Christian Appalachian Project 
The information on this page was last updated 1/26/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) is building hope, transforming lives, and sharing Christ's love through service in Appalachia.
Since our founding more than 50 years ago, we have been committed to improving the lives of Appalachian children, families and seniors who are struggling to escape poverty.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Christian Appalachian Project
PO Box 55911
Lexington, KY 40555-5911
Website: www.christianapp.org
Phone: 866-270-4CAP (4227)
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 610661137
CEO/President: Guy Adams
Chairman: Bob Hutchinson
Board size: 20
Founder: Father Ralph Beiting
Ruling year: 1966
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 08/31
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
Our guiding principles are to:
Promote the dignity and self-worth of individuals by promoting self-help.
Practice and encourage good stewardship of and accountability for all of the resources entrusted to us.
Foster individual growth among staff, volunteers, donors, and program participants.
Live out and promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ through all of our actions.
Foster open, honest and effective communication both inside and outside the organization.
Involve the Appalachian people at all social and economic levels in developing a solution to poverty.
Mission statement
Christian Appalachian Project's mission is building hope, transforming lives, and sharing Christ's love through service in Appalachia.
Statement of faith
Articles
Donor confidence score
Show donor confidence score details
To understand our donor confidence score, click here.
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Community Development
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 253 of 1420 | 35 of 145 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 996 of 1420 | 95 of 145 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 228 of 1420 | 34 of 145 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 104 of 1421 | 14 of 145 |
According to the organization's Form 990, it received $408,650 in government grants in 2025.
To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 7% | 8% | 9% | 7% | 7% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 4% | 7% | 8% | 9% | 7% | 7% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 91% | 99% | 99% | 99% | 99% | 99% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 7% | 8% | 9% | 7% | 7% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 9% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 84% | 90% | 89% | 88% | 90% | 90% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 97% | 99% | 99% | 98% | 96% | 96% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 79% | 89% | 88% | 87% | 86% | 86% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 3% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 4% | 4% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 4% | 2% | 3% | 7% | 20% | 22% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 11% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.01 | 4.29 | 4.33 | 4.13 | 4.05 | 4.30 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.87 | 1.53 | 1.57 | 1.57 | 1.51 | 1.47 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.16 | 6.57 | 6.80 | 6.47 | 6.11 | 6.31 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 11.81 | 27.75 | 49.63 | 28.91 | 32.00 | 23.79 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.08 | 0.04 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.04 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.74 | 1.76 | 1.73 | 1.79 | 1.90 | 1.82 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 10% | 4% | 3% | 5% | 5% | 8% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 76% | 22% | 22% | 23% | 23% | 21% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Cash | $11,430,094 | $10,134,110 | $9,816,312 | $9,233,467 | $9,682,227 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $1,441,965 | $2,721,178 | $3,519,201 | $2,908,469 | $2,324,485 |
| Short-term investments | $23,023,112 | $19,871,690 | $16,561,976 | $15,605,431 | $13,206,482 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $35,895,171 | $32,726,978 | $29,897,489 | $27,747,367 | $25,213,194 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $19,057,363 | $18,596,198 | $16,981,660 | $14,140,844 | $11,767,053 |
| Other long-term assets | $65,885 | $58,596 | $39,415 | $36,298 | $30,997 |
| Total long-term assets | $19,123,248 | $18,654,794 | $17,021,075 | $14,177,142 | $11,798,050 |
| Total assets | $55,018,419 | $51,381,772 | $46,918,564 | $41,924,509 | $37,011,244 |
| Liabilities | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $1,293,423 | $659,430 | $1,034,026 | $866,992 | $1,059,862 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $1,293,423 | $659,430 | $1,034,026 | $866,992 | $1,059,862 |
| Debt | $23,309 | $52,082 | $91,435 | $108,898 | $97,741 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $795,203 | $865,583 | $1,100,839 | $1,190,013 | $1,636,727 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $818,512 | $917,665 | $1,192,274 | $1,298,911 | $1,734,468 |
| Total liabilities | $2,111,935 | $1,577,095 | $2,226,300 | $2,165,903 | $2,794,330 |
| Net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Without donor restrictions | $44,664,254 | $41,716,838 | $38,844,178 | $34,093,397 | $29,095,251 |
| With donor restrictions | $8,242,230 | $8,087,839 | $5,848,086 | $5,665,209 | $5,121,663 |
| Net assets | $52,906,484 | $49,804,677 | $44,692,264 | $39,758,606 | $34,216,914 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Total contributions | $234,747,059 | $222,456,021 | $195,727,271 | $176,013,867 | $164,956,511 |
| Program service revenue | $552,973 | $540,296 | $434,128 | $349,156 | $242,956 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $1,416,551 | $838,305 | $178,324 | $646,854 | $950,277 |
| Other revenue | $467,999 | $444,718 | $434,496 | $561,130 | $487,306 |
| Total other revenue | $2,437,523 | $1,823,319 | $1,046,948 | $1,557,140 | $1,680,539 |
| Total revenue | $237,184,582 | $224,279,340 | $196,774,219 | $177,571,007 | $166,637,050 |
| Expenses | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Program services | $212,048,241 | $197,875,359 | $171,123,540 | $152,685,735 | $142,994,244 |
| Management and general | $6,533,979 | $7,874,904 | $5,346,551 | $4,611,876 | $5,066,709 |
| Fundraising | $17,321,944 | $16,938,650 | $17,114,082 | $12,373,458 | $11,098,308 |
| Total expenses | $235,904,164 | $222,688,913 | $193,584,173 | $169,671,069 | $159,159,261 |
| Change in net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $1,280,418 | $1,590,427 | $3,190,046 | $7,899,938 | $7,477,789 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $1,280,418 | $1,590,427 | $3,190,046 | $7,899,938 | $7,477,789 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Guy Adams | President/CEO | $284,769 |
| Gloria Jordan | Senior VP | $208,569 |
| Brian Stiefel | CFO | $198,480 |
| Phyllis Caudill | VP of Philanthropy | $195,335 |
| Anita Seals | VP of Human Services (retired February 2025) | $182,053 |
| Phillip Payne | Assistant VP of Philanthropy | $178,552 |
| Owen Wright | Assistant VP of Human Services | $165,745 |
| Michael Loiacono | Assistant VP of Human Services | $162,974 |
| Ethel Playforth | Senior Director of HR | $139,865 |
| Paige Daugherty | Director of Finance | $109,361 |
Compensation data as of: 8/31/2025
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 1/26/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
For over 50 years, Christian Appalachian Project has served the people of Appalachia by building hope, transforming lives, and sharing Christ's love.
Our work started when Reverend Ralph W. Beiting, a Catholic priest from northern Kentucky, was assigned to pastor a large portion of east-central Kentucky. Through his outreach, he witnessed tremendous poverty in Appalachia. He saw children weak from hunger, families beaten down by hardship, seniors living in fear and isolation, and communities desperate for hope.
With the help of family and friends, he provided food, clothing, and other essentials to neighbors in need. What started small quickly grew, and Christian Appalachian Project was founded in 1964.
Through donor support, dedicated volunteers, and a selfless staff, CAP now touches the lives of more than 1 million people each year. By working with other local food banks and humanitarian service providers, our reach extends to parts of all 13 states of the Appalachian region, including Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Program accomplishments
Needs
Appalachia is home to many proud Americans, but it is also home to some of the poorest regions of our nation. Your gift provides nutritious food, warm clothing, and safe housing to people in need.