As has been previously reported, the Mission Arlington^® family works diligently to be accountable to God, and to you. We consider every gift sacrificial, and we keep in mind that you give so that people in need will receive authentic, practical, and timely help. Each month and every year, we report to you the results of our work. We also provide access for you to the reports of others who watch us closely. Transparency and accountability are twin core values here. Your trust matters to us.

Administrative overhead is one way among many to measure the efficiency of a non-profit organization. One component of our auditors‘ annual report to our board this week, in addition to providing a clean opinion, was recognition for continued success at keeping administrative (overhead) costs low.  We want to pass along their report to you:

For the year ending 2015, our administrative overhead was 3.2 percent. This means that almost 97 cents out of every dollar you give goes directly in ministry to people in need.

While this is up from 2.8 percent over the last two years, our auditors tells us that in the world of non-profits, an administrative overhead of 33 percent is considered to be good. This means that the ministry efficiency here is nearly 30 percent more effective than the industry standard, or what many would consider the norm.

While we are proud to report this news, we are also humbled by it, because we know how hard most people work to give, and that sacrifices are often made, so that someone struggling through the effects of a job loss, or a health crisis, can have the help they need to make it through.

We are also humbled by this news, because so much of the success related to administrative costs connects to the number of dedicated volunteers who grace our doors each week. It takes over 2,500 volunteers a week to keep things going here – from the medical to the dental, to our after-school programs, Bible studies, the front room, and/or to the volunteers carrying couches out back.  We are extraordinarily blessed by the number of people in this community who love to give their time to help someone else.

We want you to hear again and again how much we value our partnership with each individual and every team who lends a hand here.  Under the leadership of the Lord, and the long-time servant leadership of our Director Tillie Burgin, we will continue to keep the costs low – and to cherish the privilege we have of walking this journey with you.

To God be the glory for the great things He has done!