Cru

The information on this page was last updated 10/4/2024. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]


Summary

Cru is helping to fulfill the Great Commission in the power of the Holy Spirit by winning people to faith in Jesus Christ, building them in their faith and sending them to win and build others. Cru helps the body of Christ to do evangelism and discipleship in a variety of creative ways. Its ministry encompasses more than 190 countries, being carried out by more than 25,000 staff members. The ministry has more than 30 program ministries, such as Jesus Film Project, Josh McDowell Ministry, Cru Military, Athletes in Action, The Campus Ministry, Family Life and more. Their vision is to help build spiritual movements everywhere so everyone knows someone who truly follows Jesus Christ. Campus Crusade for Christ is a nonprofit organization and contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. In addition, it is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).


Contact information

Mailing address:
100 Lake Hart Dr
Orlando, FL 32832

Website: cru.org

Phone: (888) 278-7233

Email: [email protected]


Organization details

EIN: 956006173

CEO/President: Steve Sellers

Chairman: R. Barry Cannada

Board size: 8

Founder: Bill and Vonette Bright

Ruling year: 1951

Tax deductible: Yes

Fiscal year end: 08/31

Member of ECFA: Yes

Member of ECFA since: 1979


Purpose

Cru is a community passionate about connecting people to Jesus Christ.

Our purpose is helping to fulfill the Great Commission in the power of the Holy Spirit by winning people to faith in Jesus Christ, building them in their faith and sending them to win and build others.

We help the body of Christ to do evangelism and discipleship in a variety of creative ways.

We are committed to the centrality of the Cross, the truth of the Word, the power of the Holy Spirit and the global scope of the Great Commission. Read our Statement of Faith.

Cru offers spiritual guidance, resources and programs tailored to people from all cultures in every walk of life, including:

-- Campus ministries in 2,300 locations engaging more than 101,000 students and faculty members on U.S. college campuses.
-- Cru's city ministry, serving in over 35 cities and partnering with over 2,000 churches and organizations in mobilizing Christ-followers to share God's love throughout the city.
-- Weekend to Remember marriage getaways and other events sponsored by the Cru ministry FamilyLife, at which more than 4 million people in 109 countries have been trained.
-- Over 40 years, nearly 100 million people have heard Dennis and Barbara Rainey on their daily radio programs FamilyLife Today and Real FamilyLife, and others have found biblical help and hope online at FamilyLife.com, in their books and marriage devotionals, or by participating in a Homebuilders or Connect Series Bible study. David Robbins will succeed Dennis Rainey later this fall as president and CEO of FamilyLife.
-- Athletes in Action, Cru's sports ministry, which has outreaches in 64 countries, including at 225 college campuses and with 46 professional sports teams in the U.S. Its sports media touches the lives of an estimated 100 million people annually.
-- Cru Military, which ministers to military installations and communities in all 50 states, as well as deployed units (ships, flight lines and foxholes).
-- The "JESUS" film has been shown in more than 2,000 languages and in every nation in the world. To date, the Jesus Film Project is responsible for more than 8 billion exposures to the gospel and more than 570 million total estimated decisions for Christ.

Cru was originally founded as Campus Crusade for Christ in 1951 when Bill and Vonette Bright began the ministry on the UCLA campus. God gave Bill a vision of the total fulfillment of the Great Commission throughout the world. We are only a part of God's workforce to accomplish that vision, but we are passionate about playing our part and about helping others play theirs. From the beginning, we have sought to be a caring community on mission together.


Mission statement

Our Mission - Win, build and send Christ-centered multiplying disciples.

Our Vision - Movements everywhere so that everyone knows someone who truly follows Jesus. Our Values- Faith, Growth and Fruitfulness.


Statement of faith

The sole basis of our beliefs is the Bible, God's infallible written Word, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. We believe that it was uniquely, verbally and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit and that it was written without error (that is, it is inerrant) in the original manuscripts. It is the supreme and final authority in all matters on which it speaks.

