MorningStar Mission Ministries 
The information on this page was last updated 5/29/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
MorningStar Mission provides shelter, food, clothing and hope to those in need in Joliet. We are dedicated to relieving the spiritual and physical hunger of the poor. We do this by providing food for the hungry, clothing for the needy, shelter for the homeless and the Gospel of Jesus Christ for all.
Contact information
Mailing address:
MorningStar Mission Ministries
350 East Washington Street
Joliet, IL 60433
Website: morningstarmission.org
Phone: 815-722-5780
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 362422510
CEO/President: Kevin Watson
Chairman: Graham Rogers
Board size: 6
Founder: Peter H. McCarthy
Ruling year: 1993
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2025
Purpose
Since its beginning in November 1909, MorningStar Mission has had one main goal - help people in need. Through our many Christ-centered programs and services, we aim to help people in need by getting to the core issues of what has caused their homelessness. Whether the problem stems from alcohol, drugs, mental health or family matters, our services have been developed for those who have reached the decision to make a real change in their lives.
Mission statement
MorningStar Mission Ministries is a non-denominational organization dedicated to relieving the spiritual and physical hunger of the poor. We do this by providing food for the hungry, clothing for the needy, shelter for the homeless and the Gospel of Jesus Christ for all.
Statement of faith
We believe the Bible to be the inspired, infallible, ultimately authoritative Word of God.
We believe there is one God, eternally existing as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is deity, that He was born of a virgin, that we are redeemed by His atoning death through His shed blood, that He bodily resurrected and ascended into Heaven, and that He will come again in great power and glory.
We believe that men are saved through a direct, personal encounter with the risen Lord, at which time they are regenerated by the Holy Spirit. This event we hold to be an experience, rather than a doctrinal supposition.
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whom Christ indwells each believer enabling him to live a godly life of obedience as he reaches for maturity.
We believe the Holy Spirit unites all true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and that together they form one body, the Church.
Articles
| 5/22/2026 | Living Proof Ministries Drops to Zero Stars for Financial Efficiency |
| 3/13/2026 | MorningStar Mission Ministries Joins the ECFA |
| 3/6/2026 | Orange County Rescue Mission Resigns from ECFA |
Donor confidence score
Show donor confidence score details
To understand our donor confidence score, click here.
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 1017 of 1420 | 99 of 159 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 1046 of 1420 | 115 of 159 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 1041 of 1420 | 110 of 159 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 559 of 1421 | 60 of 159 |
According to the organization's Form 990, it received $40,000 in government grants in 2024.
To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 10% | 16% | 25% | 22% | 15% | 11% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 8% | 12% | 18% | 16% | 11% | 9% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 93% | 77% | 72% | 72% | 74% | 84% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 10% | 12% | 19% | 16% | 12% | 11% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 7% | 23% | 28% | 28% | 26% | 16% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 81% | 77% | 72% | 78% | 83% | 85% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 97% | 99% | 93% | 97% | 89% | 87% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 79% | 76% | 67% | 76% | 73% | 74% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 3% | 1% | 7% | 3% | 11% | 13% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | 1% | 8% | 4% | 15% | 22% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 9% | 11% | 9% | 5% | 5% | 4% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.56 | 0.70 | 0.55 | 0.59 | 0.58 | 0.84 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 3.07 | 3.27 | 3.53 | 4.18 | 4.46 | 4.12 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.05 | 2.28 | 1.93 | 2.45 | 2.58 | 3.46 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 10.24 | 11.15 | 19.73 | 23.16 | 25.41 | 33.93 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.09 | 0.09 | 0.05 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.03 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.18 | 4.80 | 5.90 | 4.69 | 4.46 | 3.36 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 10% | 46% | 47% | 50% | 52% | 42% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 43% | 45% | 49% | 51% | 41% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 145% | 77% | 97% | 86% | 84% | 69% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Cash | $3,205,536 | $2,982,362 | $2,420,610 | $2,152,722 | $1,581,534 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $196,629 | $214,764 | $205,969 | $275,323 | $240,992 |
