Eagle Ranch 
The information on this page was last updated 2/27/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Eagle Ranch provides a stable home environment for children in crisis. We serve families throughout Metro Atlanta and Northeast Georgia. Our ultimate goal is to help restore and reunify children and their families.
From the first call to Eagle Ranch, families learn they are not alone. Their child's identity and direction in life are not defined by their struggles. Help is available. Healing begins here.
One of the Southeast's largest residential children's programs, Eagle Ranch provides a Christ-centered home, education and counseling for nearly 70 boys and girls. On our 315-acre campus in Flowery Branch, children are given the structure, stability and time needed to work through a crisis situation. Families participate in the program through counseling, support groups and family activities.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Eagle Ranch
5500 Union Church Rd.
Flowery Branch, GA 30542
Website: eagleranch.org
Phone: 770-967-8500
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 581497408
CEO/President: John Shackelford
Chairman: Roy Jones
Board size: 12
Founder: Eddie Staub
Ruling year: 1983
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2005
Purpose
The goal is for each child to return home to a family that together has learned important relational and coping skills that will help them thrive. We serve children and families in local communities across Georgia, serving children ages 8-15, in over 40 counties in North Georgia and metro Atlanta.
Mission statement
Eagle Ranch is a Christ-centered nonprofit organization that takes a whole family approach to restoring and renewing relationships for children and families. Our affordable and accessible services meet families at their point of need, providing guidance, practical resources and hope for a more flourishing future.
Statement of faith
There is only one eternal, sovereign God who exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
God created the heavens and the earth and declared His creation to be good, including humans, His prized creation created in His image.
All humans have sinned and live with a sin nature, which separates us from union with God and prevents us from doing good in our own strength.
Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin and was both fully God and fully human. He lived a sinless life and announced the arrival of God's Kingdom and all of humanity's invitation to be part of it. He died on a cross for the sins of the world, was raised from the dead, and lives today.
The only way to be forgiven of sin and made right before God is to repent of sin and believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Those who claim Jesus as Lord and Savior by the power of the Holy Spirit will seek to live out the teachings of Jesus, summarized by the command He gave to His disciples as recorded in the Gospel of John: "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." As followers of Jesus, the one who gave his life away for us, we are commanded to live in sacrificial love towards others.
Jesus is coming one day to usher in his final and perfect Kingdom on earth. On that day, he will judge the living and the dead. All who believe and obey Jesus will be united forever with Him in the new heaven and new earth. Those who reject Jesus as Savior will experience eternal separation from God and irreversible punishment for their sin.
The Bible is the written Word of God and is therefore our ultimate and final authority for all matters of faith and practice.
Articles
| 2/1/2024 | 50 Largest Relief and Development Organizations - 2024 |
Donor confidence score
Show donor confidence score details
To understand our donor confidence score, click here.
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Adoption/Foster Care
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 619 of 1420 | 30 of 58 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 982 of 1420 | 37 of 58 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 389 of 1420 | 28 of 58 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 616 of 1421 | 25 of 58 |
To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 10% | 10% | 11% | 10% | 4% | 9% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 9% | 10% | 9% | 4% | 9% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 67% | 85% | 86% | 93% | 99% | 95% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 8% | 9% | 10% | 9% | 10% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 33% | 15% | 14% | 7% | 1% | 5% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 80% | 80% | 79% | 79% | 80% | 78% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 98% | 112% | 111% | 90% | 44% | 87% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 74% | 89% | 88% | 71% | 36% | 68% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 2% | -12% | -11% | 10% | 56% | 13% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 1% | -9% | -8% | 7% | 75% | 11% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 12% | 12% | 12% | 11% | 10% | 12% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.76 | 0.87 | 0.75 | 0.60 | 0.58 | 0.70 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.74 | 1.31 | 1.29 | 1.12 | 1.10 | 1.27 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.54 | 1.14 | 0.97 | 0.67 | 0.64 | 0.90 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 12.12 | 47.45 | 48.11 | 32.24 | 22.02 | 11.21 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.08 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.05 | 0.09 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 6.91 | 10.35 | 12.17 | 17.42 | 17.98 | 12.21 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 8% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 7% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 111% | 112% | 131% | 163% | 166% | 132% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Cash | $644,086 | $709,340 | $1,631,026 | $613,120 | $1,078,579 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $957,928 | $1,411,474 | $889,966 | $1,866,486 | $380,770 |
| Short-term investments | $5,777,237 | $6,038,810 | $7,502,001 | $6,898,304 | $4,741,426 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $7,379,251 | $8,159,624 | $10,022,993 | $9,377,910 | $6,200,775 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $16,110 |
| Fixed assets | $790,070 | $932,392 | $1,095,953 | $926,224 | $1,622,317 |
| Other long-term assets | $1,513,185 | $1,471,618 | $84,777 | $45,410 | $43,590 |
| Total long-term assets | $2,303,255 | $2,404,010 | $1,180,730 | $971,634 | $1,682,017 |
| Total assets | $9,682,506 | $10,563,634 | $11,203,723 | $10,349,544 | $7,882,792 |
| Liabilities | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $155,528 | $169,605 | $310,888 | $425,944 | $553,198 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $155,528 | $169,605 | $310,888 | $425,944 | $553,198 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $111,241 | $104,586 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $111,241 | $104,586 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $266,769 | $274,191 | $310,888 | $425,944 | $553,198 |
| Net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Without donor restrictions | $4,902,696 | $5,016,771 | $5,010,474 | $4,154,621 | $5,672,876 |
| With donor restrictions | $4,513,041 | $5,272,672 | $5,882,361 | $5,768,979 | $1,656,718 |
| Net assets | $9,415,737 | $10,289,443 | $10,892,835 | $9,923,600 | $7,329,594 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Total contributions | $6,371,611 | $6,093,112 | $6,939,410 | $13,261,822 | $6,048,353 |
| Program service revenue | $738,474 | $664,540 | $430,239 | $145,999 | $218,502 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $474,843 | $336,616 | $88,769 | $13,470 | $73,077 |
| Other revenue | ($82,375) | $3,961 | $8,814 | $8,245 | $37,731 |
| Total other revenue | $1,130,942 | $1,005,117 | $527,822 | $167,714 | $329,310 |
| Total revenue | $7,502,553 | $7,098,229 | $7,467,232 | $13,429,536 | $6,377,663 |
| Expenses | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Program services | $6,710,732 | $6,234,345 | $5,278,383 | $4,807,562 | $4,328,968 |
| Management and general | $1,000,404 | $950,038 | $742,730 | $623,879 | $665,156 |
| Fundraising | $666,612 | $693,336 | $667,326 | $543,414 | $556,052 |
| Total expenses | $8,377,748 | $7,877,719 | $6,688,439 | $5,974,855 | $5,550,176 |
| Change in net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($875,195) | ($779,490) | $778,793 | $7,454,681 | $827,487 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($875,195) | ($779,490) | $778,793 | $7,454,681 | $827,487 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Dan Sartor | Wings Center Director | $205,781 |
| Edwin J Staub | CEO of the Wings Center | $179,172 |
| Wade Pearce | Senior Director of Program | $140,484 |
| John Shackelford | Executive Director | $140,474 |
| Fred Haselden | Director of Education | $125,110 |
| Kelly Brewer | Director of Development | $123,733 |
| Steve Watts | CFO | $109,787 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2024
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 2/27/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
It started with a guileless teen's observation one day in church. As that teen grew into a man, he saw that children faced many challenges in their lives. He became particularly burdened by children who were struggling with their families. He believed there had to be a way to help make their lives better. So he began a journey that led him from Birmingham, Alabama to the Chestnut Mountain community of Flowery Branch.
Eagle Ranch Founder and Executive Director Eddie Staub made headlines in the early 1980s as an ambitious young man attempting to fund and establish a home for struggling boys. Because of its extraordinary formation and early growth, the Ranch was called "the miracle on Chestnut Mountain" by CNN television during the initial phases of construction and development.
From the opening of its first home in 1985, Eagle Ranch has grown well beyond one person with a dream. Today it is a community that helps thousands of boys, girls and their family members. The 315-acre wooded campus features 10 homes for up to 66 children, a SACS-accredited school, a counseling department, a chapel, and facilities for meetings and recreation. It is one of the nation's most progressive therapeutic Christian programs for children in crisis, and the largest children's residential program in Northeast Georgia.
Program accomplishments
40 Georgia counties served
2,000+ families impacted
Needs
Thank you for your consideration and support. One hundred percent of Eagle Ranch's operating budget is funded through private sources. Your gift to the mission of Eagle Ranch directly helps children and families in crisis experience a better life.