LIFE ACTION MINISTRIES Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

LIFE ACTION MINISTRIES

EIN 38-2157686 · Religion-Related N.E.C. (X99)

What they do

WE LEAD BELIEVERS THROUGH A PRACTICAL, BIBLICAL PROCESS of REVITALIZING THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD and RECONCILING THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH OTHER, HELPING THEM to BECOME AGENTS of TRANSFORMATION IN THEIR COMMUNITIE

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $61.80 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2022The report may be old. Ask for a newer one.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders21 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

63.94%of revenue went to mission work61.8% of expenses · Program services

5.89%of revenue went to fundraising5.7% of expenses

$103.43spent for every $100 of revenueSpending was higher than revenue this year.

33.59%of revenue went to management and office costs32.5% of expenses

$0.67in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

82.5%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Worth asking: Expenses exceeded revenue by $675,586 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $187,038 for JOHN AVANT (PRESIDENT). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2022

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$19,695,195

Mission workProgram services$12,593,56663.94% of revenue61.8% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$6,616,49333.59% of revenue32.5% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$1,160,7225.89% of revenue5.7% of expenses

Total expenses$20,370,781103.43% of revenue

Expenses were greater than revenue, so the colored ring fills the available $100 and the total above 100% is shown below.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2022CurrentExpense mix: 61.8% mission · 32.5% management · 5.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 103.43% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 82.2% mission · 13.3% management · 4.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 86.00% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 81.4% mission · 13.7% management · 4.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 100.39% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 80.8% mission · 13.5% management · 5.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 102.59% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 81.4% mission · 12.9% management · 5.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 99.79% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 82.1% mission · 12.3% management · 5.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 100.83% of revenue

2016Expense mix: 83.5% mission · 11.8% management · 4.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 103.49% of revenue

2015Expense mix: 82.1% mission · 12.3% management · 5.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 97.47% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$19,695,195

Expenses$20,370,781

Annual shortfall $675,586 Expenses were higher than revenue for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$12,593,566 · 61.8% of expenses

Management and office costs$6,616,493 · 32.5% of expenses

Fundraising$1,160,722 · 5.7% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$19,695,195

Expenses$20,370,781

Assets$13,637,735

Income$20,309,858

Contributions$16,258,069

Mission work (program services)$12,593,566

Fundraising$1,160,722

Grants given$914,311

Average grant$16,624

Management and general$6,616,493

Stocks and bonds$4,408,744

Accounting fees$136,630

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2022

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

JOHN AVANTPRESIDENT · 40 hrs/week $187,038

DONNELL VANKERCEO / EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR · 40 hrs/week $164,127

NANCY DEMOSS WOLGEMUTHPRESIDENT REVIVE OUR HEARTS · 40 hrs/week $139,248

MARTIN JONESSECRETARY/TREASURER PART YEAR · 40 hrs/week $127,383

BYRON PAULUSPRESIDENT ONECRY · 40 hrs/week $114,914

AARON PAULUSCHIEF MARKETING OFFICER · 40 hrs/week $103,260

DELBERT FEHSENFELD IIICHIEF PASTORAL OFFICER PART YEAR · 40 hrs/week $88,594

MIKE LEECHIEF IMPACT OFFICER · 40 hrs/week $73,527

MEREDITH MILLERCHIEF PEOPLE AND CULTURE OFFICER · 40 hrs/week $70,561

RICHARD CUMMINSCAO SECRETARY PART YEAR · 40 hrs/week $67,773

IRA THOMPSONCFO TREASURER PART YEAR · 40 hrs/week $42,897

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (21)

JOHN AVANTPRESIDENT

DONNELL VANKERCEO / EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

NANCY DEMOSS WOLGEMUTHPRESIDENT REVIVE OUR HEARTS

MARTIN JONESSECRETARY/TREASURER PART YEAR

BYRON PAULUSPRESIDENT ONECRY

AARON PAULUSCHIEF MARKETING OFFICER

DELBERT FEHSENFELD IIICHIEF PASTORAL OFFICER PART YEAR

MIKE LEECHIEF IMPACT OFFICER

MEREDITH MILLERCHIEF PEOPLE AND CULTURE OFFICER

RICHARD CUMMINSCAO SECRETARY PART YEAR

IRA THOMPSONCFO TREASURER PART YEAR

WENDY FERNANDESBOARD MEMBER

WALTER PRICEBOARD MEMBER

SCOTT FETZERBOARD MEMBER

RICHARD MAGNSSENBOARD MEMBER

MICHAEL ALLENBOARD MEMBER

LARRY WILSONBOARD MEMBER

KARA BISHOPBOARD MEMBER

DAVID COOKEBOARD MEMBER

CHUCK HALFORDBOARD MEMBER

CHAD WILLIAMSCHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1977
Location: PO BOX 31, BUCHANAN, MI 49107-0031
County: Berrien
In care of: % DONNELL VANKER
Primary officer: IRA L THOMPSON II, CFO

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(269) 697-2002 Officer phone(269) 697-2104

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2022
Tax period began: June 1, 2022
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: FWD TAX AND ADVISORY LLC
NTEE classification: Religion-Related N.E.C. (X99)
IRS tax category: Religion-Related N.E.C.
Grant-giving organization: Yes