50% of those members identified as independent (not salaried).
The presence of an independent governing body is strongly recommended by many industry professionals to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters.
Source: IRS Form 990
Independent Audit or Financial Review - Has Audit/Review - 20/20 ptsIndependent Audit or Financial Review - Has Audit/Review - 20/20 pts
An Audit, Review, or Compilation provides important information about financial accountability and accuracy. Organizations are scored based on their Total Revenue Amount:
| Total Revenue Amount | Expectation to Receive Credit |
|---|---|
| $1 million or higher | Expected to complete an audit |
| $500,000 - $1 million | Expected to complete an audit, review, or compilation |
| Less than $500,000 | No expectation (removed from scoring methodology) |
Source: IRS Form 990
Conflict of Interest Policy - Listed - 3/3 ptsConflict of Interest Policy - Listed - 3/3 pts
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a conflict of interest policy on the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy protects the organization and by extension those it serves, when it is considering entering into a transaction that may benefit the private interest of an officer, director and/or key employee of the organization.
Source: IRS Form 990
Board Meeting Minutes - Documented - 3/3 ptsBoard Meeting Minutes - Documented - 3/3 pts
Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the Form 990 that the organization has this process in place as an accountability and transparency measure.
An official record of the events that take place during a board meeting ensures that a contemporaneous document exists for future reference.
Source: IRS Form 990
Document Retention and Destruction - Missing - 0/3 ptsDocument Retention and Destruction - Missing - 0/3 pts
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a document retention and destruction policy per the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy establishes guidelines for the handling, backing up, archiving and destruction of documents. These guidelines foster good record keeping procedures that promote data integrity.
Source: IRS Form 990
Whistleblower Policy - Missing - 0/3 ptsWhistleblower Policy - Missing - 0/3 pts
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a whistleblower policy per the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy outlines procedures for handling employee complaints, as well as a confidential way for employees to report financial or other types of mismanagement.
Source: IRS Form 990
Website - Listed - 3/3 ptsWebsite - Listed - 3/3 pts
Charity Navigator looks for a website on the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency metric.
Nonprofits act in the public trust and reporting publicly on activities is an important component.
Source: IRS Form 990
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditNot ApplicableLiabilities to Assets Ratio - 2.18% - 15/15 ptsLiabilities to Assets Ratio - 2.18% - 15/15 pts
The Liabilities to Assets Ratio is determined by Total Liabilities divided by Total Assets (most recent 990). This ratio is an indicator of an organization’s solvency and/or long-term sustainability.
| Liabilities to Assets Ratio | Amount of Credit Received |
|---|---|
| Less than 50% | Full Credit |
| 50% - 59.9% | Partial Credit |
| 60% or more | No Credit |
Source: IRS Form 990
Program Expense Ratio - 91.34% - 25/25 ptsProgram Expense Ratio - 91.34% - 25/25 pts
The Program Expense Ratio is determined by Program Expenses divided by Total Expense (average of most recent three 990s). This measure reflects the percent of its total expenses a charity spends on the programs and services it exists to deliver.
| Program Expense Percentage | Amount of Credit Received |
|---|---|
| 70% or higher | Full Credit |
| 60% - 69.9% | Partial Credit |
| 50% - 59.9% | Zero Points for Program Expense Score |
| Below 50% | Zero Points for Both Program Expense AND Liabilities to Assets Scores |
Source: IRS Form 990
This chart displays the trend of revenue and expenses over the past several years for this organization, as reported on their IRS Form 990.
Presented here are up to five of this organization's highest compensated employees. This compensation data includes salary, cash bonuses, and expense accounts and is displayed exactly how it is reported to the IRS. The amounts do not include nontaxable benefits, deferred compensation, or other amounts not reported on Form W-2. In some cases, these amounts may include compensation from related organizations. Read the IRS policies for compensation reporting
Source: IRS Form 990 (page 7), filing year 2019
Below are some key data points from the Exempt Organization IRS Business Master File (BMF) for this organization. Learn more about the BMF on the IRS website
Activities:
Described in section 170(b)1)(a)(vi) of the Code (BMF activity code: 994)
Foundation Status:
Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) (BMF foundation code: 15)
Affiliation:
Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations). (BMF affiliation code: 3)
The Form 990 is a document that nonprofit organizations file with the IRS annually. We leverage finance and accountability data from it to form Encompass ratings. Click here to search for this organization's Forms 990 on the IRS website (if any are available). Simply enter the organization's name (Ministry Essentials) or EIN (752661374) in the 'Search Term' field.
This organization was impacted by COVID-19 in a way that effected their financial health in 2020. This normally would have reduced their star rating. Due to the unprecedented nature of the pandemic, we give charities such as this one the opportunity to share the story of COVID's impact on them, and doing this pauses our revision of their rating. Charities may submit their own pandemic responses through their nonprofit portal.
Ministry Essentials reported being impacted by COVID-19 in the following ways:
Program Delivery
Fundraising Capacity
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's operations financially:
Overall the impact was in making it hard to raise additional funds from new donors.
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's delivery of programs:
We value serving people in person. COVID made it impossible to travel to help in person. It also made it hard for our own staff to meet in person.
How this organization adapted to changing conditions caused by COVID-19:
MEI created a new online platform, Essential Connections, for our own staff and to pilot delivering care to people around the world. We also learned how to use Zoom and similar platforms to deliver our programs.