We accept those areas of doctrinal teaching on which, historically, there has been general agreement among all true Christians. Because of the specialized calling of our movement, we desire to allow for freedom of conviction on other doctrinal matters, provided that any interpretation is based upon the Bible alone and that no such interpretation shall become an issue which hinders the ministry to which God has called us.

1. There is one true God, eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of Deity and the characteristics of personality.

2. Jesus Christ is God, the living Word, who became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. Hence, He is perfect Deity and true humanity united in one person forever.

3. He lived a sinless life and voluntarily atoned for human sins by dying on the cross as a substitute, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone.

4. He rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He lived and died.

5. He ascended bodily into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father, where He, the only mediator between God and humanity, continually makes intercession for His own.

6. Adam and Eve were originally created in the image of God. They sinned by disobeying God; thus, they were alienated from their Creator. That historic fall brought all people under divine condemnation.

7. Human nature is corrupted. As a result, all people are totally unable to please God. Everyone is in need of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

8. Salvation is wholly a work of God's free grace and is not the work, in whole or in part, of human works or goodness or religious ceremony. God imputes His righteousness to those who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation and thereby justifies them in His sight.

9. It is the privilege of all who are born again of the Spirit to be assured of their salvation from the very moment in which they trust Christ as their Savior. This assurance is not based upon any kind of human merit but is produced by the witness of the Holy Spirit, who confirms in the believer the testimony of God in His written word.

10.The Holy Spirit has come into the world to reveal and glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to individuals. He convicts and draws sinners to Christ, imparts new life to them, continually indwells them from the moment of spiritual birth and seals them until the day of redemption. His fullness, power and control are appropriated in the believer's life by faith.

11.Believers are called to live so in the power of the indwelling Spirit that they will not fulfill the lust of the flesh but will bear fruit to the glory of God.

12.Jesus Christ is the Head of the church, His body, which is composed of all people, living and dead, who have been joined to Him through saving faith.

13.God admonishes His people to assemble together regularly for worship, for participation in ordinances, for edification through the Scriptures and for mutual encouragement.

14.At physical death the believer enters immediately into eternal, conscious fellowship with the Lord and awaits the resurrection of the body to everlasting glory and blessing.

15.At physical death the unbeliever enters immediately into eternal, conscious separation from the Lord and awaits the resurrection of the body to everlasting judgment and condemnation.

16.Jesus Christ will come again to the earth - personally, visibly and bodily - to consummate history and the eternal plan of God.

17.The Lord Jesus Christ commanded all believers to proclaim the gospel throughout the world and to disciple people from every nation. The fulfillment of that Great Commission requires that all worldly and personal ambitions be subordinated to a total commitment to "Him who loved us and gave Himself for us."

Donor confidence score

This organization does not file a Form 990.

Show donor confidence score details

Transparency grade

C

To understand our transparency grade, click here.


Financial efficiency ratings

Sector: Fellowship Evangelism

CategoryRatingOverall rankSector rank
Overall efficiency rating512 of 109513 of 32
Fund acquisition rating730 of 109619 of 32
Resource allocation rating418 of 109611 of 32
Asset utilization rating443 of 109514 of 32

Click here to read Cru's response to our ratings


Financial ratios

Funding ratiosSector median20202019201820172016
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts =
Fundraising expense /
Total contributions
7%9%9%9%8%8%
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio =
Fundraising expense /
Total revenue
6%9%9%8%7%8%
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance =
Total contributions /
Total revenue
84%95%95%92%92%92%
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio =
Fundraising expense /
Total expenses
6%9%9%9%8%8%
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance =
Total other revenue /
Total revenue
16%5%5%8%8%8%
 
Operating ratiosSector median20202019201820172016
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio =
Program services /
Total expenses
82%83%84%84%85%84%
Spending ratio Spending ratio =
Total expenses /
Total revenue
91%95%97%95%97%97%
Program output ratio Program output ratio =
Program services /
Total revenue
74%79%81%79%82%82%
Savings ratio Savings ratio =
Surplus (deficit) /
Total revenue
9%5%3%5%3%3%
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate =
Surplus (deficit) /
Net assets
9%9%6%12%8%7%
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio =
Management and general expense /
Total expenses
11%7%7%7%7%8%
 
