Circle Urban Ministries

Transparency
Grade:

Rating
Sector:

Community Development

5 Star Financial
Efficiency Rating:

Total
Revenue:

$2,353,627

Total
Expenses:

$2,259,304

Net
Assets:

$1,467,497

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Profile Contents

Organizational Details
Ministry Purpose
Program Accomplishments
Statement of Faith
History
Ministry Needs

Research Analysis

Transparency Grade
MinistryWatch.com 5 Star Financial Efficiency Ratings

Financial Information

Financial Ratios
Balance Sheet, Revenue and Assets
Functional Expenses

	Database Avg	This Ministry
Program	79.7%	80.8%
General & Admin	12.6%	6%
Fundraising	6.8%	9.2%
Savings	.4%	4%

Age Size Box:

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

Summary

Circle Urban Ministries, Inc. ("CRCL") is an Illinois based organization that was incorporated in 1981. Its stated purpose is to provide quality professional services in a Christian environment by developing and fostering Christian service programs committed to assisting low income individuals and families primarily on the West side of Chicago. CRCL operates primarily on contributions and grants. The programs currently offered by CRCL include providing food, clothing, shelter and emergency care; counseling and job training for the unemployed; youth leadership development, education and evangelism, economic development, and a small elementary preparatory school for kindergarten through fourth grade. CRCL includes Circle Christian Development Corporation ("CCDC”) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Austin Real Estate and Investment Corporation ("AREIC"), and Circle Automotive Industries, Inc. ("CAI"). CCDC, a nonprofit corporation, is the owner, general partner and manager of certain inner city ministry-related properties through AREIC. CCDC's purpose is to develop rental properties for low and moderate-income tenants. CAI provides job training assistance to Chicago's Austin community residents. This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. This ministry is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).

Contact Information: [ Back to top ]

Mailing Address:	118 N Central Ave. Chicago, IL 60644-3199
Website:	www.circleurban.org
Phone:	(773) 921-1446
Email:	You need to enable javascript to see the email

Organization Details [ Back to top ]

EIN: 363136997

CEO/President:	Rev. Abraham L. Washington	Tax Deductible:	Yes
Chairman:	Rev. Abraham L. Washington	Fiscal Year End:	June 30
Board Size:	7	Financial info from:	990
Founder:		Member of ECFA:	Yes
Year Founded:	1974	Member of ECFA since:	1998

Purpose [ Back to top ]

Circle Urban Ministries, Inc. ("CRCL") is an Illinois based organization that was incorporated in 1981. Its stated purpose is to provide quality professional services in a Christian environment by developing and fostering Christian service programs committed to assisting low income individuals and families primarily on the West side of Chicago.

CRCL operates primarily on contributions and grants. The programs currently offered by CRCL include providing food, clothing, shelter and emergency care; counseling and job training for the unemployed; youth leadership development, education and evangelism, economic development, and a small elementary preparatory school for kindergarten through fourth grade.

CRCL includes Circle Christian Development Corporation ("CCDC") and its wholly owned subsidiary, Austin Real Estate and Investment Corporation ("AREIC"), and Circle Automotive Industries, Inc. ("CAI"). CCDC, a nonprofit corporation, is the owner, general partner and manager of certain inner city ministry-related properties through AREIC. CCDC's purpose is to develop rental properties for low and moderate-income tenants. CAI provides job training assistance to Chicago's Austin community residents. This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. This ministry is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).

Mission Statement [ Back to top ]

Need Mission Statement

Program Accomplishments [ Back to top ]

In 1998, Circle Family Care ("CFC") doctors saw 3500 patients at their clinic, made over 70 home and nursing home visits and over 1400 hospital visits. 4389 families (9903 people) went home with bags of food from CRCL. Over 120 youth and children participated in CRCL's after-school program and summer day camp. 102 children, grades K-3, were taught at Circle-Rock Preparatory School. CRCL chaplains counseled 36 families, made 200 hospital visits and introduced 390 people to Christ. 20 children who were behind in skills received one-on-one tutoring, with each of those children advancing through to the next grade level. 40 families (237 family members) found a home and a place to "spread their wings" in CRCL's "Eagle Nest" shelter. 28 adult learners progressed through various levels of literacy up from 12 students at the beginning of the year.

