Christian Camps Inc / Deerfoot Lodge 
The information on this page was last updated 7/16/2024. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Deerfoot Lodge operates Christian wilderness camps for boys and young men in the mountains of NY and NC. Our mission since 1930 is to build godly men in a Christ-centered community through wilderness camping. We run seasonal programs that are highly relational, deeply spiritual, and intentionally challenging to foster a profound discipleship impact. Deerfoot boys grow in spiritual depth and character traits such as resiliency, integrity, resourcefulness, and discipline.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Deerfoot Lodge
PO Box 228
134 Deerfoot Lodge Rd
Speculator, NY 12164
Website: deerfoot.org
Phone: 855-447-2267
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 146017995
CEO/President: Ron Mackey
Chairman: Ted Harro
Board size: 16
Founder: Alfred "Dad" Kunz
Ruling year: 1947
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 09/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1991
Purpose
Since 1930, Deerfoot has been diving deeper into faith. We explore what it really means to be a man. We connect personally with each other, we encourage one another along the trail, and we make memories that are passed down from generation to generation. We cherish what Deerfoot meant to our campers, and what it still means.
Mission statement
Deerfoot has witnessed a dramatic change throughout its history. But one thing will always remain the same: we exist to build godly men in a Christ-centered community through wilderness camping. The natural difficulty of the wilderness environment promotes growth and learning today, just as it did in 1930. Godly mentors at camp help hone the Christian leaders of the future just as they did in the past.
Statement of faith
Building godly men in a Christ-centered community through wilderness camping - This mission is born out of our beliefs and it guides our practices. We are a place that openly engages "why" questions and works hard to ensure that we know the reasons behind what we do.
1 The Bible
We believe that the Bible is the infallible word of God comprised of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. It was written under the full inspiration of the Holy Spirit and is the principal revelation of God's character and the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. No human words or ideas can be added to the Bible or elevated to a status equal with the Bible. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Isaiah 40:8; 2 Peter 1:21)
2 Return of Jesus
We believe in the personal return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in the bodily resurrection of the redeemed in Christ to the enjoyment of God forever in His presence, and in the bodily resurrection of the unredeemed to the judgment of God forever apart from His presence. (Matthew 25:46; 1 Corinthians 15:42-55; I Thessalonians 4: 13-18; Revelation 20:5-6;12-15)
3 God
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: God the Father, His only Son Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, and the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer. (Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:6; John 14:16-17; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; John 1:1-4)
4 Jesus
We believe that Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and is both fully God and fully human, and yet without sin. (John 1:1-4; Luke 1:26-38; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15)
5 Mankind
We believe in the unique nature of man as a moral and rational being created by God in His image distinct from all other living creatures, and in the historic fall of man into sin, thereby bringing all humanity under God's condemnation. (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12-21)
6 The Cross
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for my sins according to the Scriptures, taking upon himself the judgment I deserved, so that all who believe in Him are justified and sanctified by faith alone through his shed blood. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23; Romans 3:23-28; 1 Thessalonians 5:23)
7 Mediator
We believe in the bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His ascension into Heaven, in His present life as my High Priest, Advocate, and sole Mediator between myself and God the Father, and in His future personal return to judge the world and gather all believers to Himself. (Acts 1:1-11; 1 Corinthians 15:12-15; Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 Timothy 2:5; Matthew 24:30)
8 Salvation
We believe in the everlasting salvation of lost and sinful people, and that salvation is the gift of God to man, received only by personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It is wholly an act of God's free grace and is not the work, in whole or in part, of human effort. (John 1:12; John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-10)
9 Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells and gives life to all believers, enables them to understand the Scriptures, empowers them for godly living, and transforms their character to bear the Fruit of God's Spirit in order to equip them for service and witness. (John 16:7, 13; Galatians 5: 16-24; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Peter 1:3)
10 The Church
We believe in the spiritual unity of all believers, that all those who profess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are united as one Church under Him and have a supernatural ability to work together as one body. I believe in the priesthood of all believers, so that anyone who believes in Jesus Christ as Lord can approach him directly and pray to him directly in all matters of faith and life. (Ephesians 1:22 - 23; Ephesians 4:15-16; Hebrews 4:14-16)
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Camps/Conference Centers
