American Bible Society / ABS 
The information on this page was last updated 12/14/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
American Bible Society helps people experience God through the Bible. We translate the Bible, distribute the Bible, engage people with the Bible, and advocate for the Bible's message of hope here in America and everywhere in the world. Through the church and a global network of local Bible Societies, we carry the gospel message where it is needed most. Our research and our experience tell us the Bible makes us more generous, more compassionate, more loving toward our neighbors, and more hopeful about our future in Christ. That's why our mission since 1816 has been to help all people experience the life-changing message of God's Word.
Before people can experience the Bible, it needs to be available in their heart language. We are committed to translating God's Word into every living language by 2033. To accomplish this goal, we work with translation partners in 62 countries, currently supporting 182 language projects. We provide technical resources like translation software, translator training, and program design expertise, ensuring that field teams have everything they need to complete their work.
Once the Bible is available, people need to be able to access it. Through distribution, we make Bible ownership and daily Scripture engagement a reality for people separated from God's Word by barriers like poverty or persecution. We bring God's hope to entire nations through massive initiatives like Bibles for China or 1 Million Bibles for Latin America. In addition to traditional printing and digital formats, we promote visual and audio versions of Scripture like the JESUS film and initiate Bible listening groups meeting in more than 40 countries.
Simply owning a Bible is not the end of the journey. In order for lives to transform, hearts must be engaged with the truth of Scripture. We contextualize the Bible for all people and break down barriers that can keep communities from fully experiencing God's Word.
For United States Military members, Veterans, and their families, God's love can feel far away amid the unique challenges that come with serving our nation. Our Armed Services Ministry partners with chaplains and church leaders to develop and deliver life-saving ministry resources, helping hundreds of thousands of our brave Service members discover the comfort of the Scriptures.
For an estimated 1 billion people worldwide, the message of the Bible is hidden behind barriers of pain, grief, and trauma. In the United States and abroad, our Trauma Healing Ministry works to equip churches to offer hope and healing to those who have endured trauma. Through a curriculum that blends mental health best practices with biblical truths, healing groups experience restoration through God's Word. In 2020, this ministry reached more than 20,000 people in more than 60 countries.
The Bible is for everyone-even for those who live in freedom built on biblical values without understanding the Bible's influence on our history. Through the Faith and Liberty Discovery Initiative and the Faith and Liberty Discover Center in Philadelphia, we advocate for a complete view of American history through the lens of God's Word. We remind Americans of their biblical heritage through stories of past leaders, heroes, and everyday citizens. We explore the biblical values that shaped the American story, paving the way for future generations to have a clear, active understanding of the Bible's place in our history and God's purpose for our lives.
Contact information
Mailing address:
American Bible Society
101 North Independence Mall East FL. 8
Philadelphia, PA 19106-2155
Website: www.americanbible.org
Phone: (215)309-0900
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 131623885
CEO/President: Darrin Podeschi
Chairman: Karen McDonald
Board size: 17
Founder: Elias Boudinot
Ruling year: 1931
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2011
Purpose
In 1816, American Bible Society was founded in New York City as a Christian organization committed to distributing and engaging people with God's Word in the United States and throughout the world and that mission has remained through over 200 years of historic ministry. Serving alongside the whole of the Christian Church, American Bible Society remains dedicated to its founding purpose, with a mission to "make the Bible available to every person in a language and format each can understand and afford, so all people may experience its life-changing message"
To achieve this mission, we translate the Bible, distribute the Bible, engage people with the Bible, restore lives through the Bible, and advocate for the Bible's message of hope here in America and everywhere in the world.
Mission statement
The mission of American Bible Society is to make the Bible available to every person in a language and format each can understand and afford so all people may experience its life-changing message.
