Choice Books of Northern Virginia 
The information on this page was last updated 3/25/2025. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Choice Books is committed to being a trusted source of positive, helpful, and hopeful reading material for shoppers across the nation. Choice Books does this by being a direct-store-delivery (DSD) distributor of inspirational, wholesome, and family-oriented reading materials operating a nationwide distribution network. Our corporate offices are in Virginia, with regional leadership and distribution staff placed in various cities and towns across the country to efficiently distribute positive products and meet the needs of our retail partners.
Choice Books distributes a wide variety of books including adult and juvenile fiction, Bibles, biographies, children's, Christian living, classics, cookbooks, planners, journals, devotional, entertainment, family living, seasonal, self-help, and additional products such as calendars, audio books, notecards, and Bible covers. We also offer some Spanish titles.
The organization has been operating for more than 50 years and now sells over 7 million books annually. When the Coronavirus pandemic of 2020 brought its challenges to the retail sector, we took the opportunity to reevaluate our company structure and operations, making changes to position ourselves as the best possible partner for inspirational book distribution in the general marketplace.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Choice Books of Northern Virginia
10100 Piper Lane
Bristow, VA 20136
Website: choicebooks.org
Phone: 703-530-9993
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 540987761
CEO/President: Joe Bacher
Chairman: Ken Nisly
Board size: 15
Founder: M. Martin, E. Garber, N. Martin, O. Eichelberger
Ruling year: 1991
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 09/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2010
Purpose
Choice Books is a direct-store-delivery (DSD) distributor of inspirational, wholesome and family-oriented reading materials servicing displays in thousands of retail locations across the continental United States and Hawaii.
Mission statement
Choice Books is an organization whose mission is to share the good news of Jesus Christ in the general marketplace through inspiring and wholesome reading material.
Statement of faith
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Christian Growth
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 443 of 1118 | 22 of 65 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 523 of 1119 | 27 of 65 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 71 of 1119 | 3 of 65 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 895 of 1118 | 55 of 65 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 7% | 16% | 17% | 17% | 0% | 12% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 85% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 35% | 2% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 15% | 99% | 99% | 99% | 65% | 98% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 81% | 92% | 91% | 90% | 88% | 89% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 98% | 92% | 93% | 87% | 47% | 82% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 79% | 85% | 85% | 78% | 42% | 73% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 2% | 8% | 7% | 13% | 53% | 18% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 3% | 7% | 5% | 11% | 56% | 19% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 12% | 8% | 9% | 10% | 11% | 11% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.10 | 0.58 | 0.55 | 0.53 | 0.39 | 0.62 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.44 | 1.66 | 1.53 | 1.44 | 1.38 | 1.31 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.80 | 0.96 | 0.85 | 0.77 | 0.54 | 0.81 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 9.66 | 2.78 | 2.95 | 3.76 | 3.62 | 4.38 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.09 | 0.36 | 0.34 | 0.27 | 0.28 | 0.23 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.70 | 8.05 | 9.31 | 11.47 | 16.16 | 11.46 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 17% | 29% | 27% | 23% | 22% | 28% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 8% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 76% | 123% | 132% | 145% | 198% | 116% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Cash | $8,032,647 | $9,405,579 | $10,980,930 | $8,539,499 | $2,962,248 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $14,773,058 | $12,833,349 | $10,270,117 | $11,252,231 | $6,966,696 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $22,805,705 | $22,238,928 | $21,251,047 | $19,791,730 | $9,928,944 |
| Long-term investments | $2,855,682 | $2,751,574 | $1,484,725 | $811,880 | $1,367,340 |
| Fixed assets | $5,708,988 | $4,664,021 | $4,106,472 | $3,798,262 | $1,212,329 |
| Other long-term assets | $6,388,849 | $4,452,599 | $3,654,022 | $2,817,803 | $457,699 |
| Total long-term assets | $14,953,519 | $11,868,194 | $9,245,219 | $7,427,945 | $3,037,368 |
| Total assets | $37,759,224 | $34,107,122 | $30,496,266 | $27,219,675 | $12,966,312 |
| Liabilities | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $2,898,288 | $3,062,935 | $1,972,392 | $2,209,977 | $1,347,709 |
| Other current liabilities | $5,302,288 | $4,487,527 | $3,684,952 | $3,252,633 | $920,229 |
