Grand View Christian School 
The information on this page was last updated 6/16/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
We are a private preschool through 12th grade Christian college prep school serving faith community families in the Des Moines area.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Grand View Christian School
1701 E. 33rd St.
Des Moines, IA 50317
Website: grandviewchristianschool.org
Phone: 515-630-1250
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 464468575
CEO/President: Chris Murphy
Chairman: Heidi Warner
Board size: 12
Founder:
Ruling year: 2014
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 07/31
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
Grand View Christian School Association exists to glorify God and to provide Christian education to faith community families. We believe that God has placed the primary responsibility for the child in the hands of the parents. Therefore, Grand View Christian School functions as an educational support ministry for families in the faith community.
Mission statement
Our mission is to provide high-quality Christian education and to provide opportunities for students to develop as Biblically defined holistic persons for useful, productive, sustainable, meaningful and joyful service in all areas of life, to the glory of God and to the good of all people.
Statement of faith
1. We believe that God has revealed Himself truthfully to humans through the inspired texts of the Scriptures. These canonical texts, Old and New Testaments, are inerrant, infallible, and reliable in detail and in theological content. The Bible, as the sufficient Word of God, has authority over the church and the Christian's life and thought. As divinely inspired texts, the meaning of the Biblical authors is to be discerned through careful, textual interpretation guided by the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21.
2. We believe in one God-eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, and always present, existing as three Persons- Father, Son, and Spirit, one in nature, attributes, power, and glory. God will be glorified by all creation and is worthy of worship from all humans. Genesis 1:1-26; Psalm 104, 148; Proverbs 30:4; Matthew 28:19; Mark 12:29; John 1:1-4, 14, 18; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Timothy 2:3-4.
3. We believe that the Son, eternally begotten by the Father, through the Spirit was also born of the virgin, Mary. Therefore, Jesus, the Son, is both fully God and fully human. As the Word made flesh, the Son is the perfect mediator between God and humanity. Proverbs 8:22-31; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-35; John 1:14-18, 5:16-29; Philippians 2:6-11; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 1:1-14.
4. We believe that the Scriptures provide a literal and historical account of God's creation of all things. The climax of the six days of creation was the special, immediate and personal creation of human life. The first humans, Adam and Eve, were directly created, not evolved from previous life forms. God created humans, male and female, in His image. Human life, sexual identity and roles are aspects of God's creative design. From creation, marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman that should be marked by sexual purity, by sacrificial male leadership, and by recognizing the divine blessing of children, including preborn children. Adam and Eve, though created in perfection, sinned, warranting physical death, spiritual death, and eternal separation from God. Consequently, all human beings are born with a sinful nature, and are sinners in thought, word, and deed. Genesis 1:1-27; 2:7-25; 3:1-24; Psalm 127:3-5; Romans 1:18-32; 3:10-19; 5:12-19; Ephesians 5:22-33; Colossians 3:18-19.
5. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as the representative and substitutionary sacrifice and rose again for our justification. Only those who repent and believe in Him are justified on the grounds of His shed blood and are saved by grace through faith wholly apart from human merit and works. Genuine believers, the elect, are the adopted children of God and are eternally secure through the work of God. John 1:12-13; 3:3-16; 5:24; 10:28-29; Acts 13:39; 16:31; Romans 3:21-28; Ephesians 1:3-14; 2:8-10; Philippians 1:6; Titus 3:3- 8; 1 Peter 1:23; 2 Peter 1:4-11.
6. We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person, equal in nature with God the Father and God the Son. The Spirit had an active role in creation and in the inspiration of the Scriptures. He convicts sinners, guides humans into truth and regenerates believers to new life, baptizes them in Christ and serves as their assurance to eternal life. Believers mature in their faith through the work of the Spirit, who produces His fruit in them. The gifts of the Spirit are for ministry to the body of Christ and the "sign gifts" are not intended to be a pattern for today. Psalm 139:7-12; John 14:16-17; 16:13-14; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 12:8-10, 28-30; 14:1-40; Galatians 5:22-23; Hebrews 2:3-4.
7. We believe that the local church is a gathered congregation of believers, associated by covenant, practicing self-governance, and observing the ordinances of believer's baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper. The church is to be committed to the authority of the Word of God in matters of doctrine and practice. God calls certain men to be overseers, providing spiritual leadership for the church. Deacons, likewise, minister to the church body through specific acts of service. We believe that the universal church consists of all who have saving faith in Christ. As the body of Christ, the church is to fulfill His mission of making disciples throughout the world. Matthew 18:15-17; 28:18-20; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 7:17; 11:16; 12:12-28; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:14-15; 4:11-16; 5:23-32; 1 Timothy 2:12; 3:1-15.
8. We believe that every believer should walk by the Spirit and engage in practices that stimulate spiritual maturity. Christians grow as they worship and serve the Lord, study the Scriptures, pray, and live in fellowship with other believers. Christians are also to flee evil influences and practices, which hinder a Spirit-filled life. Due to the commission of Christ and the urgency of the gospel, all believers are to engage in gospel conversations, to live God-honoring lives, and to work continuously to spread the gospel to their neighbors and the nations. Matthew 5:16; 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; John 17:18; 20:21; Acts 1:8; Romans 6:1-14; 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 5:20; 6:14-7:1; Galatians 5:16-26; Colossians 3:1-17; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17.