Statement of Faith [ Back to top ]

This profile needs a statement of faith

History [ Back to top ]

Need History Info

Ministry Needs [ Back to top ]

This organization has not offered MinistryWatch.com with specific needs to be posted on the profile. At such a time that MinistryWatch.com receives a response from the ministry, it will be posted immediately.

Research Analysis

Transparency Grade [ Back to top ]

Transparency Grade of : B
Criteria category	Grade	Other Comments
Timeliness:	70	10/28/2011 3:20:55 PM: Organization made financial information available greater than 7 ½ months.
Financial Information:	100
Foundational Clarity:
Level of Cooperation:

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MinistryWatch.com 5 Star Financial Efficiency Ratings [ Back to top ]

Ranking Category	Overall Rank	Community Development Sector
Overall Efficiency Rating	213 of 347	10 of 26
Fund Acquisition Decision	250 of 347	16 of 26
Resource Allocation Decision	131 of 347	6 of 26
Asset Utilization Decision	218 of 347	12 of 26

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Financial Snapshot

The overall 5 Star Financial Efficiency Rating is a summarization of the rating system’s three efficiency areas. The three efficiency areas are Fund Acquisition, Resource Allocation and Asset Utilization.
In the Fund Acquisition area of the rating system, Circle was among the lowest 25% of all rated ministries. During fiscal year 2002, Circle spent $236 thousand to raise $1.7 million; thus fundraising consumed nearly 14 cents of each contributed dollar (9 cents is average.)
Circle had an average rating in the Resource Allocation portion of the rating system. Their functional expenses as a percentage of total expense for fiscal year 2002 were as follows: Program Expense 77%, Management and General Expense 15%, and Fundraising Expense 8%. The average expense composition for the MinistryWatch database is Program Expense 79%, Management and General Expense 14%, and Fundraising Expense 7%.
From fiscal year 2001 to 2002, Circle’s revenue increased by 3% or about $70 thousand, and their program expenses increased by 5% or about $119 thousand. They used about $1.3 million or 53% of program expenditures for their Circle-Rock Preparatory School. Also, program expenditures related to Circle Christian Development Corporation increased by about $223 thousand or 55% from fiscal year 2001 to fiscal year 2002.
In addition, their management and general expenses increased by about $114 thousand or 42%; most of the increase was due to increases “building expenses,” “office expenses,” and “depreciation expense.” This contributed to their fiscal year 2002 deficit of more than $341 thousand.
As of July 8, 2003, Circle had a below average asset utilization rating. (Asset utilization gauges organizations’ spending verses asset accumulation by comparing total expenses and total assets. In theory, all things being equal, an organization that spends more meets current needs better than one that maintains more assets.) During fiscal year 2002, Circle spent about $3.2 million and had about $3.1 million in assets at year-end. About 75% of their assets are “land, buildings, and equipment.”

