Mars Hill Productions, Inc. 
The information on this page was last updated 4/28/2025. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
A non-profit, non-denominational media ministry, Mars Hill began in 1977 as a division of Youth for Christ/Houston and was spun off as a separate ministry in 1988. Mars Hill has produced media projects for evangelism, apologetics, discipleship and mobilization in a variety of genres including dramatic film, documentary and video curriculum.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Mars Hill Productions, Inc.
4711 Lexington Blvd
Missouri City, TX 77459
Website: mars-hill.org
Phone: (800) 580-6479
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 760235320
CEO/President: Mr. Frederick Carpenter
Chairman:
Board size: 13
Founder: Mr. Frederick Carpenter
Ruling year: 1988
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1992
Purpose
Mission statement
The mission of Mars Hill is to use media to draw people to Jesus Christ.
Statement of faith
We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, and authoritative Word of God.
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe 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, tangible return in power and in glory.
We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful men, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
We believe in the resurrection of the body of the saved and lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in Christ.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Evangelism Support
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 1109 of 1123 | 40 of 40 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 1013 of 1124 | 36 of 40 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 1011 of 1124 | 37 of 40 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 1074 of 1123 | 38 of 40 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 13% | 9% | 8% | 15% | 29% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 12% | 9% | 8% | 15% | 28% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 97% | 95% | 99% | 100% | 99% | 97% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 27% | 26% | 15% | 14% | 23% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 3% | 5% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 3% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 84% | 59% | 59% | 77% | 80% | 69% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 96% | 45% | 35% | 54% | 106% | 119% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 79% | 26% | 21% | 42% | 85% | 82% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 4% | 55% | 65% | 46% | -6% | -19% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 6% | 20% | 39% | 53% | -8% | -17% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 10% | 14% | 15% | 8% | 6% | 7% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.18 | 0.15 | 0.19 | 0.57 | 1.28 | 0.96 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.22 | 2.85 | 1.66 | 1.02 | 1.07 | 1.01 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.52 | 0.43 | 0.31 | 0.58 | 1.37 | 0.96 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 43.19 | 8.37 | 7.44 | 9.53 | 6.22 | 7.52 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.02 | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.10 | 0.16 | 0.13 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 7.22 | 24.52 | 33.64 | 18.57 | 7.37 | 10.81 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 4% | 6% | 11% | 10% | 15% | 13% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 80% | 623% | 478% | 159% | 66% | 91% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Cash | $1,361,446 | $1,938,971 | $1,995,483 | $957,571 | $1,006,216 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $37,498 | $102,922 | $3,601 | $4,349 | $70,071 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $1,398,944 | $2,041,893 | $1,999,084 | $961,920 | $1,076,287 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $18,722 | $18,042 | $39,600 | $56,167 | $0 |
| Other long-term assets | $2,568,625 | $1,334,959 | $7,830 | $6,680 | $6,680 |
| Total long-term assets | $2,587,347 | $1,353,001 | $47,430 | $62,847 | $6,680 |
| Total assets | $3,986,291 | $3,394,894 | $2,046,514 | $1,024,767 | $1,082,967 |
| Liabilities | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $167,044 | $274,363 | $209,666 | $154,588 | $143,081 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $167,044 | $274,363 | $209,666 | $154,588 | $143,081 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $63,134 | $107,700 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $63,134 | $107,700 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $230,178 | $382,063 | $209,666 | $154,588 | $143,081 |
| Net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Without donor restrictions | $1,955,254 | $1,634,392 | $1,150,696 | $635,082 | $642,843 |
| With donor restrictions | $1,800,859 | $1,378,439 | $686,152 | $235,097 | $297,043 |
| Net assets | $3,756,113 | $3,012,831 | $1,836,848 | $870,179 | $939,886 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Total contributions | $1,275,423 | $1,789,291 | $2,116,032 | $1,229,887 | $843,650 |
| Program service revenue | $3,719 | $3,625 | $3,595 | $1,711 | $3,637 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $66,395 | $11,420 | $378 | $10,011 | $18,109 |
| Other revenue | $685 | $2,145 | $3,214 | $2,765 | $6,862 |
| Total other revenue | $70,799 | $17,190 | $7,187 | $14,487 | $28,608 |
| Total revenue | $1,346,222 | $1,806,481 | $2,123,219 | $1,244,374 | $872,258 |
| Expenses | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Program services | $352,993 | $370,705 | $893,753 | $1,052,830 | $718,664 |
| Management and general | $84,980 | $97,192 | $94,069 | $76,894 | $74,417 |
| Fundraising | $164,967 | $162,601 | $168,728 | $184,357 | $242,828 |
| Total expenses | $602,940 | $630,498 | $1,156,550 | $1,314,081 | $1,035,909 |
| Change in net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $743,282 | $1,175,983 | $966,669 | ($69,707) | ($163,651) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $743,282 | $1,175,983 | $966,669 | ($69,707) | ($163,651) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Fred Carpenter | President | $198,992 |
| Doug Whitehead | VP-Administration | $127,074 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2023
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 4/28/2025. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Mars Hill was founded by Fred Carpenter and Larry Kreider in 1977 as a division of Youth for Christ/Houston. In 1988, Mars Hill was spun off from Youth for Christ as a separate nonprofit ministry.