Heart Christian Academy 
The information on this page was last updated 7/6/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Since 1999, Heart's hybrid homeschool program has prioritized Christ, Community, and Curriculum across all our campuses nationwide.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Heart Christian Academy
31103 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite D3045
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Website: heartchristianacademy.org
Phone:
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 204508459
CEO/President: Nick Ostermann
Chairman: Chrissy Follis
Board size: 7
Founder:
Ruling year: 2008
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
We stand for Christian, collaborative education
Mission statement
Heart Christian Academy supports parents in providing both spiritual growth and academic excellence, developing students who think clearly, communicate effectively, wonder deeply, and influence their communities in ways that will last eternally.
Statement of faith
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. By His own pleasure, God created, sustains, and rules all things. All creation exists for and attests to His glory. Matthew 28:19; Luke 1:37; John 1:1, 3; 4:24; Romans 1:19-20; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:5-6; Genesis 1:1,26; Deuteronomy 6:4
We believe that God has revealed himself and his truth in both nature and in Scripture, which mutually interpret one another. We believe the Bible alone to be the word of God, the ultimate and infallible authority for faith and practice. Matthew 5:18; Mark 13:31; John 8:31-32; 16:12-13; 20:31; Acts 20:32; Romans 1:19-20; 1 Corinthians 2:7-14; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Psalm 19:1-2, 7-11
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
Matthew 1:18, 20-23; 20:28; Luke 1:26-27, 30-35, 37; John 1:1-4, 14; 5:30; 6:38; 20:28, 30-31; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 3:24; 5:6, 8; 6:9-10; 8:34, 38-39; 9:5; 14:9; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:3-10; Colossians 1:15-20; 2:13-15; 1 Timothy 2:5; 2 Timothy 4:1; Hebrews 7:25-27; 9:24, 28; 10:12-14; 1 Peter 1:3; 2:21-24; 4:5; 1 John 2:1-2
We believe that all human beings are created in the image of God and possess equal value and dignity as divine image-bearers. We believe that all human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, and that for the salvation of lost and sinful humans, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely necessary. Genesis 1:26-31; 2:7, 15-25; 3:1-13, 15-24; 5:1-2; Romans 3:9-18, 23; 5:10,12, 15-19; 6:23; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:1-3; Colossians 1:16, 21; James 3:9; 1 John 1:8, 10; Revelation 4:11; Psalm 14:1-3; 139:13-14; Ecclesiastes 2:11; Isaiah 43:7; Jeremiah 17:9
We believe that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, and that faith without works is dead. John 1:12-13; 3:14-16, 36; 5:24; 6:40; 8:12; 10:26-28; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:24-26; 4:5; 5:6, 8-11, 18-19; 8:1-4, 11,33; 9:22-23; 1 Corinthians 15:1-6, 14; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:4-9; Colossians 1:20, 22; 2:13-15; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:25-27; 9:26; 10:14; 1 Peter 1:3; 2:22-25; 1 John 1:9; Genesis 3:15; Proverbs 28:13; Isaiah 53:4-11
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life. John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26-27; 16:7-14; Acts 1:5, 8; 2:17-20; Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; 12:4-13; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Galatians 5:16-18, 22-23, 25; Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18; Hebrews 10:15
We believe in the spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, and in the primacy of the local church as the place where believers should live out this unity. Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 14:27; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 1:10; 3:9, 16; 5:4-7, 13-14; 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 8:23; 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; 3:10, 21; 5:19-21, 25-27, 29-30; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 2:5, 9-10; 5:1-5; Revelation 21:9-11
We believe that God created us male and female in His image; that gender identity may not be detached from the biological sex of the human body; that marriage or matrimony is a covenantal, procreative union of one man and one woman; and that God intends for children to be raised and nurtured in an environment that honors these distinctions. We believe that sexual union is to be exclusive to covenantal, heterosexual marriage. Genesis 1: 26-31; 2:18, 21-24; 3:1-13; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Ephesians 5:21-33; Colossians 3:18-19; Hebrews 13:4;1 Peter 3:1-7
We believe that the consummation of all things includes the future, physical, visible, personal, and glorious return of Jesus Christ, the bodily resurrection of the dead and the translation of those alive in Christ, the judgment of the just and the unjust, and the fulfillment of Christ's kingdom in the new heavens and the new earth. Matthew 16:27; Mark 14:62; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15:12-28, 42-55; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 1:13; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 4:13-18; 5:9-10; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; 2 Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:27-28; Revelation 19:11-16; 20:1-6, 10-15; 21:1-8; 22:1-5
Donor confidence score
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Transparency grade
D
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Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: K-12 Schools/Academies
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 626 of 1412 | 101 of 180 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 653 of 1412 | 108 of 180 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 1283 of 1412 | 169 of 180 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 55 of 1413 | 5 of 180 |
