Deaf Bible Society 
The information on this page was last updated 4/25/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Around the globe, 98% of Deaf people have never been introduced to the gospel. Deaf Christians are working hard to advance Bible translation and access in their communities, and also to establish and grow church ministries. But the task is simply too big to do without advocates like you. As you discover the passionate people engaged with Deaf Bible Society, will you join us?
Contact information
Mailing address:
Deaf Bible Society
PO Box 180818
Arlington, TX 76096
Website: deafbiblesociety.com
Phone: 1-800-654-3690
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 474285852
CEO/President: Chantel Pagan
Chairman: John Dickinson
Board size: 10
Founder: J.R. Bucklew
Ruling year: 2015
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 03/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2018
Purpose
Our vision is to create local, sustainable, Great Commission initiatives among the Deaf to reveal the hope of the Gospel so that every deaf person has the opportunity to receive, experience, and share it.
Mission statement
Our mission is to provide God's Word in every sign language.
Statement of faith
We believe the Bible, the inspired Word of God; it is completely trustworthy, speaking with supreme authority in all matters of belief and practice.
We believe in one God, who exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Spirit.
We believe all people, being created in the image of God, have intrinsic value, but as a result of sin are alienated from God and each other, and therefore in need of reconciliation.
We believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, born of the virgin Mary, is fully God and fully human; He demonstrated God's love for sinners by suffering the penalty of death in their place, rose bodily from the dead, and ascended to heaven where He intercedes for His people.
We believe all who repent and trust in Jesus Christ alone as Lord and Savior are, by the grace of God, declared to be right with Him, receiving forgiveness and eternal life.
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ will return personally in glory, raise the dead, and judge the world.
We believe all people will rise from the dead, those who are in Christ to enjoy eternal life with God, and those who are lost to suffer eternal separation from Him.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who imparts new life to those who believe in Christ; through His indwelling presence and transforming power, He gives assurance and equips believers for holy living and effective service.
We believe the Church is the body of Christ, the fellowship of all believers, and is commissioned to make disciples of all nations.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Evangelism
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 688 of 1118 | 30 of 49 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 290 of 1119 | 13 of 49 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 726 of 1119 | 36 of 49 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 863 of 1118 | 34 of 49 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 7% | 4% | 6% | 16% | 13% | 11% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 4% | 6% | 16% | 13% | 11% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 97% | 96% | 98% | 101% | 100% | 100% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 6% | 8% | 15% | 14% | 12% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 3% | 4% | 2% | -1% | 0% | 0% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 82% | 74% | 74% | 70% | 74% | 74% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 99% | 65% | 74% | 102% | 91% | 86% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 78% | 48% | 55% | 71% | 67% | 63% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 1% | 35% | 26% | -2% | 9% | 14% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 1% | 20% | 38% | -5% | 26% | 37% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 10% | 20% | 18% | 15% | 12% | 14% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.06 | 0.36 | 1.04 | 2.32 | 1.97 | 1.84 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.55 | 1.15 | 1.34 | 1.60 | 1.55 | 1.48 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.15 | 0.41 | 1.40 | 3.70 | 3.06 | 2.74 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 11.24 | 51.36 | 11.92 | 3.77 | 3.27 | 3.87 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.09 | 0.02 | 0.08 | 0.26 | 0.31 | 0.26 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.92 | 28.40 | 7.84 | 2.38 | 2.72 | 3.25 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 10% | 2% | 6% | 18% | 21% | 17% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 78% | 272% | 90% | 35% | 40% | 45% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Cash | $6,780,784 | $2,938,245 | $1,749,383 | $1,594,166 | $1,267,907 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $0 | $7,217 | $6,038 | $266,048 | $40,510 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $6,780,784 | $2,945,462 | $1,755,421 | $1,860,214 | $1,308,417 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $989,558 | $1,003,174 | $1,023,435 | $1,002,104 | $608,561 |