| Short-term investments | $220,694 | $164,798 | $154,071 | $193,118 | $180,637 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $3,622,859 | $3,361,924 | $2,780,650 | $2,621,163 | $2,003,163 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $8,217,698 | $8,490,015 | $8,820,213 | $9,078,649 | $6,247,950 |
| Other long-term assets | $15,410 | $18,503 | $18,503 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $8,233,108 | $8,508,518 | $8,838,716 | $9,078,649 | $6,247,950 |
| Total assets | $11,855,967 | $11,870,442 | $11,619,366 | $11,699,812 | $8,251,113 |
| Liabilities | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $324,919 | $170,379 | $120,051 | $103,150 | $59,036 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $324,919 | $170,379 | $120,051 | $103,150 | $59,036 |
| Debt | $5,136,130 | $5,399,111 | $5,647,213 | $5,914,670 | $3,361,868 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $12,675 | $9,875 | $9,125 | $25,235 | $33,369 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $5,148,805 | $5,408,986 | $5,656,338 | $5,939,905 | $3,395,237 |
| Total liabilities | $5,473,724 | $5,579,365 | $5,776,389 | $6,043,055 | $3,454,273 |
| Net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Without donor restrictions | $6,356,743 | $6,265,577 | $5,817,477 | $5,631,257 | $4,771,340 |
| With donor restrictions | $25,500 | $25,500 | $25,500 | $25,500 | $25,500 |
| Net assets | $6,382,243 | $6,291,077 | $5,842,977 | $5,656,757 | $4,796,840 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Total contributions | $6,414,450 | $5,053,768 | $5,093,773 | $5,690,341 | $6,691,718 |
| Program service revenue | $36,945 | $79,173 | $37,756 | $19,665 | $26,642 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $106,550 | $52,918 | $6,883 | $25,481 | $3,492 |
| Other revenue | $1,765,192 | $1,820,219 | $1,887,654 | $1,905,867 | $1,266,510 |
| Total other revenue | $1,908,687 | $1,952,310 | $1,932,293 | $1,951,013 | $1,296,644 |
| Total revenue | $8,323,137 | $7,006,078 | $7,026,066 | $7,641,354 | $7,988,362 |
| Expenses | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Program services | $6,356,935 | $4,679,414 | $5,341,225 | $5,593,433 | $5,892,279 |
| Management and general | $876,897 | $560,076 | $355,482 | $334,182 | $308,610 |
| Fundraising | $1,013,517 | $1,254,723 | $1,116,251 | $844,239 | $739,034 |
| Total expenses | $8,247,349 | $6,494,213 | $6,812,958 | $6,771,854 | $6,939,923 |
| Change in net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $75,788 | $511,865 | $213,108 | $869,500 | $1,048,439 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $75,788 | $511,865 | $213,108 | $869,500 | $1,048,439 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Kevin Watson | Executive Director | $144,829 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2024
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 5/29/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
On Nov. 16, 1909, Peter H. McCarthy founded MorningStar Mission after reconnecting with the church following the death of his wife and two of their five children. He knew in his heart that God had a greater plan for him, and he began his ministry of feeding the hungry, helping the homeless and encouraging people in need to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Pete used all of his savings to rent a building at 460 N. Collins St. in an area known as "Whiskey Row" because of the many surrounding saloons. Complete with a chapel and 30 beds in the basement, his newly established mission would provide food and shelter for sober transients and homeless men. Pete continued working toward his mission until his death at the age of 91.
In 1981, the mission moved to 69 N. Joliet St. to accommodate a shelter for homeless women and children. Not long after, they acquired additional space providing room for a chapel and the mission's first thrift store.
In December 1992, the Joliet Street building was destroyed by a fire. W. Starr Johnston, a successful Joliet businessman, donated property at 350 E. Washington St. He never forgot the faces of the homeless during the Great Depression and wanted to share his good fortune.
But the generous donation came at a cost: There was no room to shelter women and children.
In 1993, a capital campaign was launched to build a men's recovery center. The building was opened 1997. It provided 22 beds in the emergency shelter and 24 beds in the residential long-term recovery program.
In 2000, Eastside Cafe opened to serve hundreds of hungry individuals. Also in 2000, Executive Director Marilyn Farmer and the board drafted and approved a plan for a new shelter for women and children. In 2007, the mission proudly celebrated the opening of the Mary L. Weitendorf Women & Family Center.
Fast forward to today. Under the direction of Executive Director Sandi Perzee, MorningStar Mission continues its mission of helping people through numerous programs and services, including the B.E.T.H. House, the Emergency Shelter, the 180 Men's Residential Recovery Program, the East Side Cafe and the Treasure Chest Thrift Stores.
Following Pete's tradition of ministering to the whole person - serving physical needs first, followed by spiritual guidance - MorningStar Mission continues to help all who are in need.