John and Vera Mae Perkins Foundation 
The information on this page was last updated 12/15/2025. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
The John and Vera Mae Perkins Foundation for Justice, Reconciliation & Community Development (JVMPF) is a non-profit organization that teaches and promotes the principles of Christian Community development and racial reconciliation. It was founded in Pasadena, California in February 1983 by Drs. John M. and Vera Mae Perkins and a few friends and supporters. In 1998 it moved to Jackson, Mississippi to begin its work in the economically and physically deteriorating West Jackson community.
Through years of experience among the poor, Dr. John Perkins recognized that the problems encountered by those living in West Jackson and similar communities cannot be solved without strong commitment and risky actions on the part of ordinary Christians with heroic faith. He observed that most creative long-term solutions to the problems of the poor came from grass-roots and church-based efforts of people who saw themselves as the replacements, the agents of Jesus here on earth and in their own neighborhoods and communities.
The John and Vera Mae Perkins philosophy is a community development concept. It wasn't developed in a classroom, nor formulated by those foreign to the poor community. Our Biblical principles are practical and evolved from years of living and working among families living in our target area. In rural Mississippi, John Perkins first developed this philosophy. He, his wife, Dr. Vera Mae Perkins, and their children have lived out this philosophy for more than 61 years.
Contact information
Mailing address:
John and Vera Mae Perkins Foundation
PO Box 10773
Jackson, MS 39289-0773
Website: www.jvmpf.org
Phone: (601) 354-1563
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 953818477
CEO/President: Elizabeth Priscilla, and Priscilla Perkins
Chairman: Gary Vander Ark
Board size: 19
Founder: Gary Vander Ark
Ruling year: 1983
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1985
Purpose
The John M Perkins Foundation for Reconciliation ("JPFR") strives to support Christian churches and other Christian organizations; to encourage the study of the Holy Bible and grant aid, materially and spiritually, to the distressed, the homeless and the needy, to assist minorities in bettering their lives and communities; and to lessen racial tensions in a spirit of Christian harmony.
Mission statement
Encouraging and developing leaders and resources to further the vision of wholistic Christian community development and racial reconciliation.
Statement of faith
Articles
| 3/16/2026 | John Perkins Dies at 95 |
| 1/30/2026 | Creation Research Institute, No Longer Bound Rise in Financial Efficiency, Donor Confidence |
Donor confidence score
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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 | | 1095 of 1420 | 106 of 145 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 329 of 1420 | 33 of 145 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 1350 of 1420 | 137 of 145 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 1130 of 1421 | 111 of 145 |
To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 2% | 0% | 2% | 2% | 3% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 4% | 1% | 0% | 2% | 1% | 2% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 91% | 81% | 90% | 88% | 84% | 79% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 2% | 0% | 2% | 2% | 3% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 9% | 19% | 10% | 12% | 16% | 21% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 84% | 63% | 56% | 59% | 52% | 55% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 97% | 96% | 107% | 103% | 65% | 75% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 79% | 61% | 61% | 60% | 34% | 42% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 3% | 4% | -7% | -3% | 35% | 25% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 4% | 2% | -2% | -1% | 14% | 9% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 11% | 35% | 44% | 39% | 46% | 42% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.01 | 0.41 | 0.33 | 0.30 | 0.26 | 0.25 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.87 | 1.92 | 1.94 | 1.83 | 1.88 | 2.13 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.16 | 0.78 | 0.64 | 0.55 | 0.49 | 0.54 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 11.81 | 32.36 | 19.76 | 290.06 | 118.97 | 109.36 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.08 | 0.03 | 0.05 | 0.00 | 0.01 | 0.01 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.74 | 14.87 | 17.70 | 21.73 | 24.23 | 21.90 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 10% | 2% | 4% | 0% | 1% | 1% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 76% | 241% | 290% | 331% | 379% | 389% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Cash | $215,406 | $218,308 | $223,478 | $208,470 | $183,060 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $5,593 | $33,256 | $4,376 | $5,369 | $32,502 |
| Short-term investments | $858,386 | $816,830 | $884,513 | $903,883 | $634,250 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $1,079,385 | $1,068,394 | $1,112,367 | $1,117,722 | $849,812 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $988,827 | $1,000,661 | $919,641 | $985,965 | $961,557 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $988,827 | $1,000,661 | $919,641 | $985,965 | $961,557 |
| Total assets | $2,068,212 | $2,069,055 | $2,032,008 | $2,103,687 | $1,811,369 |
| Liabilities | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $33,360 | $54,065 | $3,835 | $9,395 | $7,771 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $33,360 | $54,065 | $3,835 | $9,395 | $7,771 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $4,405 | $22,904 | $4,073 | $12,337 | $10,897 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $4,405 | $22,904 | $4,073 | $12,337 | $10,897 |
| Total liabilities | $37,765 | $76,969 | $7,908 | $21,732 | $18,668 |
| Net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Without donor restrictions | $1,821,557 | $1,823,196 | $1,865,210 | $1,952,201 | $1,666,947 |
| With donor restrictions | $208,890 | $168,890 | $158,890 | $129,754 | $125,754 |
| Net assets | $2,030,447 | $1,992,086 | $2,024,100 | $2,081,955 | $1,792,701 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Total contributions | $714,443 | $578,130 | $523,125 | $705,955 | $485,939 |
| Program service revenue | $155 | $6,297 | $12,649 | $16,466 | $7,975 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $66,286 | $21,206 | $11,849 | $9,720 | $29,264 |
| Other revenue | $101,532 | $34,487 | $47,846 | $106,040 | $91,946 |
| Total other revenue | $167,973 | $61,990 | $72,344 | $132,226 | $129,185 |
| Total revenue | $882,416 | $640,120 | $595,469 | $838,181 | $615,124 |
| Expenses | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Program services | $535,271 | $387,755 | $360,100 | $287,100 | $255,762 |
| Management and general | $295,743 | $299,992 | $240,535 | $250,369 | $192,105 |
| Fundraising | $13,041 | $0 | $11,610 | $11,458 | $13,548 |
| Total expenses | $844,055 | $687,747 | $612,245 | $548,927 | $461,415 |
| Change in net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $38,361 | ($47,627) | ($16,776) | $289,254 | $153,709 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $38,361 | ($47,627) | ($16,776) | $289,254 | $153,709 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Priscilla Perkins | President | $46,200 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2024
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 12/15/2025. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Biography - The Legacy of John and Vera Mae Perkins
Founders of Mendenhall Ministries & Bible Church
John, Vera Mae and their families have ministered among the poor for the past 56 years. In 1960, the couple left a successful life in California and moved back to Mendenhall, MS to begin living out a new principle. In 12 years, John Perkins helped start a day-care center, youth program, church, cooperative farm, thrift store, housing repair ministry, a health center, and an adult education program.
John and Vera Mae also organized their communities during the Civil Rights era. With marches, community action and bravely taking a stand in their own personal lives, John and Vera Mae led the way for civil disobedience. Their children were some of the first students to integrate their local schools and they sheltered the difficulties of that time together as a family.
John was brutally beaten by law enforcement during this time. He was imprisoned after he attempted to free black college students from Tougaloo College and Jackson State University who had been jailed for freedom marching with the Perkins.
Today, Mendenhall Ministries continues under the leadership of Artis & Carolyn Fletcher and Dr. Carrie Turner.