Christian Union 
The information on this page was last updated 2/4/2025. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Since 2002, Christian Union has worked to help bring sweeping spiritual change to America. The ministry's work is focused in three areas: developing bold Christian leaders at the most strategic and profoundly influential universities in America; building networks of Christian leaders in cities; and promoting national revival through the Christian Union Day and Night online ministry.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Christian Union
19 Vandeventer Avenue
Princeton, NJ 08542
Website: christianunion.org
Phone: 609-688-1700
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 223834440
CEO/President: Matt Bennett
Chairman: Matt Bennett
Board size: 6
Founder: Matt Bennett
Ruling year: 2003
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2010
Purpose
Imagine the United States transformed by the leadership and values of Christians of wholehearted devotion to the Lord. Christian Union seeks a spiritually vibrant nation marked by Christian values permeating every corner of society. Christian Union's two main emphases on select universities and professionals in key cities reflect our concern to reach people groups that exert disproportionate cultural influence in the United States.
Mission statement
Christian Union's mission is to develop and mobilize godly leadership across all sectors of society. The ministry seeks to bring sweeping transformation to the nation's most influential universities and to key cities that shape American culture.
Statement of faith
The sole basis of our beliefs is the Bible, God's infallible written Word, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. We believe that it was uniquely, verbally and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit and that it was written without error (inerrant) in the original manuscripts. It is the supreme and final authority in all matters on which it speaks.
We accept those areas of doctrinal teaching on which, historically, there has been general agreement among all true Christians.
Because of the specialized calling of our organization, we desire to allow for freedom of conviction on other doctrinal matters, provided that any interpretation is based upon the Bible alone, and that no such interpretation shall become an issue which hinders the ministry to which God has called us.
There is one true God, eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of Deity and the characteristics of personality.
Jesus Christ is God, the living Word, who became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. Hence, He is perfect Deity and true humanity united in one person forever.
He lived a sinless life and voluntarily atoned for the sins of men by dying on the cross as their substitute, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone.
He rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He lived and died.
He ascended bodily into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father, where He, the only mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own.
Man was originally created in the image of God. He sinned by disobeying God; thus, he was alienated from his Creator. That historic fall brought all mankind under divine condemnation.
Man's nature is corrupted, and he is thus totally unable to please God. Every man is in need of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
The salvation of man is wholly a work of God's free grace and is not the work, in whole or in part, of human works or goodness or religious ceremony. God imputes His righteousness to those who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation, and thereby justified them in His sight.
It is the privilege of all who are born again of the Spirit to be assured of their salvation from the very moment in which they trust Christ as their Savior. This assurance is not based upon any kind of human merit, but is produced by the witness of the Holy Spirit, who confirms in the believer the testimony of God in His written word.
The Holy Spirit has come into the world to reveal and glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to men. He convicts and draws sinners to Christ, imparts new life to them, continually indwells them from the moment of spiritual birth and seals them until the day of redemption. His fullness, power and control are appropriated in the believer's life by faith.
Every believer is called to live so in the power of the indwelling Spirit that he will not fulfill the lust of the flesh but will bear fruit to the glory of God.
Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, His Body, which is composed of all men, living and dead, who have been joined to Him through saving faith.
God admonishes His people to assemble together regularly for worship, for participation in ordinances, for edification through the Scriptures and for mutual encouragement.
At physical death the believer enters immediately into eternal, conscious fellowship with the Lord and awaits the resurrection of his body to everlasting glory and blessing.
At physical death the unbeliever enters immediately into eternal, conscious separation from the Lord and awaits the resurrection of his body to everlasting judgment and condemnation.
Jesus Christ will come again to the earth - personally, visibly and bodily - to consummate history and the eternal plan of God.
The Lord Jesus Christ commanded all believers to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world and to disciple men of every nation. The fulfillment of that Great Commission requires that all worldly and personal ambitions be subordinated to a total commitment to "Him who loved us and gave Himself for us."
