Reach the Forgotten Jail Ministry 
The information on this page was last updated 2/3/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Bringing the Good News to the Forgotten
Contact information
Mailing address:
Reach the Forgotten Jail Ministry
1480 Buchanan Ave
SW Grand Rapids, MI 49507
Website: jailministry.org
Phone: 616-784-4620
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 381813208
CEO/President: Rick Eschenburg
Chairman: Robert Ellis
Board size: 9
Founder:
Ruling year: 1966
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2014
Purpose
Our vision is for every incarcerated person to experience new life in Christ and develop healthy family, church, and community relationships.
Mission statement
Our mission is to provide Christ-centered hope and healing through biblically-based, chaplain led, volunteer jail ministries.
Statement of faith
Articles
| 9/25/2023 | Tyndale House's Book Donation, Refuge for Women's New Director, and Wycliffe Bible Translation Completion |
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 | | 1058 of 1423 | 99 of 146 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 1302 of 1423 | 122 of 146 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 1270 of 1423 | 131 of 146 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 151 of 1424 | 22 of 146 |
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% | 13% | 18% | 13% | 11% | 8% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 4% | 13% | 18% | 13% | 11% | 8% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 91% | 99% | 99% | 99% | 92% | 100% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 11% | 15% | 11% | 12% | 12% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 9% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 8% | 0% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 83% | 72% | 71% | 74% | 71% | 71% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 96% | 114% | 121% | 113% | 84% | 66% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 79% | 82% | 85% | 83% | 60% | 47% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 4% | -14% | -21% | -13% | 16% | 34% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 4% | -47% | -50% | -22% | 26% | 68% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 11% | 16% | 14% | 15% | 17% | 17% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.02 | 3.23 | 2.51 | 1.77 | 1.33 | 1.02 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.88 | 1.47 | 1.37 | 1.24 | 1.16 | 1.18 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.14 | 4.77 | 3.45 | 2.19 | 1.54 | 1.20 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 12.19 | 8.31 | 14.74 | 18.02 | 14.18 | 16.07 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.07 | 0.12 | 0.07 | 0.06 | 0.07 | 0.06 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.79 | 2.21 | 3.25 | 5.16 | 7.24 | 9.39 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 10% | 17% | 13% | 9% | 6% | 23% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 18% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 77% | 26% | 34% | 52% | 71% | 76% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Cash | $124,445 | $255,355 | $1,137,199 | $1,018,276 | $938,352 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $25,631 | $37,361 | $33,598 | $434,691 | $430,138 |
| Short-term investments | $380,124 | $484,287 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $530,200 | $777,003 | $1,170,797 | $1,452,967 | $1,368,490 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $183,855 | $199,546 | $219,891 | $233,332 | $195,680 |
| Other long-term assets | $67,813 | $88,779 | $64,667 | $0 | $48,314 |
| Total long-term assets | $251,668 | $288,325 | $284,558 | $233,332 | $243,994 |
| Total assets | $781,868 | $1,065,328 | $1,455,355 | $1,686,299 | $1,612,484 |
| Liabilities | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $63,803 | $52,699 | $64,984 | $102,459 | $85,151 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $63,803 | $52,699 | $64,984 | $102,459 | $85,151 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $283,345 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $67,813 | $88,779 | $64,667 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $67,813 | $88,779 | $64,667 | $0 | $283,345 |
| Total liabilities | $131,616 | $141,478 | $129,651 | $102,459 | $368,496 |
| Net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Without donor restrictions | $603,159 | $860,618 | $1,287,399 | $1,482,515 | $1,157,979 |
| With donor restrictions | $47,093 | $63,232 | $38,305 | $101,325 | $86,009 |
| Net assets | $650,252 | $923,850 | $1,325,704 | $1,583,840 | $1,243,988 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Total contributions | $2,204,757 | $2,194,525 | $2,244,193 | $2,443,323 | $2,483,874 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $16,877 | $23,632 | $33,256 | $210,838 | $1,574 |
| Other revenue | $0 | $1,080 | $330 | $0 | $0 |
| Total other revenue | $16,877 | $24,712 | $33,586 | $210,838 | $1,574 |
| Total revenue | $2,221,634 | $2,219,237 | $2,277,779 | $2,654,161 | $2,485,448 |
| Expenses | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Program services | $1,828,845 | $1,896,279 | $1,896,164 | $1,582,510 | $1,164,788 |
| Management and general | $415,592 | $377,649 | $384,793 | $377,212 | $273,729 |
| Fundraising | $282,759 | $404,312 | $288,679 | $279,718 | $201,704 |
| Total expenses | $2,527,196 | $2,678,240 | $2,569,636 | $2,239,440 | $1,640,221 |
| Change in net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($305,562) | ($459,003) | ($291,857) | $414,721 | $845,227 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($305,562) | ($459,003) | ($291,857) | $414,721 | $845,227 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Nathan Deward | Executive Director | $95,239 |
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 2/3/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Program accomplishments
Over 2,000 Volunteers serve in jails across Michigan
Over 15,000 Bibles distributed each year
Over 16,000 Bible courses completed each year