Sandy Cove Ministries 
The information on this page was last updated 1/15/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Sandy Cove Ministries is an all-inclusive, year-round Christian retreat center located on the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay in North East, Maryland.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Sandy Cove Ministries
60 Sandy Cove Rd
North East, MD 21901
Website: sandycove.org
Phone: 410-287-5433
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 230891430
CEO/President: Stephen J. Weaver
Chairman: Paul Palmer
Board size: 11
Founder: Dr. George Palmer
Ruling year: 1959
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 03/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2008
Purpose
Sandy Cove Ministries delivers the message of hope that JESUS NEVER FAILS by providing opportunities for rest, refuge, retreat, renewal and recreation.
Mission statement
Sandy Cove Ministries' mission is to help people connect with God and each other in order to be transformed into the image of Christ, through His Word, His creation, and community.
Statement of faith
Sandy Cove is a non-denominational, not-for-profit organization governed by biblical principles. Though certain doctrinal distinctives are expressed below, the programs and facilities of Sandy Cove are enjoyed by a wide cross-section of denominational organizations and groups.
We subscribe to the following beliefs.
The divine inspiration and consequent authority of the whole Canonical Scriptures
The doctrine of the Trinity
The doctrine of the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and His personal return in power and glory
The fall of man, his consequent moral depravity, and his need of regeneration
The atonement through the substitutionary death of Christ
The doctrine of justification by faith
The present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a holy life
The resurrection of the body, both in the case of the just and the unjust
The eternal life of the saved and the eternal punishment of the lost
Donor confidence score
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Transparency grade
C
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Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Camps/Conference Centers
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 771 of 1435 | 21 of 37 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 1073 of 1435 | 29 of 37 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 1159 of 1435 | 32 of 37 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 21 of 1436 | 1 of 37 |
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 | 8% | 33% | 35% | 10% | 10% | 7% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 5% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 30% | 8% | 8% | 26% | 33% | 64% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 3% | 2% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 5% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 70% | 92% | 92% | 74% | 67% | 36% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 81% | 77% | 75% | 76% | 73% | 64% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 95% | 106% | 106% | 87% | 90% | 99% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 79% | 82% | 80% | 66% | 66% | 63% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 5% | -6% | -6% | 13% | 10% | 1% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 3% | -14% | -10% | 23% | 19% | 2% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 15% | 20% | 22% | 21% | 23% | 31% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.38 | 1.27 | 1.05 | 0.91 | 0.82 | 0.57 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 3.70 | 13.26 | 10.54 | 4.39 | 3.29 | 4.49 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.56 | 16.81 | 11.11 | 3.98 | 2.71 | 2.54 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 5.45 | 0.25 | 0.36 | 0.96 | 1.03 | 0.65 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.18 | 3.93 | 2.79 | 1.04 | 0.97 | 1.53 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.37 | -2.10 | -1.93 | -0.11 | 0.13 | -2.50 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 8% | 48% | 45% | 42% | 51% | 62% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 12% | 12% | 13% | 15% | 21% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 256% | 41% | 53% | 64% | 59% | 67% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Cash | $434,210 | $576,193 | $1,020,300 | $1,736,981 | $1,101,035 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $73,088 | $107,899 | $630,399 | $283,135 | $420,052 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $94,761 | $107,458 | $108,940 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $507,298 | $684,092 | $1,745,460 | $2,127,574 | $1,630,027 |
| Long-term investments | $108,963 | $101,444 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $6,108,027 | $6,427,895 | $5,910,004 | $4,876,919 | $5,100,790 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $591,710 |
| Total long-term assets | $6,216,990 | $6,529,339 | $5,910,004 | $4,876,919 | $5,692,500 |
| Total assets | $6,724,288 | $7,213,431 | $7,655,464 | $7,004,493 | $7,322,527 |