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 Ratios	Database Average	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004
Return on FR Efforts	10%	11%	8%	9%	0%	0%
Fundraising Cost Ratio	7%	9%	6%	6%	0%	0%
Contributions Reliance	83%	83%	71%	63%	0%	0%
Fundraising Expense Ratio	7%	10%	5%	5%	0%	0%
Other Revenue Reliance	17%	17%	29%	37%	0%	0%
Operating Ratios	Database Average	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004
Program Expense Ratio	80%	84%	90%	90%	0%	0%
Spending Ratio	100%	96%	116%	111%	0%	0%
Program Output Ratio	80%	81%	105%	100%	0%	0%
Savings Ratio	0%	4%	-16%	-11%	0%	0%
Reserve Accumulation Rate	11%	6%	-33%	-17%	0%	0%
General & Admin Ratio	13%	6%	5%	5%	0%	0%
Investing Ratios	Database Average	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004
Total Asset Turnover	2.8x	1.34x	2.08x	1.59x	0x	0x
Degree of L-T Investment	2.85x	2.57x	3.5x	2.63x	0x	0x
Current Asset Turnover	5.26x	3.46x	7.3x	4.18x	0x	0x
Age of Assets	9.7yr(s)	0.0yr(s)	0.0yr(s)	0.0yr(s)	0.0yr(s)	0.0yr(s)
Liquidity Ratios	Database Average	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004
Current Ratio	2964.81x	3.08x	2.11x	4.85x	0x	0x
Current Liabilities Ratio	.31x	.33x	.47x	.21x	0x	0x
Liquid Reserve Level	4.96x	2.34x	.87x	2.28x	0x	0x
Solvency Ratios	Database Average	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004
Liabilities Ratio	.23x	.13x	.14x	.08x	0x	0x
Debt Ratio	.06x	0x	0x	0x	0x	0x
Reserve Coverage Ratio	80%	65%	41%	58%	0%	0%

Financials[ Back to top ]

Balance Sheet
Assets	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004
Cash	$474,034	$151,809	$357,183	$596,469	$360,463
Receivables, Inventories & Prepaids	$179,548	$301,656	$400,168	$520,703	$401,659
Short-Term Investments	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Total Current Assets	$653,582	$453,465	$757,351	$1,117,172	$762,122
Long-Term Investments	$1,026,352	$1,134,256	$1,230,876	$1,235,339	$1,312,278
Fixed Assets	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Other Long-Term Assets	$0	$0	$0	$4,987	$4,987
Total Long-Term Assets	$1,026,352	$1,134,256	$1,230,876	$1,240,326	$1,317,265
TOTAL ASSETS	$1,679,934	$1,587,721	$1,988,227	$2,357,498	$2,079,387
Liabilities	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004
Payables & Accrued Expenses	$212,437	$214,547	$156,029	$214,899	$154,720
Other Current Liabilities	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Total Current Liabilities	$212,437	$214,547	$156,029	$214,899	$154,720
Debt	$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	$212,437	$214,547	$156,029	$214,899	$154,720
Assets	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004
Unrestricted	$1,415,732	$1,355,560	$1,816,835	$2,140,626	$1,894,923
Temporarily Restricted	$51,765	$17,614	$15,363	$1,973	$29,744
Permanently Restricted	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
NET ASSETS	$1,467,497	$1,373,174	$1,832,198	$2,142,599	$1,924,667
Revenue and Expenses
Revenue	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004
Total Contributions	$1,957,586	$2,027,643	$1,785,623	$2,128,484	$1,553,722
Program Service Revenue	$103,934	$680,991	$926,152	$849,579	$789,224
Membership Dues	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Investment Income	$285,393	$123,696	$118,642	$122,563	$130,465
Other Revenue	$6,714	$17,817	$21,152	$10,893	$20,753
Total Other Revenue	$396,041	$822,504	$1,065,946	$983,035	$940,442
TOTAL REVENUE	$2,353,627	$2,850,147	$2,851,569	$3,111,519	$2,494,164
Expenses	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004
Program Services	$1,903,305	$2,981,091	$2,843,865	$2,601,450	$2,466,872
Management & General	$137,319	$168,635	$161,079	$94,334	$153,433
Fundraising	$218,680	$159,445	$157,026	$197,803	$213,441
TOTAL EXPENSES	$2,259,304	$3,309,171	$3,161,970	$2,893,587	$2,833,746
Change in Net Assets	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004
SURPLUS (DEFICIT)	$94,323	($459,024)	($310,401)	$217,932	($339,582)
Other Changes in Net Assets	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
TOTAL CHANGE IN NET ASSETS	$94,323	($459,024)	($310,401)	$217,932	($339,582)