Desiring God / John Piper 
The information on this page was last updated 3/28/2024. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Most people in the world have no experience of deep and abiding joy.
Even though it is something we all desperately long for, the assurance that true happiness can be known - fully and forever - is a hope that billions of people live every day without. This is a tragedy.
Desiring God is on a mission to change that.
We aim to help people everywhere embrace a profound truth that changes everything about life and eternity:
You were created for something greater than yourself. You were formed for something awesome and magnificent.
You were made to know glory - God's glory. And the deepest longings of the human heart can be fully satisfied by pursuing that glory. In fact, God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.
We call this truth Christian Hedonism. And declaring it to the world is why we exist.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Desiring God
PO Box 2901
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Website: desiringgod.org
Phone: (888)346-4700
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 010797083
CEO/President: Scott Anderson
Chairman: Jim Warren
Board size: 7
Founder: John Piper
Ruling year: 2005
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2006
Purpose
The ultimate goal of Desiring God is to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ. The core strategy of Desiring God is to create, curate, and freely spread John Piper content through a maximally useful website.
Mission statement
The mission of Desiring God is to help people everywhere understand and embrace the truth that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.
Statement of faith
desiringgod.org/affirmation-of-faith
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Christian Growth
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 189 of 1118 | 11 of 64 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 230 of 1119 | 12 of 64 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 440 of 1119 | 19 of 64 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 346 of 1118 | 23 of 64 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 8% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 9% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 9% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 84% | 98% | 98% | 98% | 96% | 97% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 9% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 16% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 4% | 3% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 81% | 84% | 79% | 77% | 77% | 76% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 100% | 112% | 95% | 70% | 89% | 99% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 82% | 94% | 75% | 54% | 69% | 76% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 0% | -12% | 5% | 30% | 11% | 1% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 0% | -16% | 6% | 36% | 16% | 1% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 12% | 13% | 18% | 19% | 19% | 15% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.03 | 1.35 | 1.06 | 0.80 | 1.19 | 1.36 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.51 | 1.20 | 1.21 | 1.17 | 1.14 | 1.02 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.59 | 1.62 | 1.28 | 0.94 | 1.36 | 1.38 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 11.08 | 12.01 | 16.82 | 17.07 | 10.04 | 11.94 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.09 | 0.08 | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.10 | 0.08 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 6.55 | 6.79 | 8.84 | 12.04 | 7.95 | 7.94 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 16% | 11% | 5% | 5% | 9% | 8% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 78% | 66% | 90% | 118% | 77% | 67% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Cash | $850,944 | $810,664 | $747,694 | $1,086,416 | $777,172 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $353,141 | $119,728 | $238,216 | $106,614 | $137,494 |
| Short-term investments | $5,435,242 | $6,248,512 | $6,134,765 | $3,778,757 | $3,778,362 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $6,639,327 | $7,178,904 | $7,120,675 | $4,971,787 | $4,693,028 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $246,573 | $349,445 | $45,144 | $83,693 | $72,116 |
| Other long-term assets | $1,109,406 | $1,125,822 | $1,157,422 | $613,636 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $1,355,979 | $1,475,267 | $1,202,566 | $697,329 | $72,116 |
| Total assets | $7,995,306 | $8,654,171 | $8,323,241 | $5,669,116 | $4,765,144 |
| Liabilities | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $552,929 | $417,419 | $409,746 | $491,097 | $383,793 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $9,361 | $7,294 | $4,215 | $9,274 |
| Total current liabilities | $552,929 | $426,780 | $417,040 | $495,312 | $393,067 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $298,207 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $298,207 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $851,136 | $426,780 | $417,040 | $495,312 | $393,067 |
| Net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Without donor restrictions | $7,144,170 | $8,227,391 | $7,906,201 | $5,173,804 | $4,372,077 |
| With donor restrictions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assets | $7,144,170 | $8,227,391 | $7,906,201 | $5,173,804 | $4,372,077 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Total contributions | $9,388,211 | $9,437,605 | $9,312,690 | $7,283,911 | $6,343,136 |
| Program service revenue | $3,479 | $17,000 | $29,900 | $61,553 | $22,600 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $152,617 | $131,104 | $112,402 | $104,624 | $68,700 |
| Other revenue | $46,157 | $71,984 | $63,010 | $109,936 | $109,523 |
| Total other revenue | $202,253 | $220,088 | $205,312 | $276,113 | $200,823 |
| Total revenue | $9,590,464 | $9,657,693 | $9,518,002 | $7,560,024 | $6,543,959 |
| Expenses | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Program services | $9,032,016 | $7,212,391 | $5,156,519 | $5,220,780 | $4,947,061 |
| Management and general | $1,422,388 | $1,654,049 | $1,248,010 | $1,290,695 | $964,502 |
| Fundraising | $303,394 | $302,706 | $274,683 | $242,617 | $583,104 |
| Total expenses | $10,757,798 | $9,169,146 | $6,679,212 | $6,754,092 | $6,494,667 |
| Change in net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($1,167,334) | $488,547 | $2,838,790 | $805,932 | $49,292 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($1,167,334) | $488,547 | $2,838,790 | $805,932 | $49,292 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Scott Anderson | President, Ceo, Vice Chair | $280,867 |
| Matthew Taylor | Creative Director | $247,563 |
| Josh Etter | COO | $245,557 |
| John Knight | Donor Officer | $231,192 |
| Jon Bloom | Teacher, Director | $226,042 |
| Sam Macrane | Donor Officer | $221,960 |
| Tony Reinke | Senior Teacher | $209,895 |
| Peter Hedstrom | Donor Officer | $200,776 |
| Jared Banz | Program Director | $184,214 |
| John Piper | Senior Teacher, Director | $121,151 |
Compensation data as of: 6/30/2023
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 3/28/2024. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
John Piper was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Bill and Ruth Piper January 11, 1946. When John and his older sister were still small, the family moved to Greenville, South Carolina, where John spent his growing-up years. His father was an itinerant evangelist, and his mother died in 1974 in a bus accident while visiting Israel.
In 1980, sensing an irresistible call of the Lord to preach, John became the senior pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he ministered for almost 33 years.
Desiring God began inauspiciously in 1994 when John handed off the church's tape ministry to his assistant, Jon Bloom.
What started with tapes and John's books, Desiring God has blossomed into an international web ministry with 14,000+ free resources and 3.5+million monthly users. Today, John serves as lead teacher for the ministry.
Program accomplishments
Needs
Desiring God is fueled by the prayers and generosity of God's people, with 98% of our budget coming from donations. God's pattern is not only to raise up people with a message and a vision, but also partners in prayer and finance. When you give, you can have the confidence of knowing that lives are being impacted for eternity 24/7 through the 12,000+ resources freely offered at Desiring God. We invite you to join us in this work by becoming a ministry partner and making a donation.