The Family Leader 
The information on this page was last updated 3/18/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
The FAMiLY Leader is a Christian ministry to government, transforming America for you and your family
Contact information
Mailing address:
The FAMILY Leader
P.O. Box 42245
Urbandale, IA 50323
Website: thefamilyleader.com
Phone: 515.263.3495
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 421461169
CEO/President: Bob Vander Plaats
Chairman: Denny Hanson
Board size: 9
Founder:
Ruling year: 1997
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 09/30
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
Biblically Engaging Government to Transform America
Mission statement
To inspire the church to engage government for the advancement of God's Kingdom and the strengthening of the family
Statement of faith
Articles
| 5/8/2026 | Watered Gardens, LifePath Christian Ministries Earn Highest Donor Confidence Score |
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: Advocacy
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 1303 of 1420 | 53 of 54 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 1040 of 1420 | 38 of 54 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 960 of 1420 | 42 of 54 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 1309 of 1421 | 47 of 54 |
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% | 12% | 12% | 11% | 4% | 11% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 11% | 10% | 9% | 4% | 10% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 95% | 93% | 90% | 82% | 97% | 98% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 7% | 15% | 12% | 12% | 9% | 10% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 5% | 7% | 10% | 18% | 3% | 2% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 78% | 72% | 75% | 76% | 79% | 78% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 96% | 71% | 85% | 74% | 43% | 102% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 73% | 51% | 64% | 56% | 34% | 79% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 4% | 29% | 15% | 26% | 57% | -2% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 12% | 23% | 11% | 20% | 80% | -6% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 11% | 13% | 13% | 12% | 12% | 12% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.06 | 0.48 | 0.50 | 0.51 | 0.58 | 2.31 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.24 | 2.49 | 1.57 | 1.74 | 1.02 | 1.01 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.99 | 1.19 | 0.78 | 0.89 | 0.59 | 2.33 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 9.75 | 6.69 | 11.04 | 6.24 | 25.96 | 7.92 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.07 | 0.15 | 0.09 | 0.16 | 0.04 | 0.13 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.81 | 8.58 | 13.91 | 11.37 | 19.51 | 4.50 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 19% | 17% | 18% | 10% | 4% | 13% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 63% | 175% | 164% | 177% | 165% | 38% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Cash | $1,979,389 | $4,128,791 | $2,549,851 | $4,369,227 | $829,472 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $2,240,981 | $1,331,898 | $1,440,950 | $1,012,713 | $363,046 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $4,220,370 | $5,460,689 | $3,990,801 | $5,381,940 | $1,192,518 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $5,636,592 | $3,109,112 | $2,462,378 | $45,817 | $10,858 |
| Other long-term assets | $656,540 | $20,039 | $501,877 | $46,301 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $6,293,132 | $3,129,151 | $2,964,255 | $92,118 | $10,858 |
| Total assets | $10,513,502 | $8,589,840 | $6,955,056 | $5,474,058 | $1,203,376 |
| Liabilities | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $605,950 | $494,792 | $370,281 | $207,300 | $150,489 |
| Other current liabilities | $25,000 | $0 | $269,700 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $630,950 | $494,792 | $639,981 | $207,300 | $150,489 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $1,109,936 | $1,086,224 | $53,745 | $7,157 | $1,466 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $1,109,936 | $1,086,224 | $53,745 | $7,157 | $1,466 |
| Total liabilities | $1,740,886 | $1,581,016 | $693,726 | $214,457 | $151,955 |
| Net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Without donor restrictions | $5,133,849 | $3,610,342 | $2,818,718 | $1,400,283 | $830,552 |
| With donor restrictions | $3,638,767 | $3,398,482 | $3,442,612 | $3,859,318 | $220,869 |
| Net assets | $8,772,616 | $7,008,824 | $6,261,330 | $5,259,601 | $1,051,421 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Total contributions | $6,538,471 | $4,521,359 | $3,932,898 | $7,137,667 | $2,664,386 |
| Program service revenue | $423,773 | $364,683 | $701,776 | $244,362 | $45,070 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $74,244 | $143,918 | $148,564 | $7,122 | $370 |
| Other revenue | $274 | $159 | $6,314 | $2,575 | $5,470 |
| Total other revenue | $498,291 | $508,760 | $856,654 | $254,059 | $50,910 |
| Total revenue | $7,036,762 | $5,030,119 | $4,789,552 | $7,391,726 | $2,715,296 |
| Expenses | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Program services | $3,600,589 | $3,198,029 | $2,701,242 | $2,499,140 | $2,158,037 |
| Management and general | $660,546 | $562,927 | $416,334 | $386,862 | $338,658 |
| Fundraising | $761,835 | $521,669 | $420,247 | $297,239 | $281,486 |
| Total expenses | $5,022,970 | $4,282,625 | $3,537,823 | $3,183,241 | $2,778,181 |
| Change in net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $2,013,792 | $747,494 | $1,251,729 | $4,208,485 | ($62,885) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $2,013,792 | $747,494 | $1,251,729 | $4,208,485 | ($62,885) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Bob Vander Plaats | President | $304,731 |
| Chuck Hurley | Vice President | $113,284 |
Compensation data as of: 9/30/2025
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 3/18/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
The FAMiLY Leader began in 1996 as the Iowa Family Policy Center, with a mission to promote God-honoring public policy. But as we grew, we realized lasting change requires more than laws-it needs godly leaders and a culture transformed by biblical truth.
Since 2010, The FAMiLY Leader has shifted focus to empowering the Church to lead that transformation. Through our Church Ambassador Network and initiatives like iF 7:14, we connect pastors with government leaders and foster a movement rooted in prayer, revival, and gospel-driven change. We believe true hope for America lies in the Church rising to be the salt and light Christ called it to be-in homes, communities, and government.
Program accomplishments
Preserving families and keeping children from foster placement by permitting Christian ministries to step in during family crises
Protecting preborn babies from the moment their hearts begin to beat, and supporting their mothers with tangible aid through pregnancy and beyond
Giving parents true educational choice and the ability to send their children to their best learning environment
Repeatedly blocking the expansion of predatory, pay-day loans that destroy family finances
Restoring religious liberty protections for businesses and individuals, so people are free to live out their faith without fear of government persecution