Blue Letter Bible 
The information on this page was last updated 3/30/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Blue Letter Bible is a free, searchable online Bible program providing access to many different Bible translations including: KJV, NKJV, NLT, ESV, NASB20, NASB95 and many others. In addition, in-depth study tools are provided on the site with access to commentaries, encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other theological resources.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Blue Letter Bible
29 Rancho Circle
Lake Forest, CA 92630
Website: blueletterbible.org
Phone: (949) 600-6000
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 472951572
CEO/President: James P Milligan
Chairman: James P Milligan
Board size: 12
Founder: James P Milligan
Ruling year: 2015
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2019
Purpose
Blue Letter Bible's ultimate goal is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus by making the written Word of God available to all for free.
Mission statement
Statement of faith
Our statement of faith, mission, and resources are grounded in the historical, conservative Christian faith.
We affirm the Bible to be the inspired, inerrant, and the only infallible and authoritative Word of God. We affirm the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy.
We affirm that there is one God, eternally existent in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We affirm the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and His personal return in power and glory.
We affirm that for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
We affirm the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
We affirm the resurrection of both the saved and the lost: they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
We affirm the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Educational Media
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 532 of 1077 | 26 of 47 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 897 of 1078 | 42 of 47 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 450 of 1078 | 21 of 47 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 257 of 1077 | 11 of 47 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 8% | 14% | 19% | 17% | 26% | 26% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 7% | 14% | 18% | 16% | 25% | 25% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 94% | 99% | 97% | 98% | 95% | 96% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 7% | 16% | 17% | 15% | 16% | 17% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 6% | 1% | 3% | 2% | 5% | 4% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 82% | 82% | 80% | 82% | 82% | 76% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 87% | 87% | 107% | 105% | 157% | 144% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 69% | 72% | 86% | 86% | 128% | 110% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 13% | 13% | -7% | -5% | -57% | -44% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 21% | 24% | -12% | -8% | -49% | -26% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 12% | 2% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 6% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.79 | 1.22 | 1.63 | 1.50 | 1.29 | 0.82 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.65 | 1.31 | 1.63 | 1.57 | 1.52 | 1.35 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.34 | 1.60 | 2.66 | 2.36 | 1.96 | 1.10 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 13.47 | 3.05 | 5.54 | 10.54 | 12.51 | 40.64 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.07 | 0.33 | 0.18 | 0.09 | 0.08 | 0.02 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 7.32 | 5.05 | 3.70 | 4.60 | 5.63 | 10.63 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 12% | 25% | 11% | 6% | 5% | 2% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 104% | 61% | 54% | 63% | 74% | 120% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2021 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Cash | $1,641,357 | $869,425 | $944,052 | $1,029,303 | $1,721,216 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $253 | $1,280 | $593 | $27,979 | $0 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $1,641,610 | $870,705 | $944,645 | $1,057,282 | $1,721,216 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $39,596 | $71,197 | $78,911 | $89,500 | $97,648 |
| Other long-term assets | $464,442 | $477,850 | $462,242 | $462,454 | $499,339 |
| Total long-term assets | $504,038 | $549,047 | $541,153 | $551,954 | $596,987 |
| Total assets | $2,145,648 | $1,419,752 | $1,485,798 | $1,609,236 | $2,318,203 |
| Liabilities | 2021 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $299,759 | $157,069 | $89,628 | $84,509 | $42,348 |
| Other current liabilities | $239,146 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $538,905 | $157,069 | $89,628 | $84,509 | $42,348 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $538,905 | $157,069 | $89,628 | $84,509 | $42,348 |
| Net assets | 2021 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Without donor restrictions | $1,606,743 | $1,262,683 | $1,396,170 | $1,524,727 | $2,275,855 |
| With donor restrictions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assets | $1,606,743 | $1,262,683 | $1,396,170 | $1,524,727 | $2,275,855 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2021 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Total contributions | $2,966,977 | $2,098,792 | $2,072,674 | $1,250,532 | $1,263,226 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $10,031 | $18,871 | $15,166 | $38,476 | $3,130 |
| Other revenue | $30,661 | $45,212 | $35,880 | $33,311 | $47,346 |
| Total other revenue | $40,692 | $64,083 | $51,046 | $71,787 | $50,476 |
| Total revenue | $3,007,669 | $2,162,875 | $2,123,720 | $1,322,319 | $1,313,702 |
| Expenses | 2021 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Program services | $2,152,687 | $1,860,934 | $1,832,750 | $1,694,339 | $1,448,262 |
| Management and general | $42,933 | $60,099 | $56,104 | $49,782 | $118,599 |
| Fundraising | $426,357 | $395,997 | $342,229 | $329,988 | $327,974 |
| Total expenses | $2,621,977 | $2,317,030 | $2,231,083 | $2,074,109 | $1,894,835 |
| Change in net assets | 2021 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $385,692 | ($154,155) | ($107,363) | ($751,790) | ($581,133) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $385,692 | ($154,155) | ($107,363) | ($751,790) | ($581,133) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| James P Milligan | President & CEO | $180,414 |
| Alan Pearson | Donor Relations | $172,902 |
| Andrew J Guastaferro | COO/CFO | $167,058 |
| Meherdad Vachha | IT Manager | $161,362 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2019
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 3/30/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
For a timeline, visit: https://www.blueletterbible.org/about/history.cfm