Investing ratiosSector median20202019201820172016
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total assets
1.081.171.411.491.621.68
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment =
Total assets /
Total current assets
1.431.091.131.151.171.20
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total current assets
1.651.281.601.711.892.02
 
Liquidity ratiosSector median20202019201820172016
Current ratio Current ratio =
Total current assets /
Total current liabilities
9.484.813.923.783.663.61
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio =
Total current liabilities /
Total current assets
0.110.210.250.260.270.28
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level =
(Total current assets -
Total current liabilities) /
(Total expenses / 12)
6.397.405.605.174.614.30
 
Solvency ratiosSector median20202019201820172016
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio =
Total liabilities /
Total assets
8%27%31%29%31%33%
Debt ratio Debt ratio =
Debt /
Total assets
0%0%0%0%0%0%
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio =
Net assets /
Total expenses
84%63%49%48%43%40%

Financials

Balance sheet
 
Assets20202019201820172016
Cash$95,026,000$65,589,000$56,260,000$51,506,000$63,074,000
Receivables, inventories, prepaids$31,715,000$32,140,000$30,700,000$29,159,000$28,853,000
Short-term investments$316,913,000$282,443,000$261,115,000$225,126,000$182,634,000
Other current assets$0$0$0$0$0
Total current assets$443,654,000$380,172,000$348,075,000$305,791,000$274,561,000
Long-term investments$0$0$0$0$0
Fixed assets$41,484,000$49,364,000$50,062,000$50,522,000$53,291,000
Other long-term assets$451,000$1,750,000$1,336,000$1,097,000$1,132,000
Total long-term assets$41,935,000$51,114,000$51,398,000$51,619,000$54,423,000
Total assets$485,589,000$431,286,000$399,473,000$357,410,000$328,984,000
 
Liabilities20202019201820172016
Payables and accrued expenses$42,818,000$50,321,000$52,914,000$45,548,000$43,291,000
Other current liabilities$49,324,000$46,566,000$39,129,000$38,019,000$32,801,000
Total current liabilities$92,142,000$96,887,000$92,043,000$83,567,000$76,092,000
Debt$606,000$512,000$550,000$590,000$660,000
Due to (from) affiliates$0$0$0$0$0
Other long-term liabilities$36,483,000$34,818,000$21,864,000$26,539,000$32,082,000
Total long-term liabilities$37,089,000$35,330,000$22,414,000$27,129,000$32,742,000
Total liabilities$129,231,000$132,217,000$114,457,000$110,696,000$108,834,000
 
Net assets20202019201820172016
Without donor restrictions$341,350,000$284,148,000$270,801,000$233,888,000$211,775,000
With donor restrictions$15,008,000$14,921,000$14,215,000$12,826,000$8,375,000
Net assets$356,358,000$299,069,000$285,016,000$246,714,000$220,150,000
 
Revenues and expenses
 
Revenue20202019201820172016
Total contributions$570,109,000$590,924,000$578,159,000$549,316,000$526,287,000
Program service revenue$20,121,000$21,204,000$21,802,000$21,674,000$22,806,000
Membership dues$0$0$0$0$0
Investment income$0$0$0$0$0
Other revenue$9,849,000$12,499,000$27,500,000$27,419,000$20,708,000
Total other revenue$29,970,000$33,703,000$49,302,000$49,093,000$43,514,000
Total revenue$600,079,000$624,627,000$627,461,000$598,409,000$569,801,000
 
Expenses20202019201820172016
Program services$474,799,000$508,896,000$497,147,000$492,248,000$466,384,000
Management and general$42,218,000$44,102,000$43,879,000$42,191,000$43,883,000
Fundraising$52,726,000$53,809,000$53,277,000$43,601,000$43,212,000
Total expenses$569,743,000$606,807,000$594,303,000$578,040,000$553,479,000
 
Change in net assets20202019201820172016
Surplus (deficit)$30,336,000$17,820,000$33,158,000$20,369,000$16,322,000
Other changes in net assets$26,953,000($3,767,000)$5,144,000$6,195,000$39,396,000
Total change in net assets$57,289,000$14,053,000$38,302,000$26,564,000$55,718,000

Compensation

Compensation data for this ministry has not been collected.


