Christian Hope Indian Eskimo Fellowship / CHIEF 
The information on this page was last updated 5/24/2022. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Christian Hope Indian Eskimo Fellowship ("CHIEF") is a ministry to the 51.1 million Native Americans in the 1,200 tribes of the Western Hemisphere. CHIEF's primary motivation is to take the Gospel to every Native tribe in this generation. According to CHIEF, the discipleship, mentoring, and training of Native leaders in a relevant cultural context is the key to effective church growth and on-going evangelism among Native peoples.
CHIEF's strategies to accomplish its Ministry Objectives are as follows:
1.) Discipleship - Recruiting, encouraging, and discipling Native Christian pastors, church leaders, and believers, by providing training uniquely suited for the ongoing needs of the indigenous church.
2.) Evangelism - Assisting the leadership of the local Native churches with evangelism outreach in their own communities and beyond to other unreached peoples and tribes.
3.) Helps - Giving practical assistance, in the context of God's love through the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, through which concerned individuals can respond to the physical needs of Native people to help them become self-reliant.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Christian Hope Indian Eskimo Fellowship
1644 East Campo Bello Dr.
Phoenix, AZ 85022-2108
Website: www.chief.org
Phone: (602) 482-0828
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 510168112
CEO/President: Rev. Huron Claus
Chairman: Arlan Melendez
Board size: 13
Founder: Mr. Tom Claus
Ruling year: 1975
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1982
Purpose
CHIEF's motivation vision is to see an effective Christian witness in every Native American tribe and all related tribes in this generation.
Mission statement
Christian Hope Indian Eskimo Fellowship describes its mission as follows:
The mission and purpose of CHIEF is to disciple and equip a strong Native American leadership for the development of the indigenous church throughout North, Central and South America.
Christian Hope Indian Eskimo Fellowship describes its vision as follows:
CHIEF's motivating vision is to see an effective Christian witness in every Native American tribe and all related tribes in this generation.
Statement of faith
We believe in the Bible, which was given and sacredly inspired by God, as the infallible thoroughly trustworthy, and supremely authoritative book of faith and conduct.
We believe in one God, eternally coexistent in the Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is God manifested in the flesh, His Virgin birth, His sinless life, His divine miracles, His vicarious and atoning death, His bodily resurrection. His ascension, His mediatorial work, and His personal return in power and glory.
We believe in the salvation of the lost by faith, irrespective of works, through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and the regeneration by the Holy Spirit.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who by His indwelling enables the believer to live uprightly, to witness for the Lord Jesus Christ and to live for Him, and who impels, equips and energizes His church for mission to the peoples of the whole world.
We believe in the fellowship of all believers and in the church, the Body of Christ.
We believe in the resurrection of the saved and the lost; the former to eternal life and the latter to eternal condemnation.
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 | | 751 of 1033 | 27 of 42 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 57 of 1035 | 3 of 42 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 943 of 1035 | 39 of 42 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 951 of 1033 | 36 of 42 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 5% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 97% | 98% | 97% | 97% | 98% | 97% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 3% | 2% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 3% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 82% | 66% | 82% | 87% | 80% | 78% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 91% | 80% | 81% | 72% | 98% | 103% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 73% | 53% | 66% | 63% | 78% | 80% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 9% | 20% | 19% | 28% | 2% | -3% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 12% | 12% | 12% | 30% | 3% | -4% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 11% | 34% | 18% | 13% | 20% | 22% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.01 | 0.47 | 0.48 | 0.69 | 0.74 | 0.98 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.45 | 3.24 | 4.02 | 5.38 | 6.83 | 8.41 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.98 | 1.51 | 1.93 | 3.71 | 5.03 | 8.24 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 7.13 | 60.91 | 5.29 | 1.93 | 0.70 | 0.67 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.13 | 0.02 | 0.19 | 0.52 | 1.43 | 1.49 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.32 | 7.79 | 5.05 | 1.56 | -1.03 | -0.71 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 15% | 1% | 5% | 10% | 35% | 36% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 14% | 18% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 79% | 213% | 199% | 131% | 89% | 66% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Cash | $149,754 | $99,955 | $84,410 | $58,218 | $42,146 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $46,848 | $44,036 | $24,158 | $24,925 | $24,640 |