| Liabilities | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $465,030 | $410,742 | $434,494 | $524,422 | $620,916 |
| Other current liabilities | $1,531,168 | $1,494,976 | $1,374,939 | $1,540,693 | $1,873,350 |
| Total current liabilities | $1,996,198 | $1,905,718 | $1,809,433 | $2,065,115 | $2,494,266 |
| Debt | $832,983 | $879,194 | $974,843 | $1,034,508 | $1,531,018 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $391,720 | $435,613 | $460,790 | $483,654 | $505,959 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $1,224,703 | $1,314,807 | $1,435,633 | $1,518,162 | $2,036,977 |
| Total liabilities | $3,220,901 | $3,220,525 | $3,245,066 | $3,583,277 | $4,531,243 |
| Net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Without donor restrictions | $3,386,043 | $3,819,092 | $3,746,406 | $3,235,626 | $2,587,775 |
| With donor restrictions | $117,344 | $173,814 | $663,992 | $185,590 | $203,509 |
| Net assets | $3,503,387 | $3,992,906 | $4,410,398 | $3,421,216 | $2,791,284 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Total contributions | $645,604 | $582,572 | $2,047,455 | $2,110,256 | $2,698,744 |
| Program service revenue | $7,123,226 | $6,366,219 | $5,789,820 | $4,185,900 | $1,450,064 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $13,692 | $21,054 | $3,783 | $19,518 | $7,009 |
| Other revenue | $254,921 | $216,615 | $96,781 | $82,076 | $38,012 |
| Total other revenue | $7,391,839 | $6,603,888 | $5,890,384 | $4,287,494 | $1,495,085 |
| Total revenue | $8,037,443 | $7,186,460 | $7,937,839 | $6,397,750 | $4,193,829 |
| Expenses | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Program services | $6,575,161 | $5,731,327 | $5,269,340 | $4,227,752 | $2,656,492 |
| Management and general | $1,740,676 | $1,661,508 | $1,463,510 | $1,322,213 | $1,301,012 |
| Fundraising | $211,125 | $205,653 | $206,956 | $212,841 | $190,800 |
| Total expenses | $8,526,962 | $7,598,488 | $6,939,806 | $5,762,806 | $4,148,304 |
| Change in net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($489,519) | ($412,028) | $998,033 | $634,944 | $45,525 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($489,519) | ($412,028) | $998,033 | $634,944 | $45,525 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Stephen J Weaver | President | $163,801 |
Compensation data as of: 3/31/2025
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 1/15/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
During the Great Depression of the 1930s, God provided an unusual opportunity for Dr. George Palmer, pastor of Haddon Heights Baptist Church in Haddon Heights, NJ, to host one of the earliest Christian radio broadcasts. During this time when businesses, banks, and government were failing, the daily Morning Cheer broadcast brought good news and hope. Dr. George Palmer's biblical teaching stressed God's omniscience and control, and the show's theme song reminded all that "Jesus Never Fails."
The response was overwhelming and provided further ministry opportunity for this young visionary preacher in 1946. Property was acquired on the North East River in Cecil County, MD, for establishing a summer tent revival and camp meeting facility. Camps were built for children, numerous mission projects were accomplished around the world, and Sandy Cove Bible Conference was born.
Summer after summer, guests flocked to Sandy Cove to hear some of the most prominent speakers and preachers teach the Word of God and listened to inspiring concerts performed by top Christian musicians.
A new vision for Sandy Cove was cast with the addition of the majestic Chesapeake Lodge & Conference Center during the late 1980s which allowed for year-round ministry opportunities. This spacious facility continues to serve as a focal point of the ministry, offering comfort and hospitality to multitudes of men, women and children each year at one of many Sandy Cove programmed events or as part of a church retreat.
Throughout our history, there have been six presidents for Morning Cheer, Inc., now known as Sandy Cove Ministries: Dr. George Palmer, his son, Rev. Bob Palmer, Rev. Neil Fichthorn, Dr. Sandy Outlar, Rev. Mark P. Fisher, and Stephen J. Weaver. In those years, thousands have received Christ, grown in their spiritual life, been spurred on to full-time ministry, enjoyed meeting together, and experienced rejuvenation when vacationing with fellow Christians.
From 1950 - 2018, overnight youth camps were held on numerous properties, all dedicated to sharing the message of salvation through Jesus Christ and to helping young people develop a relationship with their Creator.
Camp Sandy Hill for Boys, Camp Sandy Cove for Girls and Hilltop Ranch for Teenagers in Maryland near Sandy Cove Ministries
Camp Sandy Cove for Boys and Girls in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania
Camp Sandy Cove for Boys and Girls in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of West Virginia
Since 2001, The Marsh Day Camp has been offering fun, challenges, excitement and opportunities for learning and spiritual growth to children in Sandy Cove Ministries' local community.