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← UNITED BIBLE SOCIETIES ASSOCIATION INC

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by UNITED BIBLE SOCIETIES ASSOCIATION INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$50,856,170
Total expenses
$49,814,616
Contributions and grants received
$45,741,538
Grants paid
$34,549,918
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$2,453,902
Other revenue
$2,660,730
Total assets, end of year
$113,751,453
Total liabilities, end of year
$24,114,477
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$89,636,976
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$48,440,560
Management and general expenses
$1,374,056
Fundraising expenses
$0
Program service expenses (Part III)
$48,440,560

Program services were 97.2% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1d · Related organizations

    $8,038,030

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $37,703,508

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $1,681,490 · excluded $1,681,490

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $1,802,084 · related or exempt $1,802,084

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $44,369

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $19,108

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $25,261

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $25,261 · excluded $25,261

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $7,271,105

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $6,498,693

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $772,412

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $772,412 · excluded $772,412

  • 11d · All other revenue

    total $833,385 · excluded $833,385

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $833,385

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

    total $34,549,918 · program services $34,549,918

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $244,672 · program services $40,439 · management and general $204,233

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $5,732,530 · program services $5,452,524 · management and general $280,006

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $535,763 · program services $644,314 · management and general -$108,551

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $623,568 · program services $623,568

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $521,345 · program services $521,345

  • 11a · Fees: management

    total $2,685,596 · program services $2,599,035 · management and general $86,561

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $127,976 · management and general $127,976

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $97,834 · program services $97,834

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $144,130 · management and general $144,130

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $179,139 · program services $113,859 · management and general $65,280

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $314,140 · program services $314,140

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $652,954 · program services $652,954

  • 15 · Royalties

    total $3,000 · program services $3,000

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $117,516 · program services $18,331 · management and general $99,185

  • 17 · Travel

    total $1,100,814 · program services $1,028,524 · management and general $72,290

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $1,345,005 · program services $1,019,482 · management and general $325,523

  • 20 · Interest

    total $30,832 · program services $30,832

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $74,481 · program services $74,410 · management and general $71

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $66,176 · management and general $66,176

  • 24a · Other expenses: DECREASE IN DEBT PROVIS

    total $572,077 · program services $572,077

  • 24b · Other expenses: TRAINING & RECRUITMENT

    total $61,487 · program services $56,114 · management and general $5,373

  • 24c · Other expenses: EXCHANGE DIFFERENCES

    total $7,998 · program services $2,296 · management and general $5,702

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $25,665 · program services $25,564 · management and general $101

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $38,422,592 · end of year $27,297,448

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $10,000,000 · end of year $19,124,675

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $10,662,860 · end of year $13,608,148

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $10,070,323 · end of year $8,845,021

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $1,503,277 · end of year $695,892

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $3,833,650

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $2,411,703

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $1,457,308 · end of year $1,421,947

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $29,905,874 · end of year $34,442,100

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    beginning of year $4,340,377 · end of year $3,459,619

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $7,408,827 · end of year $4,856,603

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $24,389,182 · end of year $22,652,159

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $2,425,199 · end of year $1,238,803

  • 24 · Unsecured notes and loans payable

    beginning of year $132,086 · end of year $123,515

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $103,062 · end of year $100,000

  • 29 · Capital stock, trust principal or current funds

    beginning of year $58,204,550 · end of year $56,778,863

  • 30 · Paid-in or capital surplus, or land, building or equipment fund

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 31 · Retained earnings, endowment or other funds

    beginning of year $28,517,359 · end of year $32,858,113

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

THE OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSOCIATION IS TO PROMOTE THE WIDEST POSSIBLE EFFECTIVE DISTRIBUTION AND USE OF THE BIBLE OR ANY PARTS OF THE BIBLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, INCLUDING TRANSLATION INTO ANY LANGUAGE OR LANGUAGES, PRINTING AND PUBLICATION OF THE BIBLE OR ANY PART OF THE BIBLE. ASSOCIATION FURTHERS ITS OBJECTS IS BY PROVIDING SERVICE MEMBERS OF THE UNITED BIBLE SOCIETIES.

Activities or mission (Part I)

THE ASSOCIATION PROMOTES THE WIDEST POSSIBLE EFFECTIVE TRANSLATION, PUBLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION AND USE OF THE BIBLE FELLOWSHIP.

