Churches United for the Homeless 
The information on this page was last updated 6/4/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Churches United was founded in 1987 by 11 local faith groups originating from the old Bethesda Lutheran Church. Over the past 38 years, the organization has expanded to include more than 100 supporting faith communities. Today, Churches United operates four locations throughout the Fargo-Moorhead community, offering one shelter, a food pantry, and two permanent supportive housing complexes.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Churches United for the Homeless
1901 1st Ave N
Moorhead, MN 56560
Website: www.churches-united.org
Phone: 218-656-7495
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 411594892
CEO/President: Devlyn Brooks
Chairman: Jess Spieker Ferden
Board size: 6
Founder:
Ruling year: 2014
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
Churches United aims to be here for every neighbor whenever a need arises. Our shelters provide a safe space to rest, a comfortable bed to sleep in, and a warm, nutritious meal.
Consistent, stable, and affordable housing provides spiritual, emotional, and financial stability. It allows children to succeed in school, parents to find gainful employment, and provides a basis for empowerment.
Access to quality, nutritious food is essential to human flourishing. Food security is not only tied to nutrition, but also to economic stability, women's empowerment, environmental resilience, and long-term health.
Guests come to Churches United with all kinds of needs: physical, spiritual, emotional, mental, and financial. Through constant care, diligence, case management, and prayer, we help our guests start their path toward healing.
Mission statement
Our mission is to provide safe shelter, stable housing, nutritious food, and a path toward healing.
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 | | 499 of 1338 | 58 of 147 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 86 of 1338 | 4 of 147 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 794 of 1338 | 87 of 147 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 862 of 1340 | 94 of 147 |
According to the organization's Form 990, it received $1,655,768 in government grants in 2024.
To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 11% | 0% | 5% | 5% | 4% | 6% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 9% | 0% | 5% | 5% | 4% | 5% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 93% | 98% | 100% | 101% | 99% | 97% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 10% | 0% | 8% | 4% | 4% | 5% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 7% | 2% | 0% | -1% | 1% | 3% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 80% | 78% | 84% | 84% | 91% | 89% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 99% | 66% | 64% | 112% | 93% | 113% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 79% | 52% | 54% | 94% | 84% | 100% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 1% | 34% | 36% | -12% | 7% | -13% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 1% | 34% | 43% | -19% | 10% | -12% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 9% | 22% | 8% | 12% | 5% | 7% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.56 | 0.52 | 0.55 | 1.19 | 1.00 | 0.85 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 3.09 | 4.37 | 8.89 | 4.93 | 4.00 | 5.99 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.11 | 2.26 | 4.88 | 5.85 | 4.00 | 5.12 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 9.78 | 2.67 | 0.63 | 1.35 | 6.23 | 7.48 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.10 | 0.37 | 1.58 | 0.74 | 0.16 | 0.13 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.25 | 3.31 | -1.43 | 0.53 | 2.52 | 2.03 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 10% | 22% | 26% | 31% | 17% | 19% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 11% | 7% | 13% | 13% | 17% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 145% | 151% | 134% | 58% | 83% | 95% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Cash | $1,056,648 | $0 | $421,154 | $797,227 | $40,101 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $70,550 | $914,436 | $591,653 | $185,057 | $280,115 |
| Short-term investments | $192,779 | $149,772 | $152,315 | $411,350 | $540,540 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $1,319,977 | $1,064,208 | $1,165,122 | $1,393,634 | $860,756 |
| Long-term investments | $150,761 | $796,963 | $796,963 | $796,963 | $864,750 |
| Fixed assets | $2,669,188 | $7,157,725 | $3,373,757 | $3,071,990 | $3,107,592 |
| Other long-term assets | $1,632,825 | $436,809 | $407,365 | $315,883 | $326,244 |
| Total long-term assets | $4,452,774 | $8,391,497 | $4,578,085 | $4,184,836 | $4,298,586 |
| Total assets | $5,772,751 | $9,455,705 | $5,743,207 | $5,578,470 | $5,159,342 |
| Liabilities | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $494,932 | $1,682,208 | $865,441 | $223,772 | $115,022 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $494,932 | $1,682,208 | $865,441 | $223,772 | $115,022 |
| Debt | $628,825 | $691,456 | $727,356 | $729,698 | $862,800 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $123,202 | $123,202 | $170,669 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $752,027 | $814,658 | $898,025 | $729,698 | $862,800 |
| Total liabilities | $1,246,959 | $2,496,866 | $1,763,466 | $953,470 | $977,822 |
| Net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Without donor restrictions | $3,763,171 | $6,196,218 | $3,216,742 | $4,086,957 | $3,647,989 |
| With donor restrictions | $762,621 | $762,621 | $762,999 | $538,043 | $533,531 |
| Net assets | $4,525,792 | $6,958,839 | $3,979,741 | $4,625,000 | $4,181,520 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Total contributions | $4,409,849 | $8,163,336 | $6,103,999 | $5,965,961 | $3,807,232 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $17,000 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $110,468 | $4,337 | ($57,952) | $55,642 | $56,980 |
| Other revenue | $831 | $0 | $12,803 | ($23,314) | $47,423 |
| Total other revenue | $111,299 | $4,337 | ($45,149) | $49,328 | $104,403 |
| Total revenue | $4,521,148 | $8,167,673 | $6,058,850 | $6,015,289 | $3,911,635 |
| Expenses | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Program services | $2,330,139 | $4,377,478 | $5,723,833 | $5,074,524 | $3,903,321 |
| Management and general | $651,275 | $419,147 | $786,024 | $267,231 | $288,455 |
| Fundraising | $6,251 | $391,949 | $300,772 | $234,143 | $214,720 |
| Total expenses | $2,987,665 | $5,188,574 | $6,810,629 | $5,575,898 | $4,406,496 |
| Change in net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $1,533,483 | $2,979,099 | ($751,779) | $439,391 | ($494,861) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $1,533,483 | $2,979,099 | ($751,779) | $439,391 | ($494,861) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Susan Peterson-Koesterman | CEO (through July 2024) | $84,941 |
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 6/4/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Churches United: From then to now
1987 - Churches United for the Homeless was founded
1992 - First paid team members hired
1996 - First Case Managers hired
2004 - Churches United for the Homeless moved to 1901 1st Avenue North, Moorhead, MN
2010 - The Sanford Shelter Nurse programming began
2018 - Bright Sky Apartments opened its doors to the first tenants in Moorhead, MN
2019 - Churches United for the Homeless and the Dorothy Day House & Food Pantry merge. Under the shortened organization name of Churches United for all oversight and management of its programs and sites.
2019 - The shelter that was formally Churches United for the Homeless was renamed Micah's Mission. Dorothy Day House and Dorothy Day Food Pantry continue to use their respective names.
2020 - Silver Linings Apartment project announced to the community.
2021 - Dorothy Day Food Pantry - West moves to its new location in West Fargo, ND
2024 - Silver Linings Apartments breaks ground
2024 - Micah's Mission renovation is completed
2025 - Silver Linings Apartments welcomes its first tenants in Moorhead, MN
Program accomplishments
Needs
Your support makes a difference! Right now, we urgently need essential items to help those we serve. Donations of these high-demand items will go directly to individuals and families in need.