Response from ministry

Cru has chosen not to file Form 990 because it requires us to disclose in a public manner information which we believe violates the privacy of our donors and our missionaries outside of the US.


The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 10/4/2024. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]


History

Cru was founded in 1951 by William R. "Bill" Bright, with a commitment to the Lord's Great Commission found in Matthew 28:18-20. As a student at Fuller Theological Seminary, studying late one night for a Greek exam, Bill Bright received a unique impression from God to invest his life in helping reach the entire world, starting with college students. A professor friend suggested "Campus Crusade for Christ" as the name of the new ministry. In the fall, Bill and his wife, Vonette, started Campus Crusade (now known as Cru in the U.S.) at UCLA with the backing of a 24-hour prayer chain. You can see an extensive historical review of Cru on their website here:

https://www.cru.org/us/en/about/what-we-do.html

When Cru began, its strategies and materials were radical and relevant to the culture of the day. As society has changed, Cru has continued to develop and discover new strategies and materials to communicate the message of Jesus Christ just as effectively today as it did on the UCLA campus in 1951. Whether it's new ministries, new strategies, or a new look for old materials, Cru staff members continue to target their wide variety of audiences.


Program accomplishments

Cru has become one of the largest Christian organizations in the world.

Its ministry encompasses more than 190 countries, being carried out by more than 25,000 staff members. To view an extensive list of the ministries that make up Cru, visit here: https://www.cru.org/us/en/communities.html

Here is a list of Cru's United States Ministries:

