Life Issues Institute 
The information on this page was last updated 1/12/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Life Issues Institute ("LII") sees that Americans have become too familiar with and accepting of abortion and that to resolve this problem pro-life education has to change. LII was founded to rejuvenate and reinvigorate nationwide pro-life education. For several years LII focused their resources on determining what is needed to gain the pro-life initiative. During that time, they did polling, focus groups, market research, and extensive market testing of new themes and approaches. Now, this ministry focuses full-time on promoting and providing effective educational tools for the pro-life movement. LII provides publications and radio programming to serve the cause of the pro-life movement. Some of its programs and publications include Life Issues radio, educational materials (also translated into 28 languages), Life Issues Connector, Unity Meetings, and RU 486 Reports.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Life Issues Institute
P.O. Box 785
Florence, KY 41022
Website: www.lifeissues.org
Phone: (513) 729-3600
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 310814275
CEO/President: Bradley Mattes
Chairman: Jane Abraham
Board size: 8
Founder: Dr. JC Willke and Bradley Mattes
Ruling year: 1972
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
Founded in 1991 by J.C. Willke, MD, and Bradley Mattes, Life Issues Institute is a non-profit 501(c)(3) international organization dedicated to changing hearts and minds of millions of people through pro-life education.
As a result of the hard work, dedication and sacrifice of Life Issues Institute and countless individuals in the pro-life movement, for the first time ever three consecutive national polls have shown the majority of Americans self-identify as pro-life rather than pro-abortion. This includes the next generation: America's youth. However, many people still remain uncertain or confused regarding their position on abortion.
Our calm, factual approach enables us to reach millions with pro-life education and knowledge that saves lives.
We must continue to build a culture that respects life and counters the "who decides" and "pro-choice" mentality in American society. To do so, the rights of women and the rights of the unborn have to be joined. We must reach out to every woman faced with the agony of abortion and say to her, "Your life and the life of your baby are important, and we will not desert either one of you. We love you both."
Life Issues Institute's role is crucial to the goal of restoring a culture of life and ending abortion. We're committed to educating the millions of people who have not yet made up their minds on the abortion issue. We're dedicated to encouraging, educating and supporting those who recognize the right to life.
We encourage you to examine the ground-breaking educational efforts of Life Issues Institute: our websites; weekly television program, Facing Life Head-On; email news; publications; social network; urban outreach and Life Issues daily radio broadcasts. We're working strategically to create a culture of life. We hope you'll share our excitement and optimism and help support our efforts to change the hearts and minds of Americans on abortion.
Edmund Burke once said, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." We must continue to promote, defend and support life.
Mission statement
Life Issues Institute is dedicated to changing hearts and minds of millions of people through education. Organizations and individuals around the world depend upon Life Issues Institute to provide the latest information and effective tools to protect innocent human life from fertilization to natural death.
Statement of faith
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
D
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Advocacy
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 430 of 1077 | 25 of 41 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 702 of 1078 | 32 of 41 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 329 of 1078 | 20 of 41 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 422 of 1077 | 17 of 41 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 10% | 12% | 12% | 11% | 24% | 11% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 8% | 12% | 12% | 11% | 16% | 11% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 98% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 69% | 98% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 8% | 7% | 11% | 9% | 19% | 9% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 2% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 31% | 2% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 80% | 78% | 71% | 74% | 67% | 78% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 92% | 179% | 108% | 116% | 85% | 125% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 70% | 140% | 77% | 85% | 57% | 97% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 8% | -79% | -8% | -16% | 15% | -25% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 12% | -336% | -9% | -16% | 16% | -23% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 10% | 15% | 18% | 17% | 14% | 13% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.42 | 1.63 | 0.86 | 1.00 | 0.82 | 1.15 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.26 | 4.52 | 2.66 | 3.81 | 3.00 | 2.06 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.03 | 7.35 | 2.29 | 3.82 | 2.45 | 2.38 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 9.89 | 4.30 | 3.67 | 3.28 | 10.04 | 16.88 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.10 | 0.23 | 0.27 | 0.31 | 0.10 | 0.06 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.64 | 1.25 | 3.81 | 2.18 | 4.41 | 4.75 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 16% | 79% | 29% | 11% | 11% | 3% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 6% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 60% | 13% | 83% | 88% | 109% | 84% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Cash | $121,385 | $281,199 | $170,468 | $246,432 | $276,440 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $5,725 | $111 | $1,867 | $5,809 | $4,218 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $127,110 | $281,310 | $172,335 | $252,241 | $280,658 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $446,859 | $466,795 | $485,052 | $505,145 | $298,326 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $446,859 | $466,795 | $485,052 | $505,145 | $298,326 |
