Christian Community Foundation, dba WaterStone 
The information on this page was last updated 1/30/2024. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
At WaterStone, we understand the act of giving may be straightforward, but the gift of certain assets may be complex.
WaterStone is a Christian foundation that comes alongside givers, advisors and ministries to provide trusted counsel and innovative giving strategies. Since 1980, we have assisted our clients in developing comprehensive plans for sharing their resources with ministries and organizations to fulfill their charitable intent.
Our expertise is working with business owners and stewards of family wealth to unlock the giving potential of their non-cash assets like real estate, business interests, oil and gas and agricultural commodities. Through WaterStone, families can multiply their giving impact for the Kingdom, minimize taxes and heighten the joy of generosity.
The bulk of your portfolio may be comprised of complex, non-cash assets. Working through WaterStone, you can multiply your giving impact by transforming your complex assets into living water. Contact Giving Strategies for more information. We believe that generosity is the greatest act of worship.
Through generosity, we give back to God what He has given to us, and show love to our brothers and sisters in the process. For nearly 40 years, we have been blessed to see lives changed, hearts turned to the Lord, and The Spirit guide people to lead lives of significance - all through the grace of giving.
WaterStone is here to guide you through innovative giving solutions that will help you minimize taxes and multiply the impact of giving. We hope you will be our partner in the many life-changing stories that we have been blessed to be a part of since our founding.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Christian Community Foundation, dba WaterStone
10807 New Allegiance Dr
Ste 240
Colorado Springs, CO 80921
Website: waterstone.org
Phone: 719-447-4620
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 751750059
CEO/President: Ken Harrison / John Mulder
Chairman: Doug Kiesewetter
Board size: 11
Founder:
Ruling year: 1981
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 03/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1997
Purpose
Vision: "Every Christian a faith-filled intentional giver."
WaterStone serves as a conduit between givers and Kingdom causes, crafting personalized giving plans that honor God by blessing ministries and the people they serve.
By partnering with WaterStone, advisors can incorporate giving strategies into their wealth management practices and help their clients make a greater Kingdom impact.
With WaterStone's Charity Advised Funds, churches and nonprofits can efficiently manage pools of money set aside for a specific purpose.
Mission statement
Honoring God through the transformational power of giving. Serving Givers at the intersection of faith and finance. Building the Kingdom by transforming assets into living water.
Statement of faith
WE BELIEVE ...
The entire Bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice. We believe that there is one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and was true Man and is true God.
We believe that in this age, God manifests Himself through the Holy Spirit who is a distinct personality, eternally coexistent with the Father and the Son, whose basic task is to convict sinners, regenerate those who believe and empower believers to live godly lives and in every way glorify the Father and the Son through His indwelling presence.
We believe that man was created in the image of God, that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death that was eternal separation from God and is upon all men.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ 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 basis of His shed blood.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected in body, ascended into heaven, presently lives there for us as High Priest and Advocate, and that His personal, physical return to earth is imminent.
