Trinity College of Florida 
The information on this page was last updated 5/26/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Trinity College of Florida is a private, nonprofit accredited Christian Bible college located on the Gulf Coast in Trinity Florida. Biblical training and academic excellence for every context of life. Trinity College of Florida has a long legacy of a family-like atmosphere focused on individual development of Christian leaders for every context of life. We are distinctly evangelical but also interdenominational.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Trinity College of Florida
2430 Welbilt Blvd
Trinity, FL 34655
Website: trinitycollege.edu
Phone: 800-388-0869
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 596155069
CEO/President: Mark T. O'Farrell
Chairman: Rev. Ed Brandt
Board size: 19
Founder: Dr. W. T. Watson
Ruling year: 1964
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1992
Purpose
The vision of Trinity College of Florida is to be the premier provider of Biblically-focused, multifaceted, and diversified higher learning to fulfill the Great Commission in life and career. Trinity College believes that the Bible should be at the heart and core of all training and that it is the standard for evaluating all claims to knowledge. The Bible, as the inspired Word of God, is instrumental in thoroughly equipping God's servants for ministry. This philosophy is reflected in the wide range of Bible and theology courses offered. The College believes that the Bible is the only framework within which a consistent, effective, and productive world, view, lifestyle, and life of service to God and humanity can be maintained.
Mission statement
Trinity College of Florida provides a biblically-centered education, equipping servant leaders for life and career opportunities. The goals for achieving this mission are:
1. Spiritual - To orient, motivate and lead students to Christian maturity and spiritual depth.
2. Academic - To engage students with opportunities to integrate Biblical faith and learning.
3. Intellectual - To develop in students the ability for critical analysis and to motivate in them a desire for continuing intellectual pursuits.
4. Professional - To produce graduates competent in the area of their professional training.
5. Social - To cultivate a culture that redefines how we learn, love, and live in a way that honors God, impacting our community for generations to come.
Statement of faith
We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are verbally inspired by God, inerrant in the original writings, and that they are the supreme and final authority in faith and life.
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe that Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary and is true God and true man.
We believe that man was created in the image of God, but that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death which is separation from God.
We believe that the Lord Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice, and that all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood and adopted into God's family as His beloved children.
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life, and by whom the church is empowered to carry out Christ's great commission.
We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in His ascension into heaven, and His present life there for us, as High Priest and Advocate.
We believe in "that blessed hope," the personal, pre-millennial and imminent return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting bliss of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Colleges/Universities
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 768 of 1107 | 95 of 127 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 519 of 1108 | 58 of 127 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 1009 of 1108 | 114 of 127 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 487 of 1107 | 61 of 127 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 13% | 12% | 8% | 3% | 10% | 13% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 3% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 18% | 20% | 32% | 54% | 28% | 24% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 82% | 80% | 68% | 46% | 72% | 76% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 84% | 73% | 61% | 62% | 67% | 71% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 98% | 126% | 125% | 82% | 111% | 127% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 82% | 92% | 76% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 2% | -26% | -25% | 18% | -11% | -27% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 1% | -20% | -17% | 16% | -7% | -14% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 13% | 25% | 37% | 36% | 30% | 27% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.52 | 0.54 | 0.51 | 0.45 | 0.39 | 0.40 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 2.58 | 10.66 | 7.48 | 5.34 | 7.35 | 8.72 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.41 | 5.79 | 3.83 | 2.42 | 2.90 | 3.46 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 7.93 | 1.27 | 2.63 | 6.20 | 4.83 | 4.70 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.13 | 0.79 | 0.38 | 0.16 | 0.21 | 0.21 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 7.23 | 0.44 | 1.94 | 4.16 | 3.28 | 2.73 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 24% | 46% | 40% | 35% | 45% | 41% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 11% | 38% | 35% | 32% | 40% | 37% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 150% | 100% | 117% | 144% | 140% | 149% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Cash | $699,064 | $1,076,500 | $1,597,108 | $1,118,934 | $1,033,526 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $53,832 | $100,433 | $174,429 | $158,470 | $52,148 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $752,896 | $1,176,933 | $1,771,537 | $1,277,404 | $1,085,674 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $7,232,636 | $7,621,730 | $7,695,016 | $8,013,471 | $8,226,544 |
| Other long-term assets | $41,992 | $1,150 | $1,150 | $94,375 | $152,445 |
| Total long-term assets | $7,274,628 | $7,622,880 | $7,696,166 | $8,107,846 | $8,378,989 |
| Total assets | $8,027,524 | $8,799,813 | $9,467,703 | $9,385,250 | $9,464,663 |
| Liabilities | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $314,629 | $347,711 | $241,158 | $264,440 | $231,016 |
| Other current liabilities | $279,444 | $100,000 | $44,356 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $594,073 | $447,711 | $285,514 | $264,440 | $231,016 |
| Debt | $3,016,037 | $3,085,310 | $3,010,940 | $3,795,698 | $3,486,987 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $46,927 | $1,004 | $6,530 | $123,657 | $166,569 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $3,062,964 | $3,086,314 | $3,017,470 | $3,919,355 | $3,653,556 |
| Total liabilities | $3,657,037 | $3,534,025 | $3,302,984 | $4,183,795 | $3,884,572 |
| Net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Without donor restrictions | $3,349,065 | $4,200,279 | $5,021,011 | $4,138,858 | $4,490,302 |
| With donor restrictions | $1,021,422 | $1,065,509 | $1,143,708 | $1,062,597 | $1,089,789 |
| Net assets | $4,370,487 | $5,265,788 | $6,164,719 | $5,201,455 | $5,580,091 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Total contributions | $701,047 | $1,140,934 | $2,836,930 | $946,824 | $701,981 |
| Program service revenue | $2,679,651 | $2,287,178 | $2,262,478 | $2,214,979 | $2,248,825 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $19,217 | $12,512 | $18,490 | $19,290 | $16,891 |
| Other revenue | $61,545 | $160,559 | $135,745 | $144,167 | ($6,628) |
| Total other revenue | $2,760,413 | $2,460,249 | $2,416,713 | $2,378,436 | $2,259,088 |
| Total revenue | $3,461,460 | $3,601,183 | $5,253,643 | $3,325,260 | $2,961,069 |
| Expenses | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Program services | $3,200,183 | $2,730,709 | $2,641,840 | $2,488,401 | $2,655,143 |
| Management and general | $1,074,238 | $1,686,919 | $1,557,743 | $1,125,199 | $1,012,748 |
| Fundraising | $81,806 | $88,012 | $91,813 | $90,707 | $87,891 |
| Total expenses | $4,356,227 | $4,505,640 | $4,291,396 | $3,704,307 | $3,755,782 |
| Change in net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($894,767) | ($904,457) | $962,247 | ($379,047) | ($794,713) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($894,767) | ($904,457) | $962,247 | ($379,047) | ($794,713) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Dr Mark T O'Farrell | President (thru 9/30/23) | $96,107 |
| Dr Eric Bargerhuff | VP Academic Affairs | $94,458 |
| Anthony Abell | VP Enrollment | $89,039 |
| Albert Depoutot | VP Student Development | $58,468 |
| Christian Frost | Senior Accountant | $49,900 |
| Charles Martin | VP Advancement | $25,200 |
Compensation data as of: 6/30/2023
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 5/26/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Dr. William T. Watson, a tent preacher from North Carolina, and pastor of a large Christian and Missionary Alliance church in St. Petersburg felt the Lord leading him to establish a Bible college for the training of Christian workers. Following God's call, he founded Florida Bible Institute in 1932, changing the name to Trinity College in 1947. Little did he realize when he started the College that a young man, Billy Graham, who would enroll in 1937 and graduate in 1940, was destined to become one of the great evangelists in the history of the church, although Dr. Graham is the College's most famous graduate, he is but one of many in the past years who have gone on from the College to serve the Lord all over the world, and in many different roles.
Originally focused on training pastors and missionaries, the College has expanded its course offerings over the years to include worship ministry, youth ministry, elementary education, psychology, general studies, and business organizational leadership. An important characteristic of the College has always been its distinctly evangelical, but interdenominational, nature. At Trinity, students from a wide variety of church backgrounds have the opportunity to study God's Word and be equipped to serve Him in an atmosphere of respect. In a world where interdenominational cooperation among evangelicals is becoming increasingly vital, Trinity College of Florida believes this type of education best serves its students as they prepare to live and serve more effectively. A major milestone in the life of the College was achieved in 1996 when Trinity was accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education.
The words above describe the journey you will enjoy at Trinity College of Florida! You will discover amazing truth in God's Word and the life He has given you. His truth will transform your character and activities. You will be able to discern and make decisions that will honor Him and generate abundant satisfaction and fulfillment for you. In addition, the relationships you establish in and outside the classroom at Trinity will be a blessing to you for the rest of your life! Your personal development will be seen intellectually, socially, emotionally, and most of all, spiritually. You will become the person God intended you to be! You will discover God's mission for your life! What an amazing journey ... Discovering ... Discerning ... Developing ... making Decisions in life that will be the best!
Continuing in the passion for higher biblical education for more than 88 years as a college, we treasure the Word of God as the Book for guidance and fulfillment in this life. Our founder, Dr. W. T. Watson, possessed a strong passion to provide an educational experience that would transform the student into a servant leader for Kingdom ministry! This pursuit continues today with the educational excellence of our faculty to the sacrificial commitment of the staff. Remember the challenge God gave Jeremiah: Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. Experience this reality in the classroom, on campus, and in service for the Lord! The discovery of the "great and mighty things" awaits you! Come and join the adventure of becoming a transformational servant of the Most High, commissioned to influence and impact the 21st century for the glory and honor of the Lord Jesus Christ!