| Short-term investments | $13,898 | $12,433 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $210,500 | $156,424 | $108,568 | $83,143 | $66,786 |
| Long-term investments | $17,596 | $17,596 | $17,596 | $17,596 | $17,596 |
| Fixed assets | $453,637 | $454,192 | $456,182 | $464,855 | $475,573 |
| Other long-term assets | $430 | $1,200 | $1,989 | $1,989 | $1,989 |
| Total long-term assets | $471,663 | $472,988 | $475,767 | $484,440 | $495,158 |
| Total assets | $682,163 | $629,412 | $584,335 | $567,583 | $561,944 |
| Liabilities | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $3,456 | $29,589 | $55,113 | $117,984 | $99,381 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $1,102 | $1,102 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $3,456 | $29,589 | $56,215 | $119,086 | $99,381 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $76,991 | $101,587 |
| 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 | $76,991 | $101,587 |
| Total liabilities | $3,456 | $29,589 | $56,215 | $196,077 | $200,968 |
| Net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Without donor restrictions | $580,904 | $510,185 | $425,038 | $280,540 | $291,877 |
| With donor restrictions | $97,803 | $89,638 | $103,082 | $90,966 | $69,099 |
| Net assets | $678,707 | $599,823 | $528,120 | $371,506 | $360,976 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Total contributions | $391,112 | $361,185 | $541,636 | $420,416 | $522,189 |
| Program service revenue | $3,145 | $4,400 | $8,883 | $4,734 | $10,062 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $2,309 | $2,891 | $5,608 | $169 | $180 |
| Other revenue | $1,052 | $4,748 | $3,427 | $3,514 | $3,793 |
| Total other revenue | $6,506 | $12,039 | $17,918 | $8,417 | $14,035 |
| Total revenue | $397,618 | $373,224 | $559,554 | $428,833 | $536,224 |
| Expenses | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Program services | $211,862 | $247,136 | $350,895 | $332,746 | $429,923 |
| Management and general | $106,872 | $54,385 | $52,045 | $85,557 | $120,419 |
| Fundraising | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total expenses | $318,734 | $301,521 | $402,940 | $418,303 | $550,342 |
| Change in net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $78,884 | $71,703 | $156,614 | $10,530 | ($14,118) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $78,884 | $71,703 | $156,614 | $10,530 | ($14,118) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Huron Claus | President | $100,024 |
Compensation data as of: 6/30/2020
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 5/24/2022. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Tom Claus, Founder of CHIEF, called together more than 100 Christian Native leaders, from different areas of the hemisphere, who represented mission agencies, denominations, schools, colleges, tribes and government agencies to participate in the Conference on Christian Indian Leadership and Evangelism held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
1973- On behalf of the Native Christian leaders of Arizona, Tom Claus, Founder of CHIEF, Inc., honored Dr. Graham with a headdress and Indian name at the Tempe, Arizona Crusade.
1975- CHIEF was started after the Conference of Christian Indian Leadership and Evangelism in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
1981- The first International Congress of Indigenous leaders was held in Norman, Oklahoma. 350 Native leaders were in attendance from the Americas.
1986- The Chief Shepherd Discipleship Center was established in Phoenix, Arizona. An average of 500 Native leaders attended annually.
1992- The SonRise International Conference on Evangelism and Discipleship was held in Glorieta, NM. 500 Native leaders attended from the Americas.
2006- CHIEF Native Christian Leadership Forum was started as a round table of collaborative Native leaders addressing ministry and social needs among Native communities.
2017- United in Christ Conference was held in Bemidji, MN calling Native ministry leaders in partnership to ministry in Native America. (CHIEF in Partnership with Oak Hills Christian College)
2020- Huron participated along with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Former U.S. Congresswoman & Presidential Candidate Michele Bachmann, President of Family Research Council Tony Perkins, Overseer & previous Sr. Pastor of Times Square Church Carter Conlon, and a host of others lifting prayers/petitions; asking for forgiveness for the sins of our country and seeking a "mercy moment" from God. The event took place on Lot#1 in Plymouth, MA. in the house that stands on the foundation of the first original home built in 1620 at the Plymouth Colony.
2021- United in Christ Conference focuses on reaching every Tribe, Nation, and Tongue. (CHIEF in Partnership with Oak Hills Christian College)
Program accomplishments
Needs
The greatest need among our Native tribes and nations today is Native Christian Leadership! We need examples that we can follow that impact our families, communities, churches, and tribal councils. Men and women who will be mentors to the next generation. That's what's known as Discipleship. Learn about a partnership with CHIEF and Center for Indian Ministries call BUILD: Biblical, United, Indigenous, Leadership, Development.