Skip Navigation
 
 

Financial Reports

At Focus on the Family, we recognize that our finances are donations sent by loving people who have sacrificed to make their gifts possible. Our obligation, therefore, is to spend that money conservatively and wisely in continuing the ministry.

Part of that obligation is openness and accountability in our financial practices. In accordance with standards established by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) and the Internal Revenue Service, our annual financial information is freely available for public review below.

Fiscal Year End Reports

2008:  Annual Report (PDF, 1.48 MB) | Federal Form 990 (PDF, 3.10 MB) | Form 990-T (PDF, 1.09 MB)

2007:  Annual Report (PDF, 1.44 MB) | Federal Form 990 (PDF, 4.34 MB) | Form 990-T (PDF, .778 MB)

2006:  Annual Report (PDF, 1.44 MB) | Federal Form 990 (PDF, 4.42 MB) | Form 990-T (PDF, .778 MB)

(To view PDF files, you may need to download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader

Fund-Raising Guidelines

We believe that the way an organization handles itself in the financial arena is a reflection of its integrity in every arena. We have, therefore, established strict limitations on the way our resources are used. Here are the policies that have guided us through the years:

  1. This ministry belongs to God, not to James Dobson. It is neither a monument to his ego nor a legacy to his memory. Focus on the Family does not bear his name ... the buildings do not belong to him ... we have not founded a James Dobson University. Dr. Dobson is merely a fellow servant in the work of the Kingdom.
  2. The Lord has apparently chosen to place His mantle of approval on the ministry of Focus on the Family. Nevertheless, He gives and sometimes takes away. If He ever closes the doors to this work, we will accept His leadings and yield the outcome to Him. Until then, we will devote every ounce of energy to the task at hand.
  3. One of the ways we can discern the Lord's will regarding the continuation of our work is through the support He sends (or doesn't send) from His people. Therefore, during lean times we will make our obligations known to our friends — but we will not squirm, scratch or claw for contributions. We will never resort to what we consider to be disrespectful and dishonorable methods of fund-raising, even when the needs are serious.
  4. We will ask people not to support Focus on the Family or any other Christian program until their obligations to the local church have been met. The church is the first line of defense for the family.
  5. We will not operate the ministry at a deficit. Although from time to time it is necessary to borrow funds for large capital expenditures, such as for a new building, we will seek to repay the loans as soon as possible.
  6. We consider the contributions we receive to be "blood money": sent from loving people who have sacrificed to make their gifts possible. Our obligation, therefore, is to spend that money conservatively and wisely in continuing the ministry. We have no limousines or airplanes or condos in Hawaii. Every penny is stretched as far as possible to serve the needs of today's families.
  7. We will receipt all donations, showing the fair market value of any materials requested and sent, in order to help contributors determine the tax-deductible portion of their gifts. (The U.S. Internal Revenue Code permits donors to deduct the amount they give to Focus on the Family in excess of the value of materials received from the organization. Receipts for Canadian donors are issued in accordance with Canadian law.)
  8. When we make a purchase, we will pay the invoice within 30 days, if possible. We do not intend to use the vendor's money.
  9. We will not try to raise more money than we need.
  10. Dr. Dobson will not be the primary fund-raiser.
  11. Dr. and Mrs. Dobson will accept no salary for this work, and will pay a portion of the radio airtime expenses to compensate for the publicity that increases their book sales. When their books are offered to our listeners, they will waive all royalties to allow Focus to obtain the lowest possible price from the publisher. When they use secretarial or staff assistance for personal reasons, they will compensate the ministry for that intrusion.
  12. We will never sell or rent our mailing list to those wishing to use the names and addresses of our supporters. Those individuals contacted us in good faith, and if they wanted to receive mail from other organizations, I'm sure they would ask for it. We will maintain the tightest security on our list of friends and supporters.
  13. We will conform to the standards established by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) and the Canadian Council of Christian Charities (CCCC) — organizations created to ensure ethical fund-raising and administration practices.

To summarize, we will try to remember always that Jesus Christ is our possessor and our dispossessor. He ordained and blessed this ministry. It belongs entirely to Him.