Circle Urban Ministries

Transparency
Grade:

Rating
Sector:

Community Development

5 Star Financial
Efficiency Rating:

Total
Revenue:

$2,494,164

Total
Expenses:

$2,833,746

Net
Assets:

$1,924,667

Profile Changes

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Profile Contents

Organizational Details
Ministry Purpose
Program Accomplishments
Statement of Faith
History
Ministry Needs

Research Analysis

Transparency Grade
Analyst Comments
Ministry Statement or Response

Financial Information

Balance Sheet, Revenue and Assets

Age Size Box:

	>50
Yr(s)	25-50
	<25
		<$1m	$1m- $5m	>$5m

Summary

Circle Urban Ministries, Inc. ("CRCL") is an Illinois based organization that was incorporated in 1981. Its stated purpose is to provide quality professional services in a Christian environment by developing and fostering Christian service programs committed to assisting low income individuals and families primarily on the West side of Chicago. CRCL operates primarily on contributions and grants. The programs currently offered by CRCL include providing food, clothing, shelter and emergency care; counseling and job training for the unemployed; youth leadership development, education and evangelism, economic development, and a small elementary preparatory school for kindergarten through fourth grade. CRCL includes Circle Christian Development Corporation ("CCDC”) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Austin Real Estate and Investment Corporation ("AREIC"), and Circle Automotive Industries, Inc. ("CAI"). CCDC, a nonprofit corporation, is the owner, general partner and manager of certain inner city ministry-related properties through AREIC. CCDC's purpose is to develop rental properties for low and moderate-income tenants. CAI provides job training assistance to Chicago's Austin community residents. This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. This ministry is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).

Contact Information: [ Back to top ]

Mailing Address:	118 N Central Ave. Chicago, IL 60644-3199
Website:	www.circleurban.org
Phone:	(773) 921-1446
Email:	You need to enable javascript to see the email

Organization Details [ Back to top ]

EIN: 363136997

CEO/President:	Rev. Abraham L. Washington	Tax Deductible:	Yes
Chairman:	Rev. Abraham L. Washington	Fiscal Year End:	June 30
Board Size:	7	Financial info from:
Founder:		Member of ECFA:	Yes
Year Founded:	1974	Member of ECFA since:	1998

Purpose [ Back to top ]

Circle Urban Ministries, Inc. ("CRCL") is an Illinois based organization that was incorporated in 1981. Its stated purpose is to provide quality professional services in a Christian environment by developing and fostering Christian service programs committed to assisting low income individuals and families primarily on the West side of Chicago.

CRCL operates primarily on contributions and grants. The programs currently offered by CRCL include providing food, clothing, shelter and emergency care; counseling and job training for the unemployed; youth leadership development, education and evangelism, economic development, and a small elementary preparatory school for kindergarten through fourth grade.

CRCL includes Circle Christian Development Corporation ("CCDC") and its wholly owned subsidiary, Austin Real Estate and Investment Corporation ("AREIC"), and Circle Automotive Industries, Inc. ("CAI"). CCDC, a nonprofit corporation, is the owner, general partner and manager of certain inner city ministry-related properties through AREIC. CCDC's purpose is to develop rental properties for low and moderate-income tenants. CAI provides job training assistance to Chicago's Austin community residents. This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. This ministry is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).

Mission Statement [ Back to top ]

Need Mission Statement

Program Accomplishments [ Back to top ]

In 1998, Circle Family Care ("CFC") doctors saw 3500 patients at their clinic, made over 70 home and nursing home visits and over 1400 hospital visits. 4389 families (9903 people) went home with bags of food from CRCL. Over 120 youth and children participated in CRCL's after-school program and summer day camp. 102 children, grades K-3, were taught at Circle-Rock Preparatory School. CRCL chaplains counseled 36 families, made 200 hospital visits and introduced 390 people to Christ. 20 children who were behind in skills received one-on-one tutoring, with each of those children advancing through to the next grade level. 40 families (237 family members) found a home and a place to "spread their wings" in CRCL's "Eagle Nest" shelter. 28 adult learners progressed through various levels of literacy up from 12 students at the beginning of the year.

Statement of Faith [ Back to top ]

This profile needs a statement of faith

History [ Back to top ]

Need History Info

Ministry Needs [ Back to top ]

This organization has not offered MinistryWatch.com with specific needs to be posted on the profile. At such a time that MinistryWatch.com receives a response from the ministry, it will be posted immediately.