| Total current liabilities | $8,200,576 | $7,550,462 | $5,657,344 | $5,462,610 | $2,267,938 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,042,300 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $2,814,100 | $1,580,898 | $1,216,776 | $660,018 | $326,059 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $2,814,100 | $1,580,898 | $1,216,776 | $660,018 | $1,368,359 |
| Total liabilities | $11,014,676 | $9,131,360 | $6,874,120 | $6,122,628 | $3,636,297 |
| Net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Without donor restrictions | $26,744,548 | $24,975,762 | $23,622,146 | $21,097,047 | $9,330,015 |
| With donor restrictions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assets | $26,744,548 | $24,975,762 | $23,622,146 | $21,097,047 | $9,330,015 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Total contributions | $230,163 | $234,298 | $204,056 | $7,842,767 | $233,133 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $344,106 | ($62,626) | $46,117 | $109,089 | $174,534 |
| Other revenue | $22,978,024 | $20,109,502 | $18,585,590 | $14,456,560 | $9,381,947 |
| Total other revenue | $23,322,130 | $20,046,876 | $18,631,707 | $14,565,649 | $9,556,481 |
| Total revenue | $23,552,293 | $20,281,174 | $18,835,763 | $22,408,416 | $9,789,614 |
| Expenses | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Program services | $20,067,968 | $17,145,228 | $14,609,067 | $9,407,547 | $7,128,823 |
| Management and general | $1,677,694 | $1,741,685 | $1,666,041 | $1,206,028 | $864,764 |
| Fundraising | $37,845 | $40,645 | $35,556 | $27,809 | $26,978 |
| Total expenses | $21,783,507 | $18,927,558 | $16,310,664 | $10,641,384 | $8,020,565 |
| Change in net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $1,768,786 | $1,353,616 | $2,525,099 | $11,767,032 | $1,769,049 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $1,768,786 | $1,353,616 | $2,525,099 | $11,767,032 | $1,769,049 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| David Nisly | CFO | $124,876 |
| Joe Bacher | President | $124,717 |
| James Mast | At Large | $720 |
Compensation data as of: 9/30/2024
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 3/25/2025. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
The vision for Choice Books began in the late 1950's and the early 1960's when Mark Martin, Harrisonburg, VA; Eugene Garber, Kalona, IA; Norman Martin, Chambersburg, PA; and Orrin Eichelberger, Canton, OH, began selling inspirational books to a variety of local retail stores. Initially unaware of one another, the men organized an association in 1962 that later became known as Life-Line Books.
In 1965, Life-Line Books asked a northern Indiana service agency to provide centralized book buying services for the organization. Several years later, the agency and Life-Line Books agreed that the agency's multi-media subsidiary in Virginia should assume responsibility for the management of the organization's central office and central services. Throughout the late 1960's and early 1970's, Life-Line Books grew to nearly 600 displays selling over 300,000 books annually. Displays were located primarily in eastern and central United States.
In 1973, the organization changed its name to Choice Books and registered its name "Choice Books" with the US Trademark Office. During the 1970's, the organization added additional distributor organizations and expanded its distribution services into new geographic markets. By the end of the decade, the organization had grown to 27 distributor organizations servicing approximately 2,000 displays selling nearly 700,000 books annually. Displays were scattered throughout eastern and central United States and eastern, central and western Canada.
Book sales continued to grow throughout the 1980's with sales topping 800,000 books annually by the end of the decade. While sales grew and distribution continued to expand into new geographic areas, distributor organizations began merging together to better serve the ever-changing retail marketplace.
In 1991, Choice Books set a sales record by selling one million books in a one-year period of time. Six years later, in 1997, the organization, now operating with eight (8) regional distributors, set a new record and surpassed the previous milestone by selling two million books in one year.
On January 1, 1998, seven (7) regional distributor organizations - Choice Books of Great Lakes-Rosedale; Choice Books of Gulf States; Choice Books of Kansas; Choice Books of Midwest; Choice Books of Northern Virginia; Choice Books of Ohio and Choice Books of Pennsylvania - formed Choice Books Limited Liability Company which now owns the "Choice Books" trademark and has its Central Office in Harrisonburg, VA. In 2005, CB of West Coast became the eighth regional distributor organization to join the Choice Books LLC. Three mergers since 2009 honed the ministry to five distributor owner organizations who work together to the serve the same national footprint with greater efficiencies.
Today, Choice Books sells over 5.3 million books annually. The organization purchases books from over 70 publishers and sells them from more than 10,600 displays in retail locations (i.e. supermarkets, mass merchandisers, airports, drug stores, travel centers, gift shops, etc.) scattered across the continental United States and Hawaii. With state-of-the-art technology and a staff of more than 300 people, the organization now services some of the largest retailers in North America.