| Total assets | $573,969 | $748,105 | $657,387 | $757,386 | $578,984 |
| Liabilities | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $29,545 | $76,701 | $52,564 | $25,123 | $16,628 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $29,545 | $76,701 | $52,564 | $25,123 | $16,628 |
| Debt | $33,035 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $389,018 | $137,777 | $22,525 | $59,313 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $422,053 | $137,777 | $22,525 | $59,313 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $451,598 | $214,478 | $75,089 | $84,436 | $16,628 |
| Net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Without donor restrictions | $122,371 | $402,908 | $582,298 | $672,950 | $508,561 |
| With donor restrictions | $0 | $130,719 | $0 | $0 | $53,795 |
| Net assets | $122,371 | $533,627 | $582,298 | $672,950 | $562,356 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Total contributions | $523,268 | $595,869 | $567,632 | $501,141 | $526,832 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $2,230 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $86 | $14 | $0 | $285 | $496 |
| Other revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $227,474 | $5,298 |
| Total other revenue | $86 | $14 | $0 | $227,759 | $8,024 |
| Total revenue | $523,354 | $595,883 | $567,632 | $728,900 | $534,856 |
| Expenses | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Program services | $730,754 | $459,496 | $484,823 | $415,634 | $520,298 |
| Management and general | $138,571 | $116,501 | $112,763 | $84,588 | $88,938 |
| Fundraising | $65,285 | $68,557 | $60,698 | $118,088 | $57,614 |
| Total expenses | $934,610 | $644,554 | $658,284 | $618,310 | $666,850 |
| Change in net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($411,256) | ($48,671) | ($90,652) | $110,590 | ($131,994) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($411,256) | ($48,671) | ($90,652) | $110,590 | ($131,994) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Marjorie Dannenfelser | SBA List President | $396,010 |
| Emily Midgett | Executive Vice President | $297,285 |
| Jennifer Gross | VP of Administration/Treasurer | $228,393 |
| Bradley J Mattes | President & CEO | $129,200 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2020
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 1/12/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Shortly after the 1973 Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade, the early pioneers of the pro-life movement put forth a strategy: demonstrate the humanity of the unborn child, raise abortion's ugly head for all to see, showing the broken and dismembered bodies, and America would soundly reject abortion.
Thus the pro-life movement began its slow, laborious undertaking of educating Americans to the reality of the beauty of the baby growing in the womb and the horror of abortion. Volunteers addressed countless church, school and civic groups, sharing the pro-life message. Their unselfish labor began to bear fruit. America was slowly waking up to the fact that abortion kills unborn babies.
Then came the first major Supreme Court breakthrough, the Webster decision in 1990. With it came the era of market research, opinion polls, media sound bites and print advertising. Education of the masses took a contemporary twist. Using such tools and the help of a sympathetic press, the pro-abortion movement began to infect our culture further with researched phrases through massive media buys.
Slowly, progressively, they changed the focus of the debate from the tiny victim being killed to a question of women's rights, of "who decides." With this, there developed a change in public opinion that would both condemn abortion but still allow it as a woman's right.
Pro-life education had to change. Updates and adjustments to the way the pro-life message was delivered and spread needed to be made. Abortion had become too familiar. America was showing signs of enduring it. For those yet undecided on abortion, "choice" was a concept they had begun to feel comfortable identifying with.
Then in 1991, Dr. Willke and Bradley Mattes founded Life Issues Institute to reverse this alarming trend and to rejuvenate and reinvigorate a nationwide pro-life educational awakening. At first, most of Life Issues Institute's resources were dedicated to determining what new educational methods were needed for pro-lifers to regain ground with the confused middle. Polling, focus groups, market research, and finally extensive market testing of new themes and approaches were performed. Utilizing this vital information, Life Issues Institute dedicated itself to promoting and providing effective educational tools for the pro-life movement-with the goal of restoring a culture that values human life, both young and old, born and unborn.
Program accomplishments
Through radio, TV, email, social media and print publications, we reach millions of people with the latest news and resources on topics from Planned Parenthood to assisted suicide legislation.