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 856 of 1123 | 33 of 36 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 541 of 1124 | 20 of 37 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 710 of 1124 | 27 of 37 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 943 of 1123 | 33 of 36 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 7% | 8% | 6% | 7% | 2% | 3% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 2% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 1% | 2% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 34% | 35% | 38% | 47% | 56% | 88% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 3% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 4% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 66% | 65% | 62% | 53% | 44% | 12% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 83% | 78% | 79% | 79% | 79% | 65% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 93% | 93% | 94% | 82% | 51% | 61% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 75% | 73% | 75% | 65% | 40% | 40% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 7% | 7% | 6% | 18% | 49% | 39% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 4% | 1% | 1% | 3% | 13% | 6% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 14% | 19% | 18% | 17% | 18% | 32% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.44 | 0.17 | 0.16 | 0.15 | 0.13 | 0.10 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 4.36 | 5.69 | 5.82 | 6.28 | 3.87 | 5.69 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.65 | 0.97 | 0.94 | 0.96 | 0.51 | 0.55 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 5.57 | 387.42 | 137.86 | 69.57 | 22.24 | 103.00 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.18 | 0.00 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.04 | 0.01 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.46 | 12.38 | 12.71 | 12.35 | 22.40 | 21.60 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 9% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 0% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 196% | 588% | 620% | 654% | 747% | 1033% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Cash | $3,531,948 | $3,345,946 | $2,820,999 | $4,334,487 | $2,554,986 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $173,380 | $136,843 | $341,352 | $893,700 | $401,656 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $3,705,328 | $3,482,789 | $3,162,351 | $5,228,187 | $2,956,642 |
| Long-term investments | $3,772,924 | $3,186,540 | $2,895,291 | $3,741,462 | $3,151,339 |
| Fixed assets | $13,597,755 | $13,611,937 | $13,797,210 | $10,488,970 | $10,729,474 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $753,573 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $17,370,679 | $16,798,477 | $16,692,501 | $14,984,005 | $13,880,813 |
| Total assets | $21,076,007 | $20,281,266 | $19,854,852 | $20,212,192 | $16,837,455 |
| Liabilities | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $9,564 | $25,263 | $45,457 | $235,067 | $28,704 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $9,564 | $25,263 | $45,457 | $235,067 | $28,704 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $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 | $9,564 | $25,263 | $45,457 | $235,067 | $28,704 |
| Net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Without donor restrictions | $18,141,932 | $17,308,453 | $16,549,997 | $14,086,854 | $12,794,558 |
| With donor restrictions | $2,924,511 | $2,947,550 | $3,259,398 | $5,890,271 | $4,014,193 |
| Net assets | $21,066,443 | $20,256,003 | $19,809,395 | $19,977,125 | $16,808,751 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Total contributions | $1,353,767 | $1,322,727 | $1,761,285 | $2,932,347 | $2,344,539 |
| Program service revenue | $2,197,033 | $1,962,692 | $1,911,474 | $1,596,585 | $68,746 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $234,663 | $155,895 | $35,643 | $157,756 | $72,244 |
| Other revenue | $50,242 | $29,806 | $0 | $584,528 | $173,500 |
| Total other revenue | $2,481,938 | $2,148,393 | $1,947,117 | $2,338,869 | $314,490 |
| Total revenue | $3,835,705 | $3,471,120 | $3,708,402 | $5,271,216 | $2,659,029 |
| Expenses | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Program services | $2,791,365 | $2,590,375 | $2,393,853 | $2,119,160 | $1,052,455 |
| Management and general | $687,300 | $591,173 | $505,746 | $483,028 | $512,587 |
| Fundraising | $104,285 | $83,943 | $128,696 | $72,506 | $61,358 |
| Total expenses | $3,582,950 | $3,265,491 | $3,028,295 | $2,674,694 | $1,626,400 |
| Change in net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $252,755 | $205,629 | $680,107 | $2,596,522 | $1,032,629 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $252,755 | $205,629 | $680,107 | $2,596,522 | $1,032,629 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Rev Ronald Mackey | Executive Dir. | $156,573 |
Compensation data as of: 9/30/2024
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 7/16/2024. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
In the early 80s, Deerfoot needed direction. In a step of bold faith, the Board of Directors moved to hire a full-time director. The camp needed to grow both its budget and its enrollment. Chief Chuck Geiser stepped into this role and led boldly. Once again, God was faithful: Deerfoot grew tremendously during these years and proved the ongoing relevance of Dad Kunz' original vision.
In 2004, Chief Chuck officially passed leadership responsibility for Deerfoot on to Chief Ron Mackey. Today, the original mission to build godly men continues to thrive at Deerfoot Lodge. Deerfoot registration has become a testament to the need for this mission. Many camp sessions fill with wait-lists. The Adirondacks camp has been running at capacity, with wait lists for many years and has no capacity for numeric growth on the ADK site. With a conviction that the mission to build godly men must not be limited in this way, the Deerfoot Board of Directors again took bold action.
In March of 2015, after years of praying and discussion, Chief Ron and the Deerfoot Board of Directors decided to explore opportunities in the mountains of North Carolina or the surrounding areas. The idea for Deerfoot Lodge Blue Ridge was born. Since then, God led Deerfoot to an ideal place called 'Trout Lake', which is located near Cashiers, NC. The Trout Lake property is 340 acres, with a 20 acre private lake, set in a pristine, mountainous and wilderness area. Deerfoot entered into a purchase contract in August of 2015, and began to pray and ask people to join financially in this Vision. By January 2016, by God's grace, Deerfoot received gifts and pledges to purchase the Trout Lake Property without any long-term debt.
Today, two Deerfoot Lodge camps are thriving, one in NY and one in NC, with the shared mission to build godly men in a Christ-centered community through wilderness camping.
For more on Deerfoot's history, visit: https://deerfoot.org/about/history/
Program accomplishments
Needs
Visit: https://deerfoot.org/get-involved/contribute/