Family Talk / Dr. James Dobson Family Institute 
The information on this page was last updated 3/28/2024. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
The mission of the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute is to help promote the institution of the family and the biblical principles on which it is based and to seek to introduce as many people as possible to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Within the Dobson Family Institute, we have four divisions of ministry-Family Talk, the Dobson Policy Center, the Dobson Education Center, and the Dobson Digital Library. The focus of the ministries is to encourage and equip families to live out their Christian faith within their homes and communities.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Family Talk
540 Elkton Drive
Ste 201
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
Website: drjamesdobson.org
Phone: 877-732-6825
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 271394708
CEO/President: Joe Waresak
Chairman: Dr. James Dobson
Board size: 7
Founder: Dr. James Dobson
Ruling year: 2010
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 09/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2011
Purpose
1. We believe "Through wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established." Proverbs 24:3
2. We will not allow ourselves to get so busy with the cares of life that we neglect our children.
3. We will make our voices heard regarding the impact of godly families - on our children and on culture.
Mission statement
To help preserve and promote the institution of the family and the biblical principles on which it is based, and to seek to introduce as many people as possible to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Specifically, the focus of the ministry is on marriage, parenthood, evangelism, the sanctity of human life and encouraging righteousness in the culture.
Statement of faith
1. The Bible to be the inspired, only, infallible, authoritative Word of God.
2. That there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit;
3. 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;
4. That for salvation of lost and sinful men and women, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential;
5. In the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life;
6. In the resurrection of both the saved and the lost, they who are saved unto the resurrection of life and they who are lost unto the resurrection of damnation;
7. And in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Christian Growth
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 569 of 1138 | 32 of 66 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 676 of 1138 | 39 of 66 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 374 of 1138 | 20 of 66 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 668 of 1138 | 39 of 66 |
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% | 10% | 8% | 6% | 10% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 7% | 9% | 8% | 6% | 9% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 85% | 98% | 97% | 98% | 100% | 90% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 7% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 10% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 15% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 0% | 10% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 81% | 85% | 81% | 81% | 80% | 73% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 97% | 88% | 112% | 96% | 80% | 96% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 78% | 75% | 90% | 78% | 64% | 70% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 3% | 12% | -12% | 4% | 20% | 4% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 6% | 24% | -24% | 8% | 44% | 15% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 12% | 8% | 11% | 11% | 13% | 17% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.07 | 1.03 | 1.17 | 1.01 | 0.87 | 2.09 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.42 | 2.13 | 2.77 | 2.35 | 2.25 | 1.25 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.76 | 2.20 | 3.23 | 2.36 | 1.96 | 2.61 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 9.64 | 8.35 | 6.11 | 6.87 | 5.72 | 4.82 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.10 | 0.12 | 0.16 | 0.15 | 0.17 | 0.21 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.79 | 4.79 | 3.11 | 4.34 | 5.06 | 3.64 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 16% | 43% | 50% | 46% | 51% | 33% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 37% | 44% | 40% | 43% | 17% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 78% | 55% | 43% | 54% | 56% | 32% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Cash | $4,232,044 | $2,761,667 | $3,876,281 | $4,189,044 | $3,035,884 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $314,774 | $270,076 | $228,382 | $208,118 | $173,460 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $4,546,818 | $3,031,743 | $4,104,663 | $4,397,162 | $3,209,344 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $4,512,255 | $4,596,024 | $4,664,718 | $4,723,848 | $33,327 |
| Other long-term assets | $647,929 | $778,327 | $859,524 | $768,123 | $770,335 |
| Total long-term assets | $5,160,184 | $5,374,351 | $5,524,242 | $5,491,971 | $803,662 |
| Total assets | $9,707,002 | $8,406,094 | $9,628,905 | $9,889,133 | $4,013,006 |
| Liabilities | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $544,581 | $496,348 | $597,409 | $768,870 | $666,368 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $544,581 | $496,348 | $597,409 | $768,870 | $666,368 |
| Debt | $3,604,988 | $3,706,874 | $3,805,294 | $4,300,000 | $663,700 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $3,604,988 | $3,706,874 | $3,805,294 | $4,300,000 | $663,700 |
| Total liabilities | $4,149,569 | $4,203,222 | $4,402,703 | $5,068,870 | $1,330,068 |
| Net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Without donor restrictions | $4,514,364 | $3,641,286 | $4,837,429 | $4,172,031 | $1,647,228 |
| With donor restrictions | $1,043,069 | $561,586 | $388,773 | $648,232 | $1,035,710 |
| Net assets | $5,557,433 | $4,202,872 | $5,226,202 | $4,820,263 | $2,682,938 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Total contributions | $11,115,716 | $8,520,025 | $9,880,656 | $10,735,391 | $7,878,968 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $32,576 | $22,497 | ($2,262) | $2,770 | $3,576 |
| Other revenue | $228,153 | $227,526 | $228,384 | $3,318 | $888,879 |
| Total other revenue | $260,729 | $250,023 | $226,122 | $6,088 | $892,455 |
| Total revenue | $11,376,445 | $8,770,048 | $10,106,778 | $10,741,479 | $8,771,423 |
| Expenses | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Program services | $8,494,505 | $7,917,304 | $7,849,065 | $6,898,501 | $6,138,887 |
| Management and general | $787,397 | $1,063,863 | $1,089,537 | $1,101,110 | $1,429,906 |
| Fundraising | $739,982 | $812,211 | $762,237 | $604,543 | $810,617 |
| Total expenses | $10,021,884 | $9,793,378 | $9,700,839 | $8,604,154 | $8,379,410 |
| Change in net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $1,354,561 | ($1,023,330) | $405,939 | $2,137,325 | $392,013 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $1,354,561 | ($1,023,330) | $405,939 | $2,137,325 | $392,013 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Joe Waresak | President | $195,159 |
| Brit Beau Henderson | Director of Creative | $143,629 |
| Dan Lawrence | VP of Marketing | $127,695 |
| Jenanne Jenkins-Ratti | Sr VP Stewardship | $108,906 |
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 3/28/2024. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
The Dr. James Dobson Family Institute (JDFI) is a Christian non-profit organization located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Founded initially as Family Talk in 2010 by Dr. James Dobson, the ministry promotes and teaches biblical principles that support marriage, family, and child-development. Since its inception, Family Talk has served families with broadcasts, monthly newsletters, feature articles, videos, blogs, books, and other resources available on demand via its website, mobile apps, and social media platforms. In 2017, the ministry rebranded under JDFI to expand its four core ministry divisions consisting of Family Talk, the Dobson Policy and Education Centers, and the Dobson Digital Library.
Program accomplishments
Dr. Dobson's flagship program, "Family Talk," is aired on more than 1,300 terrestrial radio outlets and numerous digital channels that reach millions of people each month.