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Leadership Training
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 879 of 1118 | 17 of 24 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 464 of 1119 | 11 of 24 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 703 of 1119 | 14 of 24 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 1084 of 1118 | 24 of 24 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 9% | 8% | 16% | 9% | 15% | 12% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 8% | 8% | 16% | 9% | 15% | 13% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 97% | 102% | 101% | 100% | 101% | 102% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 8% | 9% | 14% | 12% | 13% | 13% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 3% | -2% | -1% | 0% | -1% | -2% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 82% | 81% | 77% | 77% | 77% | 79% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 97% | 91% | 117% | 74% | 115% | 96% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 81% | 74% | 89% | 57% | 88% | 75% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 3% | 9% | -17% | 26% | -15% | 4% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | 14% | -25% | 41% | -24% | 11% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 9% | 10% | 10% | 11% | 11% | 8% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.48 | 0.73 | 0.73 | 0.56 | 0.54 | 0.82 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.12 | 5.24 | 4.69 | 3.54 | 4.06 | 3.81 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.12 | 3.85 | 3.42 | 1.97 | 2.18 | 3.13 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 14.04 | 0.53 | 0.49 | 0.72 | 41.78 | 2.62 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.07 | 1.90 | 2.03 | 1.39 | 0.02 | 0.38 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.55 | -2.81 | -3.61 | -2.39 | 5.38 | 2.38 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 9% | 48% | 58% | 53% | 70% | 66% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 10% | 13% | 13% | 69% | 56% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 61% | 71% | 57% | 85% | 56% | 41% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Cash | $735,129 | $1,287,746 | $2,569,632 | $1,771,478 | $2,315,807 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $281,303 | $200,655 | $133,600 | $262,495 | $266,832 |
| Short-term investments | $1,140,698 | $1,052,623 | $987,925 | $1,096,713 | $927,336 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $2,157,130 | $2,541,024 | $3,691,157 | $3,130,686 | $3,509,975 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $8,932,692 | $9,140,705 | $9,358,033 | $9,579,437 | $9,839,703 |
| Other long-term assets | $217,963 | $241,678 | $25,385 | $11,385 | $11,385 |
| Total long-term assets | $9,150,655 | $9,382,383 | $9,383,418 | $9,590,822 | $9,851,088 |
| Total assets | $11,307,785 | $11,923,407 | $13,074,575 | $12,721,508 | $13,361,063 |
| Liabilities | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $100,241 | $155,933 | $196,310 | $74,933 | $158,135 |
| Other current liabilities | $3,996,741 | $5,003,276 | $4,944,236 | $0 | $1,180,000 |
| Total current liabilities | $4,096,982 | $5,159,209 | $5,140,546 | $74,933 | $1,338,135 |
| Debt | $1,114,753 | $1,543,809 | $1,715,882 | $8,835,271 | $7,490,794 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $189,952 | $226,039 | $20,500 | $20,500 | $15,500 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $1,304,705 | $1,769,848 | $1,736,382 | $8,855,771 | $7,506,294 |
| Total liabilities | $5,401,687 | $6,929,057 | $6,876,928 | $8,930,704 | $8,844,429 |
| Net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Without donor restrictions | $4,969,230 | $4,031,547 | $5,207,895 | $2,782,652 | $3,483,960 |
| With donor restrictions | $936,868 | $962,803 | $989,752 | $1,008,152 | $1,032,674 |
| Net assets | $5,906,098 | $4,994,350 | $6,197,647 | $3,790,804 | $4,516,634 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Total contributions | $9,237,765 | $7,510,820 | $9,834,562 | $5,979,287 | $11,706,941 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $32,593 | $35,024 | $55,834 | $39,352 | ($98,125) |
| Other revenue | ($172,623) | ($86,801) | ($103,235) | ($102,973) | ($155,928) |
| Total other revenue | ($140,030) | ($51,777) | ($47,401) | ($63,621) | ($254,053) |
| Total revenue | $9,097,735 | $7,459,043 | $9,787,161 | $5,915,666 | $11,452,888 |
| Expenses | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Program services | $6,695,864 | $6,673,678 | $5,611,784 | $5,215,473 | $8,645,763 |
| Management and general | $862,861 | $851,028 | $804,702 | $731,338 | $892,928 |
| Fundraising | $737,510 | $1,177,208 | $853,632 | $868,619 | $1,433,699 |
| Total expenses | $8,296,235 | $8,701,914 | $7,270,118 | $6,815,430 | $10,972,390 |
| Change in net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $801,500 | ($1,242,871) | $2,517,043 | ($899,764) | $480,498 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $801,500 | ($1,242,871) | $2,517,043 | ($899,764) | $480,498 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Peter Ahlin | COO/CFO | $259,346 |
| Julie Chezem | Director of Development | $135,650 |
| Cory Lotspeich | Ministry Director | $106,450 |
| Matt Bennett | Chairman/CEO | $72,637 |
| Ken Fish | Trustee | $6,000 |
Compensation data as of: 6/30/2024
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 2/4/2025. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
In 2002, Christian Union launched its first leadership development ministry at Princeton, one of the nation's foremost universities. The ministry's Founder and CEO, Matt Bennett, had long observed the influence that top secular universities possess when it comes to producing many of the nation's most prominent leaders. He had a conviction that US culture could and would be changed as these schools were influenced by the Gospel.
As a student member of Cru in the 1980s and later as a staff member and director at Princeton for more than a decade, Bennett ('88, MBA '89), a Cornell alumnus himself, saw firsthand the impact a campus ministry could have if it were tailored to the spiritual, intellectual, and relational needs of highly intelligent, goal-oriented students.
The ministry launched first at Princeton University with just three students constituting its first Bible course. Today, the ministry at Princeton engages more than 400 students in its weekly Bible courses.
On each campus where it operates, Christian Union's highly credentialed ministry and teaching fellows mentor students and lead challenging, academically oriented Bible courses designed to help students develop a robust understanding of Scripture and Christian worldview. The ministries also host conferences, leadership lecture series, and evangelistic outreach events as they seek to change the spiritual climate at very secular institutions.
Thanks to the early lessons learned at schools like Princeton, and God's gracious provision at every step, each campus launched in the years since 2002 has experienced steady, fairly predictable growth patterns.
The natural progression of supporting alumni of the ministry as they transitioned into careers in major cities such as New York, and the strategic impact of such cities, led to the launch of the Cities ministries, which serve alumni as well as professionals.
Christian Union's most recent ministry, Christian Union Day & Night, was launched in 2016. Day & Night's mission is to promote spiritual strengthening in Christians across America, helping them thrive in order to make an impact in an increasingly secular culture by covenanting together for successive spiritual initiatives. Given the spiritual state of the nation, nothing less than the full power and presence of God will enable Christians to glorify him in all his splendor.
Program accomplishments
Since its launch in 2002, Christian Union has seen 3,867 students graduate from its university ministries.