Innovations the organization intends to continue permanently after the pandemic:
We plan to continue to offer online platforms as we also resume doing things in person where possible.
Not Currently Scored
Ministry Essentials cannot currently be evaluated by our Impact & Results methodology because either (A) it is eligible, but we have not yet received data; (B) we have not yet developed an algorithm to estimate its programmatic impact; (C) its programs are not direct services; or (D) it is not heavily reliant on contributions from individual donors.
Note: The absence of a score does not indicate a positive or negative assessment, it only indicates that we have not yet evaluated the organization.
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Ministry Essentials reported its largest program on its FY 2019 Form 990 as:
Spent in most recent FY
Percent of program expenses
MEI IS A NON-PROFIT MISSION AGENCY THAT ESTABLISHES AND CULTIVATES SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY AMONG CHRISTIAN LEADERS AND THEIR FAMILIES SERVING INTERNATIONALLY. WITHIN THIS CONTEXT OF COMMUNITY MEI AIMS TO ... (More)
MEI IS A NON-PROFIT MISSION AGENCY THAT ESTABLISHES AND CULTIVATES SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY AMONG CHRISTIAN LEADERS AND THEIR FAMILIES SERVING INTERNATIONALLY. WITHIN THIS CONTEXT OF COMMUNITY MEI AIMS TO PROVIDE SOUL CARE, SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT, AND DEVELOPMENTAL RESOURCES TO ADDRESS BOTH URGENT AND LONG-TERM NEEDS OF CHRISTIAN LEADERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.IN 2019, MINISTRY ESSENTIALS STAFF WERE ABLE TO JOIN AN AVERAGE OF 250 GLOBAL WORKERS A MONTH IN 64 COUNTRIES SERVING WITH MORE THAN 112 CHURCHES AND AGENCIES. (Less)
Ministry Essentials cannot currently be evaluated by our Culture & Community methodology because we have not received data from the charity regarding its Constituent Feedback or Equity Practices strategies.
Note: The absence of a score does not indicate a positive or negative assessment, it only indicates that we have not yet evaluated the organization.
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Ministry Essentials has earned a 100% for the Leadership & Adaptability beacon. See the metrics below for more information.
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's leadership capacity, strategic thinking and planning, and ability to innovate or respond to changes in constituent demand/need or other relevant social and economic conditions to achieve the organization's mission.
Learn more
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditNot ApplicableMission - 10/10 ptsMission - 10/10 pts
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization's mission
MEI IS A NON-PROFIT MISSION AGENCY THAT ESTABLISHES AND CULTIVATES SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY AMONG CHRISTIAN LEADERS AND THEIR FAMILIES SERVING INTERNATIONALLY. WITHIN THIS CONTEXT OF COMMUNITY MEI PROVIDES SOUL CARE, SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT, AND DEVELOPMENTAL RESOURCES TO ADDRESS BOTH URGENT AND LONG-TERM NEEDS OF CHRISTIAN LEADERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
Vision - 10/10 ptsVision - 10/10 pts
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.
Our vision is to cultivate spiritual communities which revitalize the Global Worker and validate the Gospel message around the world.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Goals - 20/20 ptsGoals - 20/20 pts
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking and goal setting through sharing their most important strategic goals.
Goal One: Provide essential support to global workers by tending to their hearts (that’s where the trouble begins) and being a catalyst for their passionate expression of Christ to be unleashed into the world.
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Goal Two: Isolation breeds depletion and disconnection so we cultivate spiritual communities by gathering workers together, building into them and deepening their hope in Christ.
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Goal Three: Create a new online platform where we can offer essential support to global workers even in isolated and difficult locations.
Goal Type: New program(s) based on observed changes in needs among our constituencies/communities served.
Leadership Development - 15/15 ptsLeadership Development - 15/15 pts
The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development
In addition to our monthly staff zoom connection calls, we just completed our semi-annual staff gathering. This is a time when all of our staff come together at a retreat location. We invest in them through care, training and time away from the pressures of work.
Mobilizing for Mission - 15/15 ptsMobilizing for Mission - 15/15 pts
The nonprofit provides evidence of leadership through focusing externally and mobilizing resources for the mission.
Strategic Partnerships
Networks of Collective Impact Efforts
Thought Leadership
Raising Awareness
In the last year, our staff provided training videos on a variety of topics (such as addiction, depression, spiritual life) for other organizations. Our executive director and his wife will also present at a workshop at the Missio Nexus annual conference. In addition, most of our focus is on coming alongside other organizations and their staff to help them grow in areas of need. Finally, we are launching Essential Connections, an online platform to provide our trainings and group connections to a wider audience. We also have a blog we post twice a week as well as make posts on Facebook.
Adaptability Story - 30/30 ptsAdaptability Story - 30/30 pts
The nonprofit has an opportunity to tell the story of how the organization adapted to tremendous external changes in the last year.
In the last year, we saw the need to increase our online opportunities. Many of our staff now offer help and assessments completely online. In addition, we set up and did a pilot on an online platform called Essential Connections (powered by Mighty Networks) that we hope to fully launch this fall.
Impact & Results
Accountability & Finance
Culture & Community
Leadership & Adaptability
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