American Family Association 
The information on this page was last updated 5/31/2024. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
American Family Association (AFA), a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in 1977 by Donald E. Wildmon, who was the pastor of First United Methodist Church in Southaven, Mississippi, at the time. Since 1977, AFA has been on the front lines of America's culture war. The original name of the ministry was National Federation for Decency but was changed to American Family Association in 1988.
Today, AFA is led by president Tim Wildmon, and it continues as one of the largest and most effective pro-family organizations in the country with hundreds of thousands of supporters.
Contact information
Mailing address:
American Family Association
PO Drawer 2440
Tupelo, MS 38803-2440
Website: www.afa.net
Phone: 662-844-5036
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 640607275
CEO/President: Tim Wildmon
Chairman: Terry Pierce
Board size: 10
Founder: Dr. Don Wildmon
Ruling year: 1982
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1988
Purpose
The vision of American Family Association is to be a leading organization in biblical worldview training for cultural transformation.
Mission statement
The mission of American Family Association is to inform, equip, and activate individuals and families to transform American culture and to give aid to the church, here and abroad, in its calling to fulfill the Great Commission.
Statement of faith
American Family Association believes that God has communicated absolute truth to mankind and that all people are subject to the authority of God's Word at all times. Therefore, AFA believes that a culture based on biblical truth best serves the well-being of our nation and our families, in accordance with the vision of our founding documents. AFA believes personal transformation through the gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest agent of biblical change in any culture.
AFA believes the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God. 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:16-21
AFA believes that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10-11; Luke 3:22; John 1:1-5
AFA believes in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory. Matthew 1:23, 16:27, 24:27-31, 25:31-46, 28:1-20; Luke 1:26-38, 24:39; Acts 1:9, 11, 2:22-33, 10:38; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3, 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22; Revelation 1:7
AFA believes that for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential. John 3:1-21; Titus 3:5
AFA believes in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life. John 14:15-26; Acts 1:8
AFA believes in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost - they who are saved unto the resurrection of life and they who are lost unto the resurrection of damnation. Matthew 25:46; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8
AFA believes in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 4:1-6; Galatians 3:26; Romans 8:15-16
AFA believes God created mankind, both male and female, in His image and likeness. Every human being bears the imago Dei. Therefore, AFA believes in the sanctity of human life, which must be protected from conception through natural expiration. Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 139:13-16
AFA believes marriage is the exclusive and committed lifelong union of one man and one woman. It is the foundational construct of society at-large, and it is a fundamental and indispensable component of God's church. Genesis 1:26-27, 2:18-25; Matthew 19:4-6
AFA believes God ordained the marital covenant as the exclusive context for sexual contact to be enjoyed between a husband (one man) and his wife (one woman). As such, any extramarital sexual contact is decried by God as sinful conduct, and it is defined by God's Word as fornication and/or adultery. Genesis 1:26-27, 2:18-25; Matthew 19:4-6; Exodus 20:14, 17; Matthew 5:27-30; Acts 15:20, 29, 21:25; Romans 1:16-32; 1 Corinthians 5:1, 6:9-20, 7:2, 10:8; 2 Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:16-21; Ephesians 5:1-5; Colossians 3:1-5; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-5; Jude 1:7
Donor confidence score
This organization does not file a Form 990.
