Advocates International 
The information in this column was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 3/15/2022. To update the information in this column, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
Summary
Advocates International is the Largest, Oldest, Most Efficient, Legal Aid Organization You've Never Heard of Before. Why is that? Because getting things done is more important to us than getting the credit, and most of the time that means doing things effectively, not publicly. When confronted with issues across the globe where most organizations would send an American Lawyer to file a lawsuit, and publicly enter the trenches of a long litigation battle, we use one of our 30,000 Local Advocates to ask whoever is in charge of the situation "How may we serve you?" Sometimes a public battle in court or before a legislative body is unavoidable but our "How can we serve you" principle often means trading public notoriety for tremendous results.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Advocates International
4031 University Drive #100
Fairfax, VA 22030
Website: www.advocatesinternational.org
Phone: 571-319-0100
Email: info@advocatesinternational.org
Organization details
EIN: 541646669
CEO/President: Mr. Brent McBurney
Chairman: Jeffrey A. Brauch
Board size: 11
Founder: Sam Ericsson
Ruling year: 1994
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1996
Purpose
Vision: All peoples thriving in hope, peace, and justice, within societies committed to freedom of religion or belief and the rule of law with integrity.
Advocates International is guided in its mission and methods by Christ's Good Samaritan parable. Working relationally, professionally, and spiritually with those in law and related professions, Advocates seeks to encourage and enable a global network of skilled advocates committed to religious liberty, human rights, conflict resolution, reconciliation, and professional ethics. It puts into practice at all levels the Samaritan Strategy as well as the Golden Rule which Jesus taught as summing up the law. Advocates identifies those "innkeepers" within a nation committed to advancing these objectives and connects them globally with those of like heart and mind.
Advocates International:
1) Takes a long-term relational rather than a short-term confrontational approach;
2) Works toward systemic solutions through proactive rather than reactive means;
3) Integrates both the outward and inward dimensions of law and life, recognizing that law reform without ethical and spiritual reform is insufficient;
4) Pursues servant leadership rather than power brokering;
5) Is concerned with justice, which focuses on what is right, rather than politics, which emphasizes who has power;
6) Seeks local partners to take responsibility for their nation or region;
7) Implements in practical ways the universal Golden Rule: to treat others as one would want to be treated.
Mission statement
Inspiring and mobilizing advocates globally to do justice with compassion.
Statement of faith
We acknowledge God's revelation in the Lord Jesus Christ.
We confess Jesus as God and Savior according to the Old and New Testament Scriptures.
We believe the Scriptures as originally given by God are divinely inspired, trustworthy and entirely authoritative in all matters offaith and conduct.
We commit ourselves, in obedience to God's will and in the power of the Holy Spirit, to bear witness to Jesus Christ through the legal profession by working for justice, peace, truth, mercy and integrity.
We commit ourselves to be advocates for the poor, vulnerable and oppressed.
We shall endeavor to encourage and enable lawyers to meet locally, organize nationally, cooperate regionally and link globally,
We shall seek to do all to the glory of the one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Advocacy
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 546 of 1022 | 22 of 41 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 731 of 1024 | 31 of 41 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 64 of 1024 | 5 of 41 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 814 of 1022 | 30 of 41 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 9% | 12% | 10% | 6% | 12% | 6% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 8% | 12% | 10% | 6% | 12% | 6% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 98% | 99% | 99% | 98% | 103% | 100% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 9% | 12% | 8% | 8% | 13% | 8% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 2% | 1% | 1% | 2% | -3% | 0% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 80% | 88% | 91% | 91% | 87% | 91% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 91% | 103% | 126% | 74% | 94% | 66% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 70% | 90% | 115% | 67% | 82% | 61% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 9% | -3% | -26% | 26% | 6% | 34% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 15% | -3% | -19% | 28% | 6% | 47% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 11% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.25 | 1.13 | 0.91 | 0.79 | 1.00 | 0.91 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.22 | 2.24 | 1.87 | 1.55 | 1.02 | 1.08 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.07 | 2.53 | 1.70 | 1.22 | 1.02 | 0.99 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 10.03 | 183.42 | 249.11 | 401.86 | 107.83 | 103.88 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.10 | 0.01 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.01 | 0.01 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.64 | 4.73 | 7.03 | 9.85 | 11.64 | 12.06 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 22% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 69% | 87% | 109% | 126% | 99% | 107% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Cash | $107,733 | $101,261 | $162,193 | $149,746 | $268,532 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $0 | $800 | $6,759 | $2,700 | $2,700 |
| Short-term investments | $50,559 | $90,002 | $107,530 | $150,665 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $158,292 | $192,063 | $276,482 | $303,111 | $271,232 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $2,579 | $4,258 | $5,936 | $5,092 | $21,112 |
| Other long-term assets | $193,640 | $163,640 | $145,140 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $196,219 | $167,898 | $151,076 | $5,092 | $21,112 |
| Total assets | $354,511 | $359,961 | $427,558 | $308,203 | $292,344 |
| Liabilities | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current liabilities | $863 | $771 | $688 | $2,811 | $2,611 |
| Total current liabilities | $863 | $771 | $688 | $2,811 | $2,611 |
| Debt | $0 | $2,818 | $3,534 | $0 | $2,811 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $5,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $5,000 | $2,818 | $3,534 | $0 | $2,811 |
| Total liabilities | $5,863 | $3,589 | $4,222 | $2,811 | $5,422 |
| Net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Without donor restrictions | $297,827 | $299,014 | $343,978 | $38,368 | $34,502 |
| With donor restrictions | $48,866 | $57,358 | $79,358 | $267,024 | $252,420 |
| Net assets | $348,648 | $356,372 | $423,336 | $305,392 | $286,922 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Total contributions | $384,788 | $256,971 | $446,478 | $337,688 | $400,156 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $392 | $1,505 | $2,264 | $621 | $65 |
| Other revenue | $3,540 | $1,157 | $5,146 | ($10,171) | $1,889 |
| Total other revenue | $3,932 | $2,662 | $7,410 | ($9,550) | $1,954 |
| Total revenue | $388,720 | $259,633 | $453,888 | $328,138 | $402,110 |
| Expenses | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Program services | $350,139 | $298,056 | $305,982 | $269,571 | $244,212 |
| Management and general | $3,019 | $2,231 | $1,640 | $869 | $785 |
| Fundraising | $46,632 | $26,310 | $28,322 | $39,228 | $22,308 |
| Total expenses | $399,790 | $326,597 | $335,944 | $309,668 | $267,305 |
| Change in net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($11,070) | ($66,964) | $117,944 | $18,470 | $134,805 |
| Other changes in net assets | $1,391 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($9,679) | ($66,964) | $117,944 | $18,470 | $134,805 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Brent M McBurney | President & CEO | $115,000 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2020
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 3/15/2022. To update the information below, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
History
Advocates International (AI) was founded in 1992 by Sam Ericsson, Harvard Law School graduate and former Executive Director of Christian Legal Society in the 1980s. AI's story begins with the collapse of communism in 1989 when Sam and then Campbell University Professor Lynn Buzzard met with key leadership in the Soviet Union to discuss and introduce justice and moral values to the system. These series of meetings led Sam to establish an organization with a global scope that would focus on encouraging local Christian lawyers to organize nationally, regionally, and globally and become active in the public square on legal and ethical issues facing the Church and society. Before its inception, there were only ten national lawyer groups. After its creation, AI consisted of about 100 national lawyer groups that today meet nationally, regionally, and globally.
Today AI's lawyers, law students, and judges, or "Advocates" as they are known, meet with the vision to bear witness of Jesus Christ through their profession. They are trained and mentored in doing justice with compassion and challenged to put legs to the final words of Jesus, as recorded in Acts 1:8, by implementing the L-O-R-D Strategy: [L] meeting locally; [O] organizing nationally; [R] networking regionally; and [D] making disciples globally to promote religious freedom & human rights, the sanctity of human life, the family & community, peace & reconciliation, and the rule of law with integrity.