Better Business Bureau

Charity Contact Information BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments Programs

Tax Status Governance Fund Raising Financial

Name:	American Bible Society
Address:	1865 Broadway
	New York, NY 10023
Phone:	212-408-1200
Web Address:	www.americanbible.org

ABS meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

ABS operates programs such as its “ministry to the armed forces”. Through this program, ABS works closely with Christian churches and Christian communities. The organization reports that through this program, 10,680 Bibles have been sent to troops who requested them from their Chaplains. Furthermore, ABS reports providing through its "equipped for life program", 82,623 free Bibles and Scripture portions to VA Chaplains for veterans in their care. ABS also partners with relief organizations to provide food, water, clothing and shelter to those in need. The organization’s scripture publishing arm, Bibles.com makes available Bible resources in different translations and languages. ABS reports that in 2009, Bibles.com responded to the needs of about 19,000 churches, individuals, ministries, seminaries, bookstores and other national bible societies by providing more than 4.3 million Bibles and New Testaments. Furthermore, ABS also helped in funding the Museum of Biblical Art (MOBIA), a not-for-profit educational corporation which provides a new museum experience, interpreting art through the lens of Biblical religions, and understanding religions through artistic manifestations. Through ABS’ international ministry program, the organization partners with societies to extend its Bible outreach internationally.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, ABS' program expenses were:

Domestic distribution	47,943,625
Overseasdistribution	20,631,632
Total Program Expenses:	$68,575,257

Chief Executive : Dr. R. Lamar Vest, President and CEO

Compensation*:

$305,989

Highest Paid Executive: Richard Stewart, COO/CFO
Compensation*: $312,864

Chair of the Board: Reverend Dr. Dennis C. Dickerson
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Historiographer, Vanderbilt University

Board Size: 29

Paid Staff Size: 206

*July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, telemarketing, special events, print advertisements, radio, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, and membership appeals.

Fund raising costs were 31% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $42,417,345, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)

ABS incurred joint costs of $9,414,899 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs, $5,458,293 was allocated to fund raising expenses and $3,956,606 was allocated to program expenses.

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on ABS' audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009.

Source of Funds
Contributions and legacies	42,417,345
Scripture sales, net	8,160,344
Other income	3,806,420
Total Income	$54,384,109

Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 74%  Fund Raising: 14%  Administrative: 9%  Other Expenses: 3%

Total income				$54,384,109
	Program expenses			$68,575,257
	Fund raising expenses			13,119,292
	Administrative expenses			8,527,967
	Other Expenses			2,500,032
Total expenses				$92,722,548
Expenses in Excess of Income				(38,338,439)
Beginning net assets				468,447,592
Other Changes in Net Assets				(67,450,184)
Ending net assets				362,658,969
Total liabilities				151,871,454
Total assets				$514,530,423

Note 1: In the above financial summary, "other changes in net assets" in the amount ($-67,450,184) includes investment gains ($39,722,517), investment losses ($-104,854,315), depreciation in fair value of third party trusts ($-4,106,235), change in the value of split-interest agreements ($1,416,235), and pension related activity other than net periodic pension expense ($371,614).

Note 2: In the above financial summary, "other expenses" are nonoperating expenses.