We believe that there will be a bodily resurrection of both the just and the unjust, the just to the everlasting blessedness of the saved and the unjust to the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Christian Foundations
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 889 of 1123 | 8 of 11 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 1114 of 1124 | 11 of 11 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 695 of 1124 | 5 of 11 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 459 of 1123 | 5 of 11 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 0% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 0% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 0% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 92% | 88% | 94% | 82% | 74% | 91% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 0% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 8% | 12% | 6% | 18% | 26% | 9% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 97% | 97% | 96% | 95% | 96% | 96% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 62% | 88% | 70% | 50% | 70% | 61% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 61% | 86% | 68% | 47% | 67% | 59% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 38% | 12% | 30% | 50% | 30% | 39% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 12% | 6% | 14% | 22% | 11% | 19% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 3% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 3% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.32 | 0.38 | 0.30 | 0.20 | 0.23 | 0.27 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.14 | 1.12 | 1.16 | 1.18 | 1.21 | 1.23 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 0.42 | 0.42 | 0.35 | 0.23 | 0.27 | 0.33 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 646.81 | 107.23 | 140.52 | 443.63 | 330.20 | 374.82 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.00 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 28.18 | 28.18 | 34.35 | 52.19 | 43.57 | 35.73 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 1% | 11% | 11% | 10% | 11% | 10% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 296% | 236% | 298% | 459% | 390% | 330% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Cash | $504,280 | $7,466,110 | $7,522,455 | $7,945,063 | $6,790,856 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $584,934 | $307,291 | $410,884 | $232,938 | $119,159 |
| Short-term investments | $549,735,570 | $464,813,932 | $415,803,885 | $334,969,232 | $245,982,610 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $550,824,784 | $472,587,333 | $423,737,224 | $343,147,233 | $252,892,625 |
| Long-term investments | $61,370,576 | $48,103,337 | $50,367,156 | $46,023,338 | $30,878,876 |
| Fixed assets | $266,030 | $92,912 | $437,090 | $69,152 | $94,288 |
| Other long-term assets | $4,194,136 | $25,161,341 | $23,353,263 | $25,002,890 | $28,158,682 |
| Total long-term assets | $65,830,742 | $73,357,590 | $74,157,509 | $71,095,380 | $59,131,846 |
| Total assets | $616,655,526 | $545,944,923 | $497,894,733 | $414,242,613 | $312,024,471 |
| Liabilities | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $5,136,821 | $3,363,055 | $955,156 | $1,039,207 | $674,710 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $5,136,821 | $3,363,055 | $955,156 | $1,039,207 | $674,710 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $62,661,536 | $54,757,033 | $50,937,161 | $45,912,932 | $31,901,667 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $62,661,536 | $54,757,033 | $50,937,161 | $45,912,932 | $31,901,667 |
| Total liabilities | $67,798,357 | $58,120,088 | $51,892,317 | $46,952,139 | $32,576,377 |
| Net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Without donor restrictions | $528,787,660 | $470,414,830 | $424,806,623 | $348,927,745 | $271,582,782 |
| With donor restrictions | $20,069,509 | $17,410,005 | $21,195,793 | $18,362,729 | $7,865,312 |
| Net assets | $548,857,169 | $487,824,835 | $446,002,416 | $367,290,474 | $279,448,094 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Total contributions | $232,725,892 | $220,026,634 | $158,434,768 | $99,302,026 | $125,812,481 |
| Program service revenue | $7,604,721 | ($308,524) | $8,743,683 | $13,482,706 | ($2,162,943) |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $22,891,260 | $13,215,164 | $26,969,541 | $21,623,173 | $14,103,590 |
| Other revenue | $18,180 | $18,180 | $18,180 | $21,648 | $20,928 |
| Total other revenue | $30,514,161 | $12,924,820 | $35,731,404 | $35,127,527 | $11,961,575 |
| Total revenue | $263,240,053 | $232,951,454 | $194,166,172 | $134,429,553 | $137,774,056 |
| Expenses | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Program services | $225,334,830 | $157,996,715 | $91,931,577 | $90,568,840 | $81,293,263 |
| Management and general | $5,810,701 | $4,640,641 | $3,994,705 | $3,076,903 | $2,802,678 |
| Fundraising | $1,253,819 | $1,307,517 | $1,284,230 | $584,630 | $618,702 |
| Total expenses | $232,399,350 | $163,944,873 | $97,210,512 | $94,230,373 | $84,714,643 |
| Change in net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $30,840,703 | $69,006,581 | $96,955,660 | $40,199,180 | $53,059,413 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $30,840,703 | $69,006,581 | $96,955,660 | $40,199,180 | $53,059,413 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Kenneth Harrison | Chief Executive Officer | $525,797 |
| Richard von Gnechten | Vice President | $312,622 |
| Chris Start | Treasurer | $274,731 |
| John Mulder | Board Member/Chief Generosity Advisor | $170,304 |
| Stephanie Hoff | Senior Gift Strategist | $156,023 |
| Ruthann Witkop | Assistant Secretary | $107,216 |
Compensation data as of: 3/31/2024
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 1/30/2024. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Program accomplishments
Since 1980, Waterstone has...
$1.4 billion contributions
$800 million grants
5,000+ charities supported