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Our Finances
Why You Can Give to Hope Ministries with Confidence
• Hope Ministries' Honored for Financial Integrity
How We Are Funded
Our Privacy Policy
Association of Gospel Rescue Missions
Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability
Donor Bill of Rights
HOW WE ARE FUNDED
Hope Ministries is a privately funded, Christ-centered, nondenominational, 501 (c) 3 tax-exempt nonprofit organization.
Hope Ministries relies solely on the generosity of individuals, businesses, churches, foundations, and a variety of civic, social and community organizations in our community to support this life-giving ministry. Over 90% of our annual private support comes from faithful individual donors who send their generous gifts through the mail.
We choose not to receive ANY government funds that compromise our mission, in order to share the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone who comes through our doors. We also choose not to participate in United Way because of limitations surrounding the time of year a participating organization may solicit funds. We do however receive funds through United Way when donors list Hope Ministries as their “designated charity” on their United Way pledge form. So while we don’t receive the money available through government subsidized programs and grants, we are blessed with a community of donors that rival any in the country.
Donors’ gifts to Hope Ministries are the catalyst for connecting God’s people to a ministry of love and care for those who feel hopeless right here in the mission field in our back yard – Des Moines and Central Iowa. And through their giving, donors experience the joy and fulfillment of serving God and seeing lives changed.
Donors make this ministry possible. Without these gifts from the generous hearts of those who care, thousands of men, women, and children would remain hungry and without shelter every day. Your giving has a tremendous impact on the lives of every person who comes to us for help and hope. Thank you for your prayers, love, compassion and belief in this ministry.
We consider ourselves partners in ministry with our donors, and that is why stewardship of God’s resources is one of Hope Ministries’ three core values.
At Hope Ministries, our budget is lean. We do everything possible to minimize administrative costs and place most of our funds into programs and services that assist homeless and hurting men, women and children. In recent years, we have steadily expanded use of volunteers, which has increased community involvement and allowed us to limit paid staff positions while maintaining quality. In-kind contributions (food and clothing) also have a corresponding affect on our bottom line.
When added together our general, administrative and resource development costs, are well within the acceptable standards of the Better Business Bureau, The Combined Federal Campaign as well as the Evangelical Council on Financial Accountability for nonprofit organizations.
For information on how you can help, go to DONATE ON-LINE.
Our Privacy Policy
You can be assured that all of your contributions are kept confidential with Hope Ministries. We will not sell, lend, share or otherwise use your name with any outside agency.
Association of Gospel Rescue Missions
 Hope Ministries has been a member in good standing of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions since 1976. The AGRM exists to promote cooperation among missions; develop high standards of Gospel, relief work and rehabilitation; prevent duplication; and provide training and other programs to its members.
Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA)
A higher standard. A higher purpose.
 At Hope Ministries, we believe financial integrity and accountability is paramount and want our donors to be confident in our use of their funds including our accounting practices.
Hope Ministries is a member in good standing of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, the nation’s pre-eminent standards body for financial accountability in Christian organizations.
ECFA is committed to helping Christ-centered organizations earn the public's trust through developing and maintaining standards of accountability and financial practices that convey God-honoring ethical practices. Qualifying for membership requires a rigorous initial application process.
To sustain membership status in good standing, ECFA requires extensive annual reporting and documentation showing strict adherence to their seven standards, an annual audit by an independent accounting firm and periodic unannounced ECFA audits. Displaying the ECFA symbol is a privilege reserved for members only. ECFA also sets specific guidelines for fundraising appeals, which Hope Ministries has pledged to follow. Visit the ECFA web site to learn about those guidelines.
To learn more about the ECFA, log on to www.ecfa.org.
ECFA is an accreditation agency dedicated to helping Christian ministries earn the public’s trust through adherence to seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship.
Every member organization shall
1. subscribe to a written statement of faith clearly affirming its commitment to the evangelical Christian faith and shall conduct its financial and other operations in a manner which reflects those generally accepted biblical truths and practices.
2. be governed by a responsible board of not less than five individuals, a majority of whom shall be independent, which shall meet at least semi-annually to establish policy and review its accomplishments, and shall review the annual audit and maintain direct communication between the board and the independent certified public accountants.
3. obtain an annual audit performed by an independent certified public accounting
4. exercise management and financial controls necessary to ensure resources are used in conformity with applicable federal and state laws and regulations to accomplish the exempt purposes for which they are intended.
5. provide a copy of its current audited financial statements upon written request and provide other disclosures as the law may require.
6. avoid conflicts of interest.
7. comply with each of the ECFA Standards for Fund-Raising.
Hope Ministries subscribes to the Donor Bill of Rights
The Donor Bill of Rights was created by the American Association of Fund Raising Counsel (AAFRC), Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). It has been endorsed by numerous organizations.
Philanthropy is based on voluntary action for the common good. It is a tradition of giving and sharing that is primary to the quality of life. To ensure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public, and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the nonprofit organizations and causes they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights:
I. To be informed of the organization's mission, of the way the organization intends to use donated resources, and of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes.
II. To be informed of the identity of those serving on the organization's governing board, and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities.
III. To have access to the organization's most recent financial statements.
IV. To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given.
V. To receive appropriate acknowledgement and recognition.
VI. To be assured that information about their donation is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law.
VII. To expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature.
VIII. To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organization or hired solicitors.
IX. To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share.
X. To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers.
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