Statement of faith
Staff at American Bible Society sign a nondenominational statement of faith.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Bible Translation Organizations
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 1073 of 1104 | 16 of 16 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 1020 of 1105 | 16 of 16 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 791 of 1105 | 15 of 16 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 1067 of 1104 | 14 of 16 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 7% | 26% | 27% | 24% | 29% | 26% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 14% | 13% | 14% | 19% | 16% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 98% | 54% | 48% | 60% | 65% | 62% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 7% | 15% | 11% | 14% | 15% | 16% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 2% | 46% | 52% | 40% | 35% | 38% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 83% | 78% | 82% | 79% | 77% | 75% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 93% | 92% | 115% | 104% | 125% | 102% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 76% | 72% | 95% | 82% | 97% | 76% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 7% | 8% | -15% | -4% | -25% | -2% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 11% | 1% | -2% | -1% | -3% | 0% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 7% | 7% | 6% | 7% | 8% | 9% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.96 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.12 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.23 | 3.17 | 3.01 | 2.99 | 2.96 | 2.65 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.92 | 0.44 | 0.44 | 0.41 | 0.44 | 0.33 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 9.04 | 15.57 | 15.48 | 12.70 | 11.59 | 21.68 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.11 | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.08 | 0.09 | 0.05 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.49 | 25.44 | 25.66 | 26.68 | 24.91 | 35.07 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 15% | 12% | 12% | 14% | 13% | 12% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 80% | 632% | 605% | 622% | 582% | 710% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Cash | $16,709,040 | $31,904,135 | $30,796,157 | $54,778,316 | $66,934,816 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $16,074,131 | $17,604,801 | $19,235,375 | $23,914,422 | $17,399,637 |
| Short-term investments | $202,516,082 | $229,988,321 | $192,752,419 | $181,590,043 | $212,210,544 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $235,299,253 | $279,497,257 | $242,783,951 | $260,282,781 | $296,544,997 |
| Long-term investments | $453,385,806 | $490,600,536 | $412,665,869 | $465,143,604 | $446,384,366 |
| Fixed assets | $12,067,729 | $19,469,643 | $45,129,424 | $19,759,972 | $15,559,127 |
| Other long-term assets | $45,854,572 | $51,188,828 | $25,638,803 | $25,575,058 | $25,937,956 |
| Total long-term assets | $511,308,107 | $561,259,007 | $483,434,096 | $510,478,634 | $487,881,449 |
| Total assets | $746,607,360 | $840,756,264 | $726,218,047 | $770,761,415 | $784,426,446 |
| Liabilities | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $10,575,736 | $12,597,196 | $13,742,535 | $17,559,929 | $8,573,067 |
| Other current liabilities | $4,534,332 | $5,457,050 | $5,373,750 | $4,902,720 | $5,106,146 |
| Total current liabilities | $15,110,068 | $18,054,246 | $19,116,285 | $22,462,649 | $13,679,213 |
| Debt | $3,125,815 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $71,588,583 | $83,101,051 | $81,023,616 | $81,182,705 | $83,919,573 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $74,714,398 | $83,101,051 | $81,023,616 | $81,182,705 | $83,919,573 |
| Total liabilities | $89,824,466 | $101,155,297 | $100,139,901 | $103,645,354 | $97,598,786 |
| Net assets | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Without donor restrictions | $548,848,308 | $624,278,884 | $514,500,873 | $557,276,937 | $578,738,455 |
| With donor restrictions | $107,934,586 | $115,322,083 | $111,577,273 | $109,839,124 | $108,089,205 |
| Net assets | $656,782,894 | $739,600,967 | $626,078,146 | $667,116,061 | $686,827,660 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Total contributions | $60,863,768 | $51,247,901 | $58,583,048 | $59,480,874 | $59,070,385 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $46,839,353 | $52,101,420 | $35,105,701 | $27,953,608 | $31,770,772 |
| Other revenue | $4,905,061 | $3,026,126 | $3,416,690 | $4,437,302 | $4,132,277 |
| Total other revenue | $51,744,414 | $55,127,546 | $38,522,391 | $32,390,910 | $35,903,049 |
| Total revenue | $112,608,182 | $106,375,447 | $97,105,439 | $91,871,784 | $94,973,434 |
| Expenses | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Program services | $80,717,277 | $100,693,945 | $79,220,364 | $88,662,039 | $72,539,414 |
| Management and general | $7,393,931 | $7,904,425 | $7,401,325 | $8,775,345 | $9,035,354 |
| Fundraising | $15,742,435 | $13,667,690 | $13,976,744 | $17,151,119 | $15,215,154 |
| Total expenses | $103,853,643 | $122,266,060 | $100,598,433 | $114,588,503 | $96,789,922 |
| Change in net assets | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $8,754,539 | ($15,890,613) | ($3,492,994) | ($22,716,719) | ($1,816,488) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $8,754,539 | ($15,890,613) | ($3,492,994) | ($22,716,719) | ($1,816,488) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Robert Briggs | President & CEO | $456,184 |
| John D Clause | SVP | $329,281 |
| James J Puchy | VP | $286,084 |
| Nicholas Pagano | VP Finance (beg July 2021) | $273,859 |
| Stephen Kao | VP / General Counsel | $268,790 |
| John Greco | Managing Director | $242,876 |
| Whitney T Kuniholm | SVP | $233,949 |
| David Bryce Allison | Executive Director (beg July 2021) | $233,147 |
| Patrick Murdock | Executive Director(end April 2022) | $233,116 |
| John M Mitchell | Director | $230,813 |
| Nicole M Martin | SVP | $229,357 |
| Susan B Harper | Executive Director | $229,259 |
| Janet A Grell | Head of HR | $228,549 |
| Frank Lofaro | Executive Director (beg July 2021) | $216,065 |
| Mark R Wilson | VP (end July 2021) | $203,572 |
| Ovidio Alfaro | SVP (beg August 2021) | $176,300 |
Compensation data as of: 6/30/2022
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 12/14/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
In 1816, American Bible Society was established by some of the nation's most influential Founders, including Elias Boudinot, John Quincy Adams, and John Jay. Their shared vision was to see people across the United States and around the world engaged and enlightened by the truth of God's Word. Since our founding, we have advocated for the Bible's place in every culture, community, and heart by empowering churches and expanding Scripture access for millions.
Our organization has remained a fixture throughout American history. We printed our first translation in 1818, making the three Epistles of John available to Lenni-Lenape Native Americans. In the face of deep national division and bloodshed, we distributed Bibles to soldiers and nurses during the Civil War. We published Bibles in Italian, Danish, Swedish, and German as immigrants arrived at made the United States their home. We served at Ground Zero after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City, proclaiming the message of God as our shelter and strength in the wake of nationwide trauma.
On the global stage, American Bible Society partners with hundreds of Bible Societies, churches, and ministries in our mission to spread the good news of the gospel. In 1946, we helped found United Bible Societies, a worldwide network committed to ensuring that everyone who wants to experience God's Word can do so in a language and format they understand. In 2010, we became a founding member of Every Tribe Every Nation, aligning us with many of the world's other major Bible-based nonprofit organizations and
ministries and strengthening the Bible cause around the globe. We also joined the illumiNations alliance, which unites Bible Societies around the goal of translating the Bible into every living language by 2033.
For more than 200 years, we have equipped the church to reach new generations with the hope of God's Word. From the publication of the first Bible for the Blind in 1843 to the creation of Bible-focused radio, television, and internet resources, we are dedicated to pioneering effective formats to enable meaningful Bible engagement for every person. In 1979, our Good News Translation of Luke's Gospel was used in the creation of the JESUS film, which has been translated into more than 1,800 languages and continues to captivate communities around the world 40 years after its initial release. In 2012, we brought the Bible into the 21st century with the Digital Bible Library, making dozens of translations accessible in a digital format. And in 2019, we helped complete the American Sign Language Version, making the first full visual translation of God's Word available to 3.5 million people in the Deaf community.
As an organization committed to proclaiming the truth of God's Word, we rely on our rich history to inform our future, looking forward to the day when all people can experience God through his Word.
Program accomplishments
For over 205 years, we've been committed to our mission to making the Bible available to everyone so they can discover the love of Christ through its life-changing message. Since our founding, we have distributed nearly 7 billion Scriptures to people worldwide.