Show donor confidence score detailsTransparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Advocacy
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 447 of 1118 | 14 of 40 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 303 of 1119 | 6 of 40 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 231 of 1119 | 13 of 40 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 934 of 1118 | 31 of 40 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 9% | 5% | 7% | 8% | 5% | 5% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 7% | 4% | 6% | 7% | 5% | 5% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 95% | 91% | 95% | 84% | 95% | 94% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 7% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 5% | 5% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 5% | 9% | 5% | 16% | 5% | 6% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 81% | 86% | 86% | 86% | 90% | 90% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 97% | 61% | 90% | 91% | 94% | 99% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 76% | 53% | 77% | 78% | 85% | 89% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 3% | 39% | 10% | 9% | 6% | 1% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 5% | 26% | 6% | 6% | 4% | 1% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 11% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 5% | 5% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.92 | 0.36 | 0.46 | 0.51 | 0.51 | 0.55 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.36 | 1.26 | 1.33 | 1.43 | 1.55 | 1.68 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.87 | 0.45 | 0.61 | 0.72 | 0.79 | 0.92 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 14.13 | 147.16 | 231.39 | 50.53 | 67.64 | 122.08 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.07 | 0.01 | 0.00 | 0.02 | 0.01 | 0.01 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.67 | 26.50 | 19.62 | 16.23 | 15.06 | 12.90 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 21% | 15% | 20% | 18% | 17% | 17% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 77% | 239% | 175% | 162% | 163% | 152% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Cash | $7,871,413 | $6,766,109 | $16,912,018 | $15,787,272 | $15,622,961 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $2,544,554 | $2,216,952 | $1,968,990 | $1,967,091 | $1,208,068 |
| Short-term investments | $32,022,936 | $22,673,466 | $8,152,191 | $5,497,067 | $3,604,889 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $42,438,903 | $31,656,527 | $27,033,199 | $23,251,430 | $20,435,918 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $10,655,594 | $9,877,987 | $10,794,585 | $12,003,144 | $13,283,165 |
| Other long-term assets | $571,790 | $549,845 | $865,403 | $756,863 | $642,625 |
| Total long-term assets | $11,227,384 | $10,427,832 | $11,659,988 | $12,760,007 | $13,925,790 |
| Total assets | $53,666,287 | $42,084,359 | $38,693,187 | $36,011,437 | $34,361,708 |
| Liabilities | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $288,394 | $136,810 | $535,006 | $343,755 | $167,396 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $288,394 | $136,810 | $535,006 | $343,755 | $167,396 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $7,696,741 | $8,220,975 | $6,482,854 | $5,882,946 | $5,511,121 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $7,696,741 | $8,220,975 | $6,482,854 | $5,882,946 | $5,511,121 |
| Total liabilities | $7,985,135 | $8,357,785 | $7,017,860 | $6,226,701 | $5,678,517 |
| Net assets | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Without donor restrictions | $45,518,138 | $33,556,869 | $31,494,033 | $29,784,736 | $28,683,191 |
| With donor restrictions | $163,014 | $169,705 | $181,294 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assets | $45,681,152 | $33,726,574 | $31,675,327 | $29,784,736 | $28,683,191 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Total contributions | $28,099,201 | $20,218,494 | $18,067,005 | $18,418,814 | $17,988,758 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $2,466,974 | ($51,187) | $2,870,626 | $352,977 | $600,756 |
| Other revenue | $480,706 | $1,175,048 | $543,357 | $587,396 | $478,879 |
| Total other revenue | $2,947,680 | $1,123,861 | $3,413,983 | $940,373 | $1,079,635 |
| Total revenue | $31,046,881 | $21,342,355 | $21,480,988 | $19,359,187 | $19,068,393 |
| Expenses | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Program services | $16,496,861 | $16,500,226 | $16,776,228 | $16,369,577 | $17,004,520 |
| Management and general | $1,307,386 | $1,428,455 | $1,416,525 | $943,526 | $921,876 |
| Fundraising | $1,281,365 | $1,350,838 | $1,399,252 | $944,539 | $934,384 |
| Total expenses | $19,085,612 | $19,279,519 | $19,592,005 | $18,257,642 | $18,860,780 |
| Change in net assets | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $11,961,269 | $2,062,836 | $1,888,983 | $1,101,545 | $207,613 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $11,961,269 | $2,062,836 | $1,888,983 | $1,101,545 | $207,613 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Timothy B Wildmon | President | $216,065 |
| Abraham Hamilton III | General Coun | $173,737 |
| Casey M Smith Jr | Senior Vice | $145,785 |
| Edward Vitagliano | Executive VI | $117,593 |
| Walter Billingsley | Secretary/Tr | $108,392 |
| Donald E Wildmon | Chairman Eme | $51,563 |
Compensation data as of: 6/30/2021
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 5/31/2024. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Donald E. Wildmon, an ordained United Methodist minister who earned his Master of Divinity from Emory College in 1965, founded the National Federation for Decency in 1977. The National Federation for Decency became the American Family Association (AFA) in 1988.
Since Don and his wife Lynda have four children and five grandchildren, they know first-hand the battle parents face in teaching their families traditional moral values. Don tells in his own words how AFA was founded:
"One evening in 1977 I sat down with my family to watch TV. On one channel was adultery, on another cursing, on another a man beating another over the head with a hammer. I asked the children to turn off the TV. I sat there, got angry, and said, 'If they're going to bring this into my home, I'm going to do all I can to change it."
"I brooded for a while and then came up with a plan for our church to turn off the TV for a week. I sent out a press release and the national media picked up on it.
Through that 'Turn off the TV Week' I learned there were literally millions of other people around the country who felt the same way I did. That was the beginning of the American Family Association."