Echo, Inc. 
The information on this page was last updated 4/26/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
For nearly four decades, ECHO has been equipping and empowering hungry families with knowledge and the life-giving grace of God. We've impacted millions of lives by teaching small-scale, sustainable farming methods so families can provide for themselves and their communities. By tackling hunger at the source, we're growing hope from the ground up.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Echo, Inc.
17391 Durrance Rd.
North Fort Myers, FL 33917
Website: echonet.org
Phone: (239) 543-3246
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 237275283
CEO/President: Dr. Abram Bicksler
Chairman: Doug Carlson
Board size: 11
Founder: Mr. Richard Dugger
Ruling year: 1973
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 03/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1994
Purpose
We Equip: Self-sustainable hunger solutions for small-scale farmers.
We are Global: Hands-on training around the world with global resources and guidance available through online community.
We give Hope: Through sustainable farming methods, we are demonstrating the Gospel in Word and seed.
Mission statement
Empty bellies and empty hearts lead to pain and suffering for individuals, families, and communities across the world. We believe that as active participants in the Great Commission and stewards of great agricultural knowledge, it is our duty to grow and make disciples.
Statement of faith
Each staff member at ECHO is asked to sign ECHO's Statement of Faith or The Apostles Creed. ECHO does not require those who use our services to ascribe to this Statement of Faith
ECHO'S STATEMENT OF FAITH
- We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only reliable, authoritative Word of God.
- We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- We believe in the deity and humanity of Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His present rule as Head of the Church.
- We believe in the salvation through God's grace of all who repent and put their faith in Jesus Christ alone.
- We believe in the indwelling presence and transforming power of the Holy Spirit, by which the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
- We believe in the future personal return of Jesus Christ and the resurrection of both the repentant and unrepentant who will be judged by Jesus with justice and mercy; for those who are repentant unto the resurrection of eternal life and those who are unrepentant unto eternal condemnation.
- We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ with equality across racial, gender and class differences.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Relief and Development
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 901 of 1118 | 64 of 93 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 581 of 1119 | 48 of 93 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 656 of 1119 | 49 of 93 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 1032 of 1118 | 86 of 93 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 7% | 7% | 5% | 5% | 4% | 7% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 6% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 6% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 99% | 86% | 87% | 89% | 84% | 86% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 6% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 6% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 1% | 14% | 13% | 11% | 16% | 14% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 86% | 85% | 86% | 85% | 84% | 83% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 99% | 102% | 92% | 75% | 66% | 96% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 86% | 87% | 79% | 64% | 56% | 80% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 1% | -2% | 8% | 25% | 34% | 4% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 3% | -1% | 5% | 19% | 31% | 4% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 6% | 9% | 9% | 9% | 10% | 11% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.42 | 0.60 | 0.57 | 0.52 | 0.54 | 0.91 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.24 | 2.34 | 2.34 | 2.27 | 2.44 | 6.18 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.89 | 1.39 | 1.33 | 1.17 | 1.31 | 5.60 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 15.83 | 15.06 | 18.60 | 28.40 | 11.48 | 3.06 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.06 | 0.07 | 0.05 | 0.04 | 0.09 | 0.33 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 6.10 | 8.05 | 8.57 | 9.88 | 8.39 | 1.44 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 8% | 9% | 9% | 7% | 11% | 16% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 62% | 153% | 160% | 180% | 167% | 93% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Cash | $3,265,009 | $3,345,143 | $3,099,108 | $2,618,480 | $577,217 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $276,456 | $233,060 | $396,349 | $212,682 | $212,787 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $3,541,465 | $3,578,203 | $3,495,457 | $2,831,162 | $790,004 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $3,585,547 | $3,661,780 | $3,128,759 | $3,163,252 | $3,295,728 |
| Other long-term assets | $1,145,191 | $1,130,834 | $1,320,629 | $911,731 | $794,491 |
| Total long-term assets | $4,730,738 | $4,792,614 | $4,449,388 | $4,074,983 | $4,090,219 |
| Total assets | $8,272,203 | $8,370,817 | $7,944,845 | $6,906,145 | $4,880,223 |
| Liabilities | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $222,747 | $191,195 | $121,140 | $245,488 | $256,601 |
| Other current liabilities | $12,338 | $1,171 | $1,955 | $1,043 | $1,220 |
| Total current liabilities | $235,085 | $192,366 | $123,095 | $246,531 | $257,821 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $471,026 | $598,234 | $449,043 | $479,307 | $515,339 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $471,026 | $598,234 | $449,043 | $479,307 | $515,339 |
| Total liabilities | $706,111 | $790,600 | $572,138 | $725,838 | $773,160 |
| Net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Without donor restrictions | $6,246,457 | $6,621,993 | $6,364,451 | $5,424,284 | $3,482,603 |
| With donor restrictions | $1,319,635 | $958,224 | $1,008,256 | $756,023 | $624,460 |
| Net assets | $7,566,092 | $7,580,217 | $7,372,707 | $6,180,307 | $4,107,063 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Total contributions | $4,182,496 | $4,467,209 | $4,849,888 | $4,691,721 | $3,957,584 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $99,526 | $51,500 | $101,926 | $80,269 | $36,624 |
| Other revenue | $565,691 | $624,236 | $517,309 | $810,931 | $610,069 |
| Total other revenue | $665,217 | $675,736 | $619,235 | $891,200 | $646,693 |
| Total revenue | $4,847,713 | $5,142,945 | $5,469,123 | $5,582,921 | $4,604,277 |
| Expenses | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Program services | $4,208,724 | $4,071,871 | $3,490,836 | $3,120,714 | $3,679,089 |
| Management and general | $435,375 | $445,390 | $375,784 | $365,385 | $471,327 |
| Fundraising | $286,603 | $225,840 | $230,642 | $210,159 | $276,834 |
| Total expenses | $4,930,702 | $4,743,101 | $4,097,262 | $3,696,258 | $4,427,250 |
| Change in net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($82,989) | $399,844 | $1,371,861 | $1,886,663 | $177,027 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($82,989) | $399,844 | $1,371,861 | $1,886,663 | $177,027 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Abram Bicksler | President & CEO | $165,021 |
Compensation data as of: 3/31/2024
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 4/26/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
1970s
In the early 1970's Indiana businessman Richard Dugger led a group of high school students on a visit to Haiti and was deeply moved by the plight of people that he met. His eyes were opened to the level of poverty that existed and still exists in our world today. He and others made personal commitments to share their time and resources, they prayed and dreamed of ways to help meet the needs that they had seen. Other Christian laymen and clergy from Indiana and Florida caught the dream, and ECHO (Educational Concerns for Haiti Organization) was born. Until 1981, ECHO worked on various projects in Haiti.
