Churches United in Ministry (CHUM) 
The information on this page was last updated 10/14/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Chum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose programs serve more than 8,000 low-income, homeless, hungry, isolated, or otherwise marginalized community members each year in Duluth, MN.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Churches United in Ministry
102 West Second Street
Duluth, MN 55802
Website: chumduluth.org
Phone: 218.720.6521
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 411227969
CEO/President: John Cole
Chairman: Julie Jagim
Board size: 15
Founder:
Ruling year: 1974
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
We are striving to be a nonprofit in Duluth, MN, that can super-serve its clients and end poverty in this amazing, beautiful, and loving community.
Mission statement
People of faith working together to provide basic necessities, foster stable lives, and organize for a just and compassionate community.
Statement of faith
Donor confidence score
Show donor confidence score details
To understand our donor confidence score, click here.
Transparency grade
D
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 82 of 1590 | 12 of 176 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 285 of 1591 | 19 of 177 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 174 of 1591 | 19 of 177 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 251 of 1590 | 24 of 176 |
According to the organization's Form 990, it received $4,315,280 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 | 9% | 2% | 9% | 7% | 4% | 3% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 7% | 2% | 8% | 7% | 4% | 3% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 93% | 93% | 89% | 89% | 94% | 98% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 8% | 2% | 7% | 6% | 4% | 4% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 7% | 7% | 11% | 11% | 6% | 2% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 81% | 92% | 85% | 90% | 93% | 92% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 96% | 96% | 114% | 115% | 119% | 70% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 78% | 89% | 97% | 104% | 111% | 65% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 4% | 4% | -14% | -15% | -19% | 30% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 4% | 11% | -28% | -24% | -24% | 41% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 9% | 6% | 8% | 4% | 3% | 3% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.56 | 2.04 | 1.77 | 1.65 | 1.39 | 0.68 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 2.89 | 1.43 | 1.35 | 1.27 | 1.21 | 2.15 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.08 | 2.92 | 2.39 | 2.10 | 1.69 | 1.46 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 10.33 | 2.89 | 4.34 | 8.82 | 12.33 | 16.82 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.09 | 0.35 | 0.23 | 0.11 | 0.08 | 0.06 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.09 | 2.69 | 3.86 | 5.06 | 6.51 | 7.71 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 9% | 30% | 25% | 9% | 7% | 30% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 27% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 145% | 34% | 42% | 55% | 67% | 103% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Cash | $38,261 | $225,825 | $1,034,613 | $1,569,873 | $1,145,207 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $1,272,743 | $903,829 | $355,715 | $592,584 | $726,871 |
| Short-term investments | $1,504,447 | $1,337,713 | $1,193,480 | $1,037,844 | $1,242,702 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $2,815,451 | $2,467,367 | $2,583,808 | $3,200,301 | $3,114,780 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $985,938 | $606,556 | $699,026 | $687,214 | $3,335,821 |
| Other long-term assets | $228,909 | $266,626 | $0 | $0 | $259,385 |
| Total long-term assets | $1,214,847 | $873,182 | $699,026 | $687,214 | $3,595,206 |
| Total assets | $4,030,298 | $3,340,549 | $3,282,834 | $3,887,515 | $6,709,986 |
| Liabilities | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $974,896 | $568,089 | $293,048 | $259,584 | $185,144 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $974,896 | $568,089 | $293,048 | $259,584 | $185,144 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,827,200 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $228,909 | $266,626 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $228,909 | $266,626 | $0 | $0 | $1,827,200 |
| Total liabilities | $1,203,805 | $834,715 | $293,048 | $259,584 | $2,012,344 |
| Net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Without donor restrictions | $2,713,404 | $2,103,934 | $2,747,455 | $3,385,600 | $4,545,519 |
| With donor restrictions | $113,089 | $401,900 | $242,331 | $242,331 | $152,123 |
| Net assets | $2,826,493 | $2,505,834 | $2,989,786 | $3,627,931 | $4,697,642 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Total contributions | $7,904,001 | $4,640,876 | $4,203,725 | $4,292,693 | $6,334,778 |
| Program service revenue | $366,741 | $375,038 | $438,265 | $229,725 | $113,188 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $145,398 | $40,819 | $6,822 | $47,764 | $35,879 |
| Other revenue | $119,428 | $141,368 | $59,034 | ($24,154) | $0 |
| Total other revenue | $631,567 | $557,225 | $504,121 | $253,335 | $149,067 |
| Total revenue | $8,535,568 | $5,198,101 | $4,707,846 | $4,546,028 | $6,483,845 |
| Expenses | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Program services | $7,593,131 | $5,016,966 | $4,873,171 | $5,046,392 | $4,202,972 |
| Management and general | $483,318 | $484,046 | $243,708 | $184,834 | $152,354 |
| Fundraising | $138,460 | $402,490 | $312,838 | $190,853 | $203,278 |
| Total expenses | $8,214,909 | $5,903,502 | $5,429,717 | $5,422,079 | $4,558,604 |
| Change in net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $320,659 | ($705,401) | ($721,871) | ($876,051) | $1,925,241 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $320,659 | ($705,401) | ($721,871) | ($876,051) | $1,925,241 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| John Cole | Executive Director | $118,550 |
| Gregory Kvam | Finance Director | $88,962 |
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 10/14/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Chum was founded in 1973 when 10 churches in Duluth's Central Hillside neighborhood pooled their resources to meet the needs of the neighborhood's many low-income residents more effectively.