9. We believe in the literal, bodily resurrection of the crucified Lord, His ascension into heaven, His present life there as our high priest and advocate, and His rapture of the church before the tribulation. He will return bodily and visibly to the earth at the end of the tribulation to establish His millennial kingdom, and to reign as the supreme Lord over all nations. Luke 24:36-43; John 14:1-6; 20:24-29; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:12-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 5:1-11; Revelation 1:4-7; 19:11-16; 20:6.
10. We believe in the bodily resurrection and judgment of all the dead. Those people who are in Christ will be saved to a life of eternal glory with God. Unbelievers will suffer judgment and eternal punishment in the lake of fire. Matthew 10:28; 18:8-9; 25:41,46; Mark 9:43-49; John 5:28-29; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9; Revelation 20:6,11- 15; 21:1-8.
Donor confidence score
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Transparency grade
D
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Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: K-12 Schools/Academies
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 454 of 1366 | 74 of 155 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 536 of 1366 | 83 of 155 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 552 of 1366 | 72 of 155 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 607 of 1367 | 75 of 155 |
To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 11% | 13% | 6% | 7% | 4% | 4% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 2% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 1% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 13% | 10% | 20% | 24% | 28% | 17% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 1% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 87% | 90% | 80% | 76% | 72% | 83% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 84% | 85% | 87% | 88% | 91% | 99% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 93% | 66% | 65% | 75% | 88% | 95% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 76% | 56% | 57% | 66% | 80% | 94% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 7% | 34% | 35% | 25% | 12% | 5% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 6% | 38% | 49% | 50% | 175% | -81% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 14% | 13% | 11% | 10% | 8% | 0% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.53 | 0.55 | 0.55 | 1.26 | 3.15 | 4.39 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 3.21 | 3.73 | 3.98 | 1.25 | 2.70 | 2.14 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.82 | 2.06 | 2.19 | 1.58 | 8.49 | 9.37 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 2.88 | 8.62 | 5.95 | 5.76 | 0.48 | 0.57 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.34 | 0.12 | 0.17 | 0.17 | 2.07 | 1.77 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.08 | 5.15 | 4.56 | 6.27 | -1.51 | -0.98 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 30% | 26% | 39% | 14% | 77% | 129% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 11% | 23% | 35% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 125% | 134% | 111% | 68% | 7% | -7% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Cash | $2,387,550 | $1,296,720 | $2,561,376 | $391,566 | $337,530 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $1,700,869 | $1,555,263 | $831,332 | $0 | $0 |
| Short-term investments | $95,206 | $80,479 | $63,995 | $65,914 | $43,228 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $4,183,625 | $2,932,462 | $3,456,703 | $457,480 | $380,758 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $11,025,351 | $1,969,379 | $743,354 | $118,047 | $110,290 |
| Other long-term assets | $384,334 | $6,759,504 | $134,098 | $658,782 | $321,994 |
| Total long-term assets | $11,409,685 | $8,728,883 | $877,452 | $776,829 | $432,284 |
| Total assets | $15,593,310 | $11,661,345 | $4,334,155 | $1,234,309 | $813,042 |
| Liabilities | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $0 | $21,688 | $32,634 | $16,390 | $11,919 |
| Other current liabilities | $485,135 | $471,501 | $567,990 | $929,369 | $661,457 |
| Total current liabilities | $485,135 | $493,189 | $600,624 | $945,759 | $673,376 |
| Debt | $3,565,581 | $4,056,791 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $22,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $378,058 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $3,587,581 | $4,056,791 | $0 | $0 | $378,058 |
| Total liabilities | $4,072,716 | $4,549,980 | $600,624 | $945,759 | $1,051,434 |
| Net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Without donor restrictions | $10,047,913 | $5,825,713 | $2,915,472 | ($765,627) | ($548,384) |
| With donor restrictions | $1,472,681 | $1,285,652 | $818,059 | $1,054,177 | $309,992 |
| Net assets | $11,520,594 | $7,111,365 | $3,733,531 | $288,550 | ($238,392) |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Total contributions | $1,338,724 | $1,953,747 | $1,746,835 | $1,229,517 | $651,156 |
| Program service revenue | $10,952,181 | $7,384,241 | $5,052,896 | $3,194,990 | $2,837,072 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $75,846 | $55,333 | $42,608 | $11,263 | $306,367 |
| Other revenue | $650,437 | $533,978 | $476,944 | ($47,671) | ($35,188) |
| Total other revenue | $11,678,464 | $7,973,552 | $5,572,448 | $3,158,582 | $3,108,251 |
| Total revenue | $13,017,188 | $9,927,299 | $7,319,283 | $4,388,099 | $3,759,407 |
| Expenses | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Program services | $7,338,755 | $5,609,435 | $4,806,868 | $3,530,051 | $3,544,003 |
| Management and general | $1,097,548 | $691,137 | $543,205 | $302,420 | $0 |
| Fundraising | $177,065 | $122,516 | $113,809 | $50,135 | $23,423 |
| Total expenses | $8,613,368 | $6,423,088 | $5,463,882 | $3,882,606 | $3,567,426 |
| Change in net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $4,403,820 | $3,504,211 | $1,855,401 | $505,493 | $191,981 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $4,403,820 | $3,504,211 | $1,855,401 | $505,493 | $191,981 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Chris Murphy | Superintendent | $142,168 |
| Aaron Pals | Elementary Principal | $102,358 |
Compensation data as of: 7/31/2025
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 6/16/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
https://grandviewchristianschool.org/about/history/