To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 10% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 2% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 13% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 2% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 87% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 83% | 69% | 76% | 86% | 78% | 81% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 93% | 93% | 98% | 100% | 102% | 94% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 76% | 64% | 74% | 86% | 80% | 76% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 7% | 7% | 2% | 0% | -2% | 6% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 7% | 62% | 66% | 16% | -175% | 33% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 14% | 31% | 24% | 14% | 22% | 19% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.54 | 4.71 | 25.80 | 30.06 | 11.46 | 3.00 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 3.07 | 1.54 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.34 | 1.00 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.79 | 7.25 | 25.80 | 30.06 | 15.34 | 3.00 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 2.79 | 1.62 | 8.68 | 7738.26 | 0.87 | 2.70 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.35 | 0.62 | 0.12 | 0.00 | 1.14 | 0.37 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 3.98 | 0.63 | 0.41 | 0.40 | -0.11 | 2.52 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 29% | 40% | 12% | 77% | 86% | 37% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 10% | 0% | 0% | 77% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 119% | 13% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 21% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Cash | $744,286 | $250,921 | $294,054 | $298,417 | $235,370 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $14,195 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $744,286 | $250,921 | $294,054 | $298,417 | $249,565 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $59,137 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term assets | $343,707 | $0 | $0 | $100,883 | $1 |
| Total long-term assets | $402,844 | $0 | $0 | $100,883 | $1 |
| Total assets | $1,147,130 | $250,921 | $294,054 | $399,300 | $249,566 |
| Liabilities | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $460,044 | $28,915 | $38 | $0 | $2,730 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $341,575 | $89,782 |
| Total current liabilities | $460,044 | $28,915 | $38 | $341,575 | $92,512 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $225,000 | $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 | $225,000 | $0 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $460,044 | $28,915 | $225,038 | $341,575 | $92,512 |
| Net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Without donor restrictions | $687,086 | $222,006 | $69,016 | $57,725 | $157,054 |
| With donor restrictions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assets | $687,086 | $222,006 | $69,016 | $57,725 | $157,054 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Total contributions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Program service revenue | $5,792,810 | $6,621,849 | $8,848,897 | $4,475,732 | $800,196 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $33,210 | $0 | $252 | $0 | $12 |
| Other revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total other revenue | $5,826,020 | $6,621,849 | $8,849,149 | $4,475,732 | $800,208 |
| Total revenue | $5,826,020 | $6,621,849 | $8,849,149 | $4,475,732 | $800,208 |
| Expenses | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Program services | $3,725,917 | $4,894,031 | $7,607,859 | $3,585,285 | $605,461 |
| Management and general | $1,671,413 | $1,580,238 | $1,229,999 | $991,552 | $143,067 |
| Fundraising | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total expenses | $5,397,330 | $6,474,269 | $8,837,858 | $4,576,837 | $748,528 |
| Change in net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $428,690 | $147,580 | $11,291 | ($101,105) | $51,680 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $428,690 | $147,580 | $11,291 | ($101,105) | $51,680 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Nick Ostermann | Executive Director | $179,372 |
Compensation data as of: 6/30/2025
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 7/6/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Heart Christian Academy opened its doors in September of 1999 and has been a preeminent presence in the homeschooling landscape for over 25 years. Originally known as Home Education And Righteousness Training, Heart was founded by a grassroots group of homeschooling parents in South Orange County, California who were seeking to add structure and a campus environment to their homeschool endeavors, while maintaining the flexibility and freedom to educate their children according to a Christian worldview.
The founding tenets of Heart were to equip parents to successfully disciple and educate their children in the Lord. This discipleship focus was accomplished by providing a Christ-centered environment which consisted of believing families and staff, and curriculum grounded in Biblical truths. Heart's initial educational approach reflected popular homeschooling trends of the time: classical education (based on the model of Susan Wise Bauer and The Well-Trained Mind) and an emphasis on family style learning, particularly in the subjects of History and Science. Heart offered a solid core of Language Arts, Mathematics, History, Science and Social Studies, tailoring curriculum choices to Christian-based, homeschool-friendly materials that could easily be followed by the on-campus teachers and, more importantly, by the homeschooling parents.
While the primary aim of Heart was to come alongside and support homeschooling parents, families also craved community and connection, embracing many of the fun social activities generally associated with a traditional school experience, such as class pictures and yearbook, class parties, holiday celebrations, and field trips. Early Heart parents started many beloved Heart traditions, several of which continue today: History Day, Competition Day, Memories with Mom, Donuts with Dudes, Cake and Model Building, Talent Show, Thanksgiving Feast, Christmas Tea, and Patriotic Day.
With a few site changes in the early years to accommodate a burgeoning enrollment, the opportunity arose in 2007 for Heart to move to Harbor Point Church (then known as Ocean Hills Church). Harbor Point proved to be a welcoming and spacious location, able to continually adapt to the growing needs of Heart. In 2021, at the request of a Heart family who had recently relocated to Tennessee, the first Heart outside of San Juan Capistrano opened and quickly became a success. Today Heart has a presence in San Diego County, Orange County, Northern California, Idaho, and Tennessee.