  • THE UNITED BIBLE SOCIETIES ASSOCIATION'S GLOBAL MISSION TEAM HELPS THE UBS FELLOWSHIP MAKE THE BIBLE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE BY PROVIDING SHARED SERVICES, TOOLS, AND LEARNING AND COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITIES TO BIBLE SOCIETIES. THIS INCLUDES FACILITATING THE SHARING OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES THROUGH THE GRANTS PROGRAMME. BY DOING THIS, THEY INCREASE THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF BIBLE SOCIETIES' MINISTRIES, THEIR ORGANISATIONS AND THEIR WORK TOGETHER AS A FELLOWSHIP. IN 2023, THE ASSOCIATION'S SERVICES CONTINUED TO SUPPORT BIBLE SOCIETIES AS THEY NAVIGATE THE CONTEMPORARY COMPLEX REALITIES OF AN INCREASINGLY DIGITAL SOCIETY, A WORLD AFFECTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE AND A GROWING NUMBER OF NATURAL DISASTERS, CONFLICTS AND WARS. THE ASSOCIATION PLACED SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON ENHANCING THE COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIPS AMONG THE BIBLE SOCIETIES AND DELIVERING SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORTED THE SUSTAINABILITY OF BIBLE SOCIETIES, THE UBS FELLOWSHIP AND THE ASSOCIATION. THIS INCLUDED ORGANISING THE FIRST WORLD ASSEMBLY, A GLOBAL GATHERING OF ALL BIBLE SOCIETIES' LEADERSHIP, IN SEVEN YEARS, HELD IN EGMOND-ANN-ZEE, THE NETHERLANDS.THE ASSOCIATION'S MANAGEMENT AND STAFF DELIVERED SERVICES THAT INCREASED THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BIBLE MINISTRY THROUGHOUT THE UBS FELLOWSHIP. THEY DID THIS BY:- PROVIDING SCRIPTURE TRANSLATION EXPERTISE TO SUPPORT THE COLLECTIVE TRANSLATION EFFORTS OF THE FELLOWSHIP. THIS INCLUDED PROVIDING TRAINING TO 457 REPRESENTATIVES (PRIMARILY TRANSLATORS, DEAF TRANSLATORS AND TRANSLATION OFFICERS) FROM 44 BIBLE SOCIETIES. AS THE POST-PANDEMIC FINANCIAL RESTRICTIONS CONTINUED AFFECTING US, PART OF THE TRAINING AND WORK WITH PROJECTS WAS CONDUCTED ONLINE. THE TEAM ALSO CONTINUED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF STANDARD PRACTICES, PROCEDURES AND TOOLS THAT SUPPORTED SCRIPTURE TRANSLATION TO 163 PROJECTS IN 65 COUNTRIES. DURING 2023, THERE WERE 100 GRADUATES FROM THE TRAINING PROGRAM: 10 TRANSLATION OFFICERS FROM THE PHILIPPINES, MYANMAR, COLOMBIA, KENYA, THAILAND, VIETNAM, AND MEXICO; 1 SIGN LANGUAGE TRANSLATION OFFICER FROM INDIA AND 89 TRANSLATORS FROM BENIN, BURKINA FASO, CAMEROON, CONGO, GABON, MADAGASCAR, MALI, TOGO, ETHIOPIA, KENYA, LIBERIA, NIGERIA, SIERRA LEONE, SOUTH AFRICA, TANZANIA, UGANDA, ZAMBIA, GUATEMALA AND MEXICO.- PROVIDING PUBLISHING AND PRODUCTION EXPERTISE TO MEMBERS OF THE FELLOWSHIP THROUGH CONSULTANCY, CAPACITY-BUILDING SEMINARS AND AN E-LEARNING PLATFORM THAT IS UPDATED AND ENRICHED REGULARLY. THE SEMINARS INCLUDED VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON MULTI-DAY WORKSHOPS TAILORED TO THE NEEDS OF SPECIFIC REGIONS. BY FOLLOWING UP WITH PARTICIPANTS OF THE E-LEARNING PLATFORM, THE ASSOCIATION INCREASED ENGAGEMENT AND COURSE COMPLETION ON TOPICS SUCH AS CONTENT CREATION, EDITORIAL PROCESS, AND PRODUCTION.- MAKING AVAILABLE FREE, CUSTOMIZABLE RESOURCES TO PUBLISHING BIBLE SOCIETIES ON A DEDICATED RESOURCE HUB.