1980s
ECHO's role in international agricultural development was more clearly defined with the arrival of Former Executive Director, Dr. Martin Price, in June of 1981. The work in Haiti was closed, and all of ECHO's resources were directed towards strengthening the work of other organizations. Under his direction ECHO has become an ever growing pipeline for sharing information, ideas, techniques, methods, plants, books, materials, solutions ... whatever has potential to ease world hunger. ECHO's primary functions are providing agricultural information to overseas workers, distributing seeds for promising food plants, and offering training opportunities at the Florida farm. ECHO's role and purpose as conceived in the early 1980's endures today, and as a result, ECHO's "history" is mostly a story of the expanding ministry.
The first issue of ECHO's highly regarded ECHO Development Notes (EDN) was published in 1982 and mailed to 36 interested individuals.
During 1987 the office activities moved from a room in the lower level of the A-frame dormitory to a large rented office trailer, but by 1991 the "spacious" office trailer was badly crowded. ECHO purchased a 7 1/2 acre adjoining farm to provide housing and expansion space and the A-frame was remodeled to provide additional office space.
1990s
In 1998, a generous gift made it possible for ECHO to construct two large buildings, a visitor center and a technical resource building. The addition of these beautiful buildings has allowed for an expanded bookstore, tour reception area, and an expanded library as well as room for the office staff and volunteers.
In 2001, ECHO received a grant to develop the Global Farm and Research Center in which six separate areas of tropical climates are simulated. Each of the six agricultural interns takes care of his or her own climate zone. Currently featured on the farm are the tropical lowlands, tropical highlands, monsoon, semi-arid, rainforest clearing, community garden, appropriate technology and urban garden. The global farm is not only a hands on training ground for those searching for help in tropical agriculture, but also an educational tool to make the public aware of hunger related issues and the answers there are to alleviate malnutrition and starvation.
In 2009, ECHO Opened the first Regional Impact Center in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Drawing from strong leadership in the region, this pioneer effort led the way for future impact centers around the world.
2010s to Present
In 2011, ECHO launched ECHOcommunity.org, the online collaborative membership community of ECHO. ECHOcommunity.org connects over 16,000 small-scale farmers, and those working to eliminate world hunger, with essential resources, and each other. These resources include a vast knowledge base of practical information, experienced technical support and an extensive seed bank focused on highly beneficial underutilized plants. In 2017, a forum called "Conversations" was added to ECHOcommunity.org to create an easier way for users to connect not only with ECHO but with each other. Before ECHOcommunity and the internet, a coffee grower in the highlands of Guatemala had no means to share methods of combating leaf rust with a farmer in Ethiopia, a land of similar environment, or with ECHO headquarters in Fort Myers. Now, that grower can post their discovery on the online forum where everyone can learn.
ECHO opened the East Africa and West Africa Impact Centers in 2012 and 2014, respectively. These connecting hubs allow ECHO's training and research to reach more small-scale farmers than ever before.
Nearly every aspect of ECHO's ministry has experienced substantial growth. More than 800 volunteers give over 75,000 hours of work yearly. We now have eight interns who reside, work and receive training for 14 months on the farm followed by an optional six month extension with one of our Impact Centers. More than 10,000 visitors tour our demonstration farm each year and agricultural development workers from around the world spend from a few days to a few months at ECHO where they use the library, attend seminars and conferences, and work alongside the interns in their projects for practical, hands-on experience.
In more than 40 years of existence ECHO has matured from an idea into global network of hope! Today, ECHO reaches millions of small-scale farmers in more than 190 countries. ECHO Development Notes are still in circulation and questions are answered daily. Knowledge is shared, livelihoods are transformed, and hope is found.