United Bible Societies 
The information on this page was last updated 1/5/2024. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
The United Bible Societies (UBS) is the collective name for our fellowship of 146 individual Bible Societies working in over 200 countries and territories. From wherever and however they operate, Bible Societies all share the mission of placing the Word of God in the hearts and minds of the people they serve.
We're constantly innovating and partnering with like-minded organisations to ensure people around the world are able to access the Bible in a format that is accessible and engaging for them.
Our Digital Bible Library® is one example of this. Through this backend digital curation of thousands of translations, partners like YouVersion are able to make these available to audiences of more than 5.6 billion people around the world.
Our literacy training helps around 100,000 people across the globe every year to learn basic reading and writing skills.
Contact information
Mailing address:
United Bible Societies
STONEHILL GREEN WESTLEA
Swindon Wiltshire, Sn5 7pj
Website: unitedbiblesocieties.org
Phone:
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 980428633
CEO/President: Rev. Dr. Robert Cunville / Dick Gevers
Chairman: Elaine Duncan - Chair of Fellowship Council
Board size: 7
Founder: William Wilberforce
Ruling year: 2006
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
We've translated the entire Bible into the languages of more than half of the world's population. That's around 70 percent of all Bible translations that exist today. Yet there are still so many people waiting for a Bible translation in their own language, including the users of all but one of the roughly 400 sign languages around the world.
Our goal over the next 20 years is, by God's provision, to complete 1200 translation projects, which will provide around 600 million people with access to Scripture.
Mission statement
The objective of the Association is to promote the widest possible effective distribution and use of the Bible or any parts of the Bible throughout the world, including translation into any language or languages, printing and publication of the Bible or anypart of the Bible.
Statement of faith
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
D
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Bible Translation Organizations
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 174 of 1123 | 3 of 18 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 102 of 1124 | 2 of 18 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 11 of 1124 | 2 of 18 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 854 of 1123 | 10 of 18 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 97% | 90% | 92% | 92% | 96% | 91% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 7% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 3% | 10% | 8% | 8% | 4% | 9% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 83% | 97% | 97% | 95% | 94% | 95% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 96% | 98% | 95% | 95% | 89% | 98% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 77% | 95% | 91% | 91% | 84% | 93% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 4% | 2% | 5% | 5% | 11% | 2% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 10% | 1% | 3% | 2% | 6% | 2% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 9% | 3% | 3% | 5% | 6% | 5% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.98 | 0.44 | 0.41 | 0.36 | 0.40 | 0.56 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.48 | 1.09 | 1.13 | 1.11 | 1.07 | 1.08 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.47 | 0.48 | 0.46 | 0.40 | 0.42 | 0.61 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 6.56 | 4.35 | 3.75 | 4.42 | 5.22 | 4.65 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.11 | 0.23 | 0.27 | 0.23 | 0.19 | 0.21 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 3.41 | 19.30 | 19.07 | 23.18 | 22.94 | 15.55 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 15% | 21% | 24% | 21% | 20% | 23% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 68% | 180% | 187% | 219% | 201% | 138% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Cash | $46,422,123 | $48,422,592 | $51,350,598 | $39,443,410 | $34,917,145 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $23,149,061 | $22,236,460 | $14,908,119 | $21,010,556 | $19,500,356 |
| Short-term investments | $34,442,100 | $29,905,874 | $37,985,897 | $35,796,131 | $32,119,028 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $104,013,284 | $100,564,926 | $104,244,614 | $96,250,097 | $86,536,529 |
| Long-term investments | $3,459,619 | $4,340,377 | $4,871,259 | $5,020,793 | $5,227,215 |
| Fixed assets | $1,421,947 | $1,457,308 | $1,486,509 | $1,523,784 | $1,598,111 |
| Other long-term assets | $4,856,603 | $7,408,827 | $5,015,800 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $9,738,169 | $13,206,512 | $11,373,568 | $6,544,577 | $6,825,326 |
| Total assets | $113,751,453 | $113,771,438 | $115,618,182 | $102,794,674 | $93,361,855 |
| Liabilities | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $22,652,159 | $24,389,182 | $22,575,688 | $18,435,794 | $17,518,539 |
| Other current liabilities | $1,238,803 | $2,425,199 | $987,656 | $0 | $1,079,844 |
| Total current liabilities | $23,890,962 | $26,814,381 | $23,563,344 | $18,435,794 | $18,598,383 |
| Debt | $123,515 | $132,086 | $140,658 | $178,847 | $194,218 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $100,000 | $103,062 | $568,033 | $2,305,334 | $2,265,169 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $223,515 | $235,148 | $708,691 | $2,484,181 | $2,459,387 |
| Total liabilities | $24,114,477 | $27,049,529 | $24,272,035 | $20,919,975 | $21,057,770 |
| Net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Without donor restrictions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| With donor restrictions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assets | $89,636,976 | $86,721,909 | $91,346,147 | $81,874,699 | $72,304,085 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Total contributions | $45,741,538 | $45,154,286 | $40,334,656 | $43,800,495 | $48,705,058 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $2,453,902 | $1,768,020 | $2,148,335 | ($89,648) | $1,924,359 |
| Other revenue | $2,660,730 | $2,116,255 | $1,377,134 | $2,020,628 | $3,073,318 |
| Total other revenue | $5,114,632 | $3,884,275 | $3,525,469 | $1,930,980 | $4,997,677 |
| Total revenue | $50,856,170 | $49,038,561 | $43,860,125 | $45,731,475 | $53,702,735 |
| Expenses | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Program services | $48,440,560 | $44,795,498 | $39,839,448 | $38,342,107 | $49,829,375 |
| Management and general | $1,374,056 | $1,601,899 | $1,931,321 | $2,370,217 | $2,605,347 |
| Fundraising | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total expenses | $49,814,616 | $46,397,397 | $41,770,769 | $40,712,324 | $52,434,722 |
| Change in net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $1,041,554 | $2,641,164 | $2,089,356 | $5,019,151 | $1,268,013 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $1,041,554 | $2,641,164 | $2,089,356 | $5,019,151 | $1,268,013 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Professor Alexander Schweitzer | Executive Director Global Bible Ministry | $151,723 |
| Steven Voth | Head of Translation Skills Facilitation | $149,167 |
| Elsbeth Scherrer | Director of Global Bible Publishing | $143,871 |
| Andrew Warren-Rothlin | Translation Roadmap Coordinator | $137,281 |
| Adrian White | Chief Operating Officer | $132,033 |
| Steven Berneking | Director of Bible Ministry Technology | $130,823 |
| Dirk Gevers | Director General | $112,639 |
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 1/5/2024. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
William Wilberforce helped found the first Bible Society while working tirelessly for the abolition of the slave trade and the emancipation of slaves in Britain in 1804.
In 1946, immediately following World War II, a movement that had grown to little more than a dozen Bible Societies came together to found the global fellowship of 'United Bible Societies'.
Today, by God's grace, United Bible Societies (UBS) has grown to become one of the most globally expansive not-for-profits in the world.