Desiring God Ministries
Desiring God Ministries experiences recent operational deficits despite strong asset base and no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 10797083 · Minneapolis, MN · NTEE: X20 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $11.0M |
| Total Expenses | $10.6M |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $10M |
| Net Assets | $6.9M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Desiring God Ministries Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Desiring God Ministries directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Desiring God Ministries
Desiring God Ministries (EIN: 10797083) is a nonprofit organization based in Minneapolis, MN, classified under NTEE code X20. The organization reported total revenue of $11.0M and total assets of $7.5M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Desiring God Ministries's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Desiring God Ministries is a large nonprofit that has been operating for 21 years, with 14 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2024). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 5.4%.
Key Financial Metrics (2024)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $10.1M |
| Total Expenses | $10.6M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-476,595 |
| Total Assets | $7.5M |
| Total Liabilities | $598K |
| Net Assets | $6.9M |
| Operating Margin | -4.7% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 8.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 8.5 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2024, Desiring God Ministries reported a deficit of $477K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 8.5 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 8.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 14 years of filings (2011–2024), Desiring God Ministries's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +5.3% | -1.7% | -6.5% |
| 2023 | -0.7% | +17.3% | -7.6% |
| 2022 | +1.5% | +37.3% | +4.0% |
| 2021 | +25.9% | -1.1% | +46.8% |
| 2020 | +15.5% | +4.0% | +19.0% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 7000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2005 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Desiring God Ministries with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 10%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Desiring God Ministries allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 10%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2024)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $477K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 8.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no compensation is paid to officers, directors, trustees, or key employees, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size ($10M+ revenue) and suggests a volunteer-led or externally funded leadership structure.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Desiring God Ministries's IRS 990 filings:
- Expenses exceeding revenue in recent fiscal periods (202306 and 202406), indicating operational deficits.
- Unusually low (0%) reported officer compensation for an organization of this size, which may warrant further inquiry into how leadership is compensated or structured.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Desiring God Ministries:
- Strong asset base ($7,476,383 in 202406) significantly exceeding liabilities ($597,502), indicating financial resilience.
- Consistent revenue growth over the past decade, demonstrating increasing support and reach.
- No reported officer compensation, suggesting a highly efficient use of funds in this specific administrative area.
Frequently Asked Questions about Desiring God Ministries
Is Desiring God Ministries a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Desiring God Ministries (EIN: 10797083) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does Desiring God Ministries spend its money?
Desiring God Ministries directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Desiring God Ministries tax-deductible?
Desiring God Ministries is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 10797083). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Desiring God Ministries CEO make?
Desiring God Ministries's highest-compensated officer earns $10M annually. The organization reported $11.0M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Desiring God Ministries's spending goes to programs?
Desiring God Ministries directs 80% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Desiring God Ministries compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Desiring God Ministries is above average for NTEE category X20 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Desiring God Ministries located?
Desiring God Ministries is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota and files with the IRS under EIN 10797083. It is classified under NTEE code X20.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Desiring God Ministries have?
Desiring God Ministries has 14 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $11.0M in total revenue.
Is Desiring God Ministries experiencing long-term financial instability due to recent deficits?
While the organization has reported operational deficits in the 202306 and 202406 periods, its strong asset base ($7,476,383 in 202406) significantly outweighs its liabilities ($597,502), suggesting it has reserves to cover short-term deficits. However, a sustained trend of expenses exceeding revenue could impact long-term stability if not addressed.
How does Desiring God Ministries manage to operate with 0% officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation is highly unusual for an organization of this scale. This could indicate that leadership roles are filled by volunteers, compensated through a separate entity, or that compensation is structured in a way that doesn't fall under 'officer compensation' as defined by the IRS for Part VII of Form 990. Further investigation into the full 990 would be needed to understand the compensation structure for key personnel.
What is the trend in Desiring God Ministries' revenue growth?
Desiring God Ministries has shown significant revenue growth over the past decade, increasing from $4,814,446 in 201506 to $10,100,583 in 202406, indicating a strong and expanding donor base.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Desiring God Ministries showing financial trends over 14 years of public records:
Over 14 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2024), Desiring God Ministries's revenue has grown by 97.1%, moving from $5.1M to $10.1M. Total assets increased by 339.6% over the same period, from $1.7M to $7.5M. Total functional expenses rose by 107.6%, from $5.1M to $10.6M. In its most recent filing year (2024), Desiring God Ministries reported a deficit of $477K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $598K in liabilities against $7.5M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 8.0%), resulting in net assets of $6.9M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $10.1M | $10.6M | $7.5M | $598K | — | View 990 |
| 2023 | $9.6M | $10.8M | $8.0M | $851K | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $9.7M | $9.2M | $8.7M | $427K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $9.5M | $6.7M | $8.3M | $417K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $7.6M | $6.8M | $5.7M | $495K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $6.5M | $6.5M | $4.8M | $393K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $7.2M | $6.0M | $4.7M | $396K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $5.0M | $5.0M | $3.5M | $363K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $5.0M | $3.8M | $3.4M | $273K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $4.8M | $3.9M | $2.3M | $356K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $4.5M | $4.5M | $1.8M | $672K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $1.8M | $2.4M | $1.5M | $402K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $4.6M | $4.4M | $2.0M | $353K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $5.1M | $5.1M | $1.7M | $331K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2024: Revenue of $10.1M, expenses of $10.6M, and assets of $7.5M (revenue +5.3% year-over-year).
- 2023: Revenue of $9.6M, expenses of $10.8M, and assets of $8.0M (revenue -0.7% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $9.7M, expenses of $9.2M, and assets of $8.7M (revenue +1.5% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $9.5M, expenses of $6.7M, and assets of $8.3M (revenue +25.9% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $7.6M, expenses of $6.8M, and assets of $5.7M (revenue +15.5% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $6.5M, expenses of $6.5M, and assets of $4.8M (revenue -8.9% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $7.2M, expenses of $6.0M, and assets of $4.7M (revenue +42.5% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $5.0M, expenses of $5.0M, and assets of $3.5M (revenue +0.2% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $5.0M, expenses of $3.8M, and assets of $3.4M (revenue +4.5% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $4.8M, expenses of $3.9M, and assets of $2.3M (revenue +6.8% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $4.5M, expenses of $4.5M, and assets of $1.8M (revenue +148.8% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $1.8M, expenses of $2.4M, and assets of $1.5M (revenue -60.6% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $4.6M, expenses of $4.4M, and assets of $2.0M (revenue -10.2% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $5.1M, expenses of $5.1M, and assets of $1.7M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Desiring God Ministries:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Desiring God Ministries is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.