| Other long-term assets | $8,780 | $8,780 | $26,474 | $25,528 | $25,528 |
| Total long-term assets | $998,338 | $1,011,954 | $1,049,909 | $1,027,632 | $634,089 |
| Total assets | $7,779,122 | $3,957,416 | $2,805,330 | $2,887,846 | $1,942,506 |
| Liabilities | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $132,030 | $247,201 | $203,399 | $336,491 | $174,232 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $261,680 | $232,020 | $163,996 |
| Total current liabilities | $132,030 | $247,201 | $465,079 | $568,511 | $338,228 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $46,682 | $44,804 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $46,682 | $44,804 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $132,030 | $247,201 | $511,761 | $613,315 | $338,228 |
| Net assets | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Without donor restrictions | $2,596,056 | $1,355,134 | $1,263,403 | $1,262,308 | $1,030,424 |
| With donor restrictions | $5,051,036 | $2,355,081 | $1,030,166 | $1,012,223 | $573,854 |
| Net assets | $7,647,092 | $3,710,215 | $2,293,569 | $2,274,531 | $1,604,278 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Total contributions | $4,157,898 | $5,438,486 | $6,462,367 | $6,288,271 | $4,162,236 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $67,218 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $26,505 | $0 | ($93,679) | $0 | $6,223 |
| Other revenue | $167,150 | $39,463 | $3,160 | $5,130 | $441 |
| Total other revenue | $193,655 | $106,681 | ($90,519) | $5,130 | $6,664 |
| Total revenue | $4,351,553 | $5,545,167 | $6,371,848 | $6,293,401 | $4,168,900 |
| Expenses | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Program services | $2,086,067 | $3,075,578 | $4,516,156 | $4,230,847 | $2,645,344 |
| Management and general | $550,590 | $735,113 | $975,369 | $659,914 | $497,252 |
| Fundraising | $172,643 | $317,830 | $1,003,482 | $809,761 | $439,950 |
| Total expenses | $2,809,300 | $4,128,521 | $6,495,007 | $5,700,522 | $3,582,546 |
| Change in net assets | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $1,542,253 | $1,416,646 | ($123,159) | $592,879 | $586,354 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $1,542,253 | $1,416,646 | ($123,159) | $592,879 | $586,354 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Chantel Pagan | CEO | $166,991 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2022
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 4/25/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
June 2011: A regional manager at Faith Comes By Hearing travels to the Philippines and encounters
the needs of their Deaf community.
November 2012: Deaf Bible App version 1.0 is launched by Faith Comes By Hearing as an outreach
ministry for the Deaf.
2013: DeafBible.com website launches.
October 2014: Development of a sign language database, which eventually becomes Aveditz, began.
June 2015: A handful of visionaries working within Faith Comes by Hearing establish Deaf Bible
Society as a (501)(c)(3) nonprofit organization. J.R. Bucklew serves as founding CEO and President.
July 2015: Deaf Bible Together, a Scripture engagement program, is established and the first microSD
cards with sign language Scripture are distributed in Africa.
2016: Scripture Engagement Training in American Sign Language is developed and launched.
October 2016: Deaf Bible Society relocates headquarters to Arlington, TX. Deaf Church Where website
launches.
Late 2016: A partnership forms with United Bible Societies to develop a Sign Language Bible
Translation Tool (SLTT).
2017: International Scripture Engagement Training is developed and launched. Consultant and
Resource Development (CoRD) program is established to address the urgent needs for consultants.
November 2017: Museum of the Bible opens in Washington, D.C. and features Deaf Bible resources to
educate the public about the need for sign language Bible translation. Deaf Bible Together program
expands to Europe and Asia, microSD cards with sign language Scripture are distributed.
2019: The Josiah School of Translation (JST) develops curriculum and launches a pilot training program
with the first cohort of five Deaf translation teams.
January 2019: Partnership with the Passion Conference raises nearly $450,000 for sign language
Scripture engagement efforts in 16 countries.
April 2019: Aveditz website launches, a centralized place capturing research and information about the
sign languages of the world.
January 2020: The mantle of CEO is passed to Chantel Pagan.
March 2020: More than 1,000 Prayer Partners are praying with Deaf Bible Society over the Sign
Language Bible cause!
May 2020: Deaf Church Where features 737 churches and averages 1,500 visitors each month!
Today: Translated Bible content in 29+ sign languages are accessible through the Deaf Bible App and
website.
The Bright Future: Every Deaf person has access to God's Word in their native sign language!
Program accomplishments
Deaf Bible Society provides free access to Bible translations by video in 25+ sign languages. We're working on even more translations.
Needs
Every $30 allows 1 Deaf person to share God's Word with at least 10 others in their community.