  • Arrowhead Conferences and Events
    Arrowhead Conferences and Events is Cru's meeting planning ministry. ACE serves Cru and other Christian ministries with their conference planning needs - from staff retreats to multi-city and city-wide major events.
    Arrowhead Conferences and Events
    300 East State Street, Suite 220
    Redlands, CA 92373
    (442) 223-0201
    [email protected]
  • Athletes in Action
    Reaching the United States and resourcing the world through the influence of sports. www.athletesinaction.org
    Athletes in Action
    651 Taylor Drive
    Xenia, OH 45385
    (937) 352-1000
    [email protected]
  • Campus
    Partnering with the whole body of Christ to reach the world's university students with the gospel, turning lost students into Christ-centered laborers. Cru.org/campus
    The Campus Ministry
    Cru
    100 Lake Hart Drive, #2500
    Orlando, FL 32832
    (407) 826-2500
  • Christian Embassy - New York
    Reaching diplomatic leaders with the gospel in New York. www.ce-un.org/
  • Christian Embassy - Washington, D.C.
    Reaching government, military and diplomatic leaders with the gospel, in Washington D.C.
    4601 N. Fairfax Dr. 1200
    Arlington, VA 22203
    202-929-9059
    www.christianembassy.com
  • City
    Kingdom citizens advancing the mission of Jesus for the well-being of the city. Cru.org/city
    100 Lake Hart Dr. Dept. 5200
    Orlando, FL 32832
    (407) 826-2089
  • Faculty Commons
    Reaching and equipping professors to reach their colleagues. www.facultycommons.com
    Faculty Commons
    2001 W. Plano Parkway, Suite 2700
    Plano, TX 75075
    (973) 516-0516
    [email protected]
  • FamilyLife
    Equipping couples and individuals to build godly homes through FamilyLife Conferences (marriage, parenting and urban), Homebuilders Bible Studies and "FamilyLife Today" radio broadcasts. www.familylife.com
    FamilyLife
    100 Lake Hart Drive
    Orlando, FL 32832
    1-800-FLTODAY (1-800-358-6329)
  • High School
    Reaching high school students for Christ. www.cruhighschool.com
  • Inner City
    Mobilizing urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs in the inner city. cru.org/innercity
    Inner City
    2112 Broadway St. NE Suite 100
    Minneapolis, MN 55413
    (612) 338-0999
    [email protected]
  • The Impact Movement
    A partnering ministry building spiritual movements within the African-American community and among people of African descent worldwide. www.impactmovement.com
    The Impact Movement
    P.O. Box 607803
    Orlando, FL 32860
    445 North Wymore Road
    Winter Park, FL 32789
    (888) 672-2896
    [email protected]
  • Jesus Film Project
    Helping to provide media tools, training, strategies and resources for abundant follow through evangelism in every needed language. www.jesusfilm.org
    Jesus Film Project®
    100 Lake Hart Drive
    Orlando, FL 32832
    (407) 826-2300
    Jesus Film Mission Trips
    www.JesusFilmMissionTrips.org
    1-866-622-8747
    [email protected]
  • Josh McDowell Ministry
    Winning people worldwide to Christ and convincing them of the credibility of Christianity and attractiveness and reasonableness of a Biblical lifestyle. www.josh.org
    Josh McDowell Ministry
    2001 W. Plano Parkway, Suite 2400
    Plano, TX 75075
    (972) 907-1000, Fax (972) 669-1542
  • Medical Strategic Network
    A partnering ministry with Cru that equips medical professionals to strategically penetrate their spheres of influence with the gospel. www.medSn.org
    Medical Strategic Network
    P.O. Box 2052
    Redlands, CA 92373
    (760) 249-6761
    [email protected]
  • Cru Military
    Bringing hope and resources to the military worldwide. www.crumilitary.org
    Cru Military
    750 Middle Ground Boulevard
    Newport News, VA 23606-2587
    1-800-444-6006
  • Momentum Europe (International)
    Raising up prayer, partners and resources to help ignite and resource spiritual awakening in Europe. www.momentumeurope.net
    Momentum Europe
    100 Lake Hart Dr. Suite 4200
    Orlando, FL 32832
    407-826-2483
    [email protected]
  • NewLife Resources
    Serving churches and ministering to Christians with tools for building effective ministry. www.crustore.org
    New Life Resources
    (770) 631-9940
  • StoryRunners
    Planting churches among unreached people groups by the power of God's word in form of Bible stories. www.storyrunners.org
    StoryRunners
    100 Lake Hart Drive #1100
    Orlando, FL 32832
    (407) 826-2396
    [email protected]
  • Unto®
    Helping you express the kindness of Jesus through humanitarian aid. unto.com
    Unto
    2001 West Plano Parkway, Suite 2200
    Plano, TX 75075
    (972) 234-0800
    [email protected]
  • World Headquarters at Lake Hart
    Providing vital services and strategic resources to accelerate the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
    Cru Global
    World Headquarters at Lake Hart
    100 Lake Hart Drive
    Orlando, FL 32832
    888-278-7233

Needs

Each ministry of Cru, as well as individual staff members, gather a team of people who fund the work to which God has called us. Our efforts are only made possible through the generous donations and prayers of people like you, vital partners in ministry.

To find answers to many general questions, you may explore the following links:

-- Give online using your bank account or credit account
-- View your giving history (requires prior online account activation) -- Start or change a recurring gift
-- Change your address, phone or e-mail (requires prior online account activation) -- Give stock or other non-cash gifts
-- Planned giving including wills, trusts and annuities
-- Make a credit card donation by phone at (888) 278-7233
-- Mail a check to: "Cru" or "Campus Crusade for Christ", P.O. Box 628222, Orlando, FL 32862-8222. (Please include on a separate slip of paper the Cru staff member or ministry you wish to benefit from your gift)

We would like to assist you with any questions, concerns, or feedback you have. To speak with someone, you can call our Donation Services at (888) 278-7233 between 9-5 p.m., Eastern Time.

We seek to maintain the highest standards of integrity before the Lord and before you. We invite you to read our stewardship guidelines which give an overview of our organizational donation policies. Among the topics are our commitment to biblical stewardship, guidelines on donor confidentiality, and much more.

Cru invites you to locate a ministry near you:

https://www.cru.org/us/en/communities/locations.html