Chalmers Center for Economic Development at Covenant College 
The information on this page was last updated 3/13/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
We help shape the way churches and Christian nonprofits think about and respond to poverty.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Chalmers Center
1500 Chestnut St
Suite 106
Chattanooga, TN 37408
Website: chalmers.org
Phone: 706.956.4119
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 272341083
CEO/President: Coy Buckley
Chairman: Jeff Galley
Board size: 9
Founder: Dr. Brian Fikkert
Ruling year: 2010
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2014
Purpose
We equip local churches to address the broken relationships at the root of poverty, living out Jesus' Kingdom today.
Mission statement
Statement of faith
Articles
| 5/13/2024 | Chalmers Center Names Coy Buckley as CEO |
| 3/21/2024 | Rethinking Poverty |
Donor confidence score
Show donor confidence score details
To understand our donor confidence score, click here.
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Community Development
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 1159 of 1365 | 119 of 138 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 1309 of 1365 | 132 of 138 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 1269 of 1365 | 130 of 138 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 348 of 1366 | 41 of 138 |
According to the organization's Form 990, it received $393,086 in government grants in 2025.
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 | 6% | 17% | 19% | 24% | 23% | 16% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 4% | 15% | 17% | 21% | 20% | 15% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 91% | 93% | 88% | 87% | 86% | 89% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 18% | 19% | 18% | 17% | 12% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 9% | 7% | 12% | 13% | 14% | 11% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 84% | 66% | 67% | 70% | 76% | 80% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 96% | 84% | 87% | 117% | 116% | 118% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 80% | 56% | 58% | 82% | 88% | 94% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 4% | 16% | 13% | -17% | -16% | -18% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 4% | 50% | 79% | -336% | -70% | -42% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 10% | 16% | 13% | 12% | 7% | 8% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.01 | 1.90 | 3.51 | 10.79 | 4.22 | 2.35 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.89 | 1.20 | 1.00 | 1.03 | 1.02 | 1.01 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.18 | 2.28 | 3.52 | 11.13 | 4.31 | 2.37 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 10.99 | 7.29 | 3.21 | 1.79 | 5.50 | 6.54 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.08 | 0.14 | 0.31 | 0.56 | 0.18 | 0.15 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.65 | 4.54 | 2.35 | 0.48 | 2.28 | 4.28 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 11% | 29% | 31% | 54% | 18% | 15% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 76% | 37% | 20% | 4% | 19% | 36% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Cash | $1,454,218 | $861,335 | $230,551 | $497,680 | $718,530 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $57,931 | $65,607 | $48,166 | $185,353 | $422,871 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $1,512,149 | $926,942 | $278,717 | $683,033 | $1,141,401 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $0 | $2,724 | $8,632 | $15,108 | $10,563 |
| Other long-term assets | $299,838 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $299,838 | $2,724 | $8,632 | $15,108 | $10,563 |
| Total assets | $1,811,987 | $929,666 | $287,349 | $698,141 | $1,151,964 |
| Liabilities | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $207,406 | $186,191 | $127,070 | $124,263 | $171,092 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $102,452 | $28,714 | $0 | $3,458 |
| Total current liabilities | $207,406 | $288,643 | $155,784 | $124,263 | $174,550 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $316,202 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $316,202 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $523,608 | $288,643 | $155,784 | $124,263 | $174,550 |
| Net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Without donor restrictions | ($61,365) | ($84,379) | ($82,812) | $109,576 | $110,233 |
| With donor restrictions | $1,349,744 | $725,402 | $214,377 | $464,302 | $867,181 |
| Net assets | $1,288,379 | $641,023 | $131,565 | $573,878 | $977,414 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Total contributions | $3,790,470 | $3,339,640 | $2,310,766 | $2,178,654 | $2,036,700 |
| Program service revenue | $273,010 | $399,100 | $318,425 | $333,102 | $236,666 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $26 |
| Other revenue | $33,531 | $35,226 | $29,772 | $28,283 | $26,522 |
| Total other revenue | $306,541 | $434,326 | $348,197 | $361,385 | $263,214 |
| Total revenue | $4,097,011 | $3,773,966 | $2,658,963 | $2,540,039 | $2,299,914 |
| Expenses | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Program services | $2,279,970 | $2,192,792 | $2,174,877 | $2,247,897 | $2,167,696 |
| Management and general | $538,840 | $437,340 | $363,118 | $196,708 | $207,385 |
| Fundraising | $630,845 | $634,376 | $563,281 | $498,970 | $333,778 |
| Total expenses | $3,449,655 | $3,264,508 | $3,101,276 | $2,943,575 | $2,708,859 |
| Change in net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $647,356 | $509,458 | ($442,313) | ($403,536) | ($408,945) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $647,356 | $509,458 | ($442,313) | ($403,536) | ($408,945) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Michael Briggs | Chief Development Officer | $195,992 |
| Rob Porter | VP of Generosity | $153,474 |
| Coy Buckley | President, Ceo, Director | $122,724 |
| Brian Fikkert | Founder, Ambassador, Director | $23,885 |
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 3/13/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Program accomplishments
Over 500,000 copies of When Helping Hurts sold
Equipped 30K+ churches and nonprofits worldwide
Served over 1 million people in poverty