Research Analysis

Transparency Grade [ Back to top ]

Transparency Grade of : A
Criteria category	Grade	Other Comments
Timeliness:	100
Financial Information:	100
Foundational Clarity:
Level of Cooperation:

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MinistryWatch.com 5 Star Financial Efficiency Ratings [ Back to top ]

This ministry has not been rated

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Financial Snapshot

The overall 5 Star Financial Efficiency Rating is a summarization of the rating system’s three efficiency areas. The three efficiency areas are Fund Acquisition, Resource Allocation and Asset Utilization.
In the Fund Acquisition area of the rating system, Circle was among the lowest 25% of all rated ministries. During fiscal year 2002, Circle spent $236 thousand to raise $1.7 million; thus fundraising consumed nearly 14 cents of each contributed dollar (9 cents is average.)
Circle had an average rating in the Resource Allocation portion of the rating system. Their functional expenses as a percentage of total expense for fiscal year 2002 were as follows: Program Expense 77%, Management and General Expense 15%, and Fundraising Expense 8%. The average expense composition for the MinistryWatch database is Program Expense 79%, Management and General Expense 14%, and Fundraising Expense 7%.
From fiscal year 2001 to 2002, Circle’s revenue increased by 3% or about $70 thousand, and their program expenses increased by 5% or about $119 thousand. They used about $1.3 million or 53% of program expenditures for their Circle-Rock Preparatory School. Also, program expenditures related to Circle Christian Development Corporation increased by about $223 thousand or 55% from fiscal year 2001 to fiscal year 2002.
In addition, their management and general expenses increased by about $114 thousand or 42%; most of the increase was due to increases “building expenses,” “office expenses,” and “depreciation expense.” This contributed to their fiscal year 2002 deficit of more than $341 thousand.
As of July 8, 2003, Circle had a below average asset utilization rating. (Asset utilization gauges organizations’ spending verses asset accumulation by comparing total expenses and total assets. In theory, all things being equal, an organization that spends more meets current needs better than one that maintains more assets.) During fiscal year 2002, Circle spent about $3.2 million and had about $3.1 million in assets at year-end. About 75% of their assets are “land, buildings, and equipment.”

Analyst Comments [ Back to top ]

MinistryWatch.com's Take

Ministry Statement or Response [ Back to top ]

Financial Information:

Financials[ Back to top ]

Balance Sheet
Assets	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000
Cash	$360,463	$687,380	$476,662	$696,857	$809,543
Receivables, Inventories & Prepaids	$401,659	$359,449	$298,583	$358,177	$322,798
Short-Term Investments	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Other Current Assets	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Total Current Assets	$762,122	$1,046,829	$775,245	$1,055,034	$1,132,341
Long-Term Investments	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Fixed Assets	$1,312,278	$1,403,077	$2,325,169	$2,457,033	$2,763,175
Other Long-Term Assets	$4,987	$0	$0	$0	$0
Total Long-Term Assets	$1,317,265	$1,403,077	$2,325,169	$2,457,033	$2,763,175
TOTAL ASSETS	$2,079,387	$2,449,906	$3,100,414	$3,512,067	$3,895,516
Liabilities	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000
Payables & Accrued Expenses	$114,948	$152,468	$228,974	$183,001	$289,386
Other Current Liabilities	$31,724	$21,897	$685,806	$475,072	$207,470
Total Current Liabilities	$146,672	$174,365	$914,780	$658,073	$496,856
Debt	$0	$0	$181,515	$508,307	$883,131
Due To (From) Affiliates	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$8,048	$11,292	$0	$0	$0
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$8,048	$11,292	$181,515	$508,307	$883,131
TOTAL LIABILITIES	$154,720	$185,657	$1,096,295	$1,166,380	$1,379,987
Assets	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000
Unrestricted	$1,894,923	$2,200,738	$1,830,410	$2,249,900	$2,371,482
Temporarily Restricted	$29,744	$63,511	$173,709	$95,787	$144,047
Permanently Restricted	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
NET ASSETS	$1,924,667	$2,264,249	$2,004,119	$2,345,687	$2,515,529
Revenue and Expenses
Revenue	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000
Total Contributions	$1,537,609	$1,891,955	$1,745,069	$1,504,630	$1,986,888
Program Service Revenue	$89,003	$107,262	$128,857	$250,691	$591,506
Membership Dues	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Investment Income	$4,530	$5,460	$16,225	$22,567	($34,033)
Other Revenue	$863,022	$1,341,653	$939,962	$982,616	$422,802
Total Other Revenue	$956,555	$1,454,375	$1,085,044	$1,255,874	$980,275
TOTAL REVENUE	$2,494,164	$3,346,330	$2,830,113	$2,760,504	$2,967,163
Expenses	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000
Program Services	$2,466,872	$2,417,827	$2,454,843	$2,336,001	$2,092,303
Management & General	$153,433	$460,868	$480,536	$339,123	$351,270
Fundraising	$213,441	$207,505	$236,302	$255,222	$157,411
TOTAL EXPENSES	$2,833,746	$3,086,200	$3,171,681	$2,930,346	$2,600,984
Change in Net Assets	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000
SURPLUS (DEFICIT)	($339,582)	$260,130	($341,568)	($169,842)	$366,179
Other Changes in Net Assets	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
TOTAL CHANGE IN NET ASSETS	($339,582)	$260,130	($341,568)	($169,842)	$366,179