- FOCUSING ON SUPPLY CHAIN OPTIMIZATION IN LATAM AND AFRICA (FRANCOPHONE, LUSOPHONE, ANGLOPHONE AND MISSION SUSTAINABILITY CLUSTERS), FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF THE ONLINE SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATION PROGRAMME IN 2022. THIS IS AIMED AT HELPING BIBLE SOCIETIES BUILD MORE AGILE AND RESILIENT SUPPLY CHAINS. THE PROJECT FOCUSES ON REDUCING EXCESSIVE SLOW-MOVING AND OBSOLETE STOCK, IMPROVING INTERNAL PLANNING CAPABILITIES, AND ENHANCING COLLABORATION AND INFORMATION SHARING BETWEEN BIBLE SOCIETIES AND THEIR KEY PARTNERS IN THE EXTENDED SUPPLY CHAIN. SIGNIFICANT EVENTS WERE A FACE-TO-FACE WORKSHOP HELD IN LATAM WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF 10 BIBLE SOCIETIES AND VISITS TO THE PRODUCTION CENTRES SERVING LATAM. IN AFRICA, WORK BEGAN WITH THE FIRST ENGLISH-SPEAKING BIBLE SOCIETIES ON INVENTORY ANALYSIS, DEMAND, AND REPLENISHMENT PLANNING. CONCURRENTLY, EFFORTS WITH THE FRANCOPHONE AND LUSOPHONE BIBLE SOCIETIES FOCUSED ON IMPROVING COORDINATED/COLLABORATIVE PROCUREMENT PLANNING.- FACILITATING PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIVE CONTENT CREATION AMONG BIBLE SOCIETIES ON A REGIONAL AND GLOBAL LEVEL. THE "AFRICA LIFE PROJECTS" ARE EXAMPLES OF THIS: THE FRENCH EDITION OF THE "AFRICAN WOMEN DEVOTIONAL BIBLE" (ENGLISH LAUNCHED IN 2021) WAS COMPLETED AND PRINTED IN 2023; SIGNIFICANT WORK WAS DONE ON THE PORTUGUESE EDITION, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR AN ADAPTATION TO THE INDIAN CONTEXT WERE EXPLORED. THREE ADDITIONAL REGIONAL NOVELTIES WERE CONCEPTUALIZED: THE "AFRICAN LEADERSHIP BIBLE", THE "AFRICAN YOUTH BIBLE AND THE "AFRICAN CHILDREN'S BIBLE". THE MIGRATION BIBLE, A GLOBAL PROJECT, WAS LAUNCHED DURING THE WORLD ASSEMBLY IN OCTOBER 2023.- OFFERING PROACTIVE SUPPORT AND TRAINING TO BIBLE SOCIETIES, THROUGH ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT, TWO WEBINARS AS WELL AS ONLINE COURSES IN THREE LANGUAGES, AIMING AT INCREASING THEIR RESILIENCE AND EFFECTIVENESS IN DIGITAL. THEY FOCUSED ON THE CREATION OF AUDIENCE-FOCUSED DIGITAL PRESENCE, ENGAGEMENT AND RELEVANT DIGITAL CONTENT CREATION. THE AIM IS TO MENTOR BIBLE SOCIETIES IN EFFECTIVELY ENGAGING THEIR AUDIENCE WITH THE BIBLE AND WITH OUR MISSION, AS WELL AS TO PROMOTE FUNDRAISING AND SALES. THE MOVE TO ONLINE COURSES AND SUPPORT - CALLED THE DIGITAL ACADEMY - ALLOWED THE ASSOCIATION TO REACH MORE BIBLE SOCIETIES THAN IN-PERSON TRAINING.- CONDUCTING WORKSHOPS: IN 2023, THE ASSOCIATION HOSTED TWO HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS FOR 60 BIBLE SOCIETIES IN THREE LANGUAGES ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (GENERATIVE AI) AND DIGITAL MARKETING. THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO BOOST PRODUCTIVITY FOR BIBLE SOCIETIES THROUGH GENERATIVE AI IN CONTENT CREATION, IDEATION AND RESEARCH. CONCURRENTLY, OUR DIGITAL MARKETING WORKSHOPS AIMED TO INCREASE REVENUE THROUGH BOTH ONLINE SALES AND DONATIONS, WHILE ALSO ELEVATING ENGAGEMENT LEVELS.- SUPPORTING THE UBS FELLOWSHIP IN PROGRESSING TOWARD THE GOALS SET IN THE BIBLE TRANSLATION ROADMAP BY CONVENING AND FACILITATING REGIONAL BIBLE TRANSLATION ROADMAP (BTR) COORDINATION AND WORKING GROUPS TO ADDRESS TRANSLATION, CAPACITY, COMMUNICATIONS, FUNDRAISING, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, AND INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COLLABORATION. IN 2023, THE BIBLE TRANSLATION ROADMAP TOOK ON A DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT CHARACTER IN EACH REGION, CORRESPONDING TO THE PRIORITIES OF BSS IN EACH REGION. FOR EXAMPLE, DISTINCTIVES IN ASIA-PACIFIC HAVE BEEN COLLABORATION (INCLUDING IN PARTICULAR CONSULTANT QUALIFICATIONS), BIBLE ENGAGEMENT AND OBT; IN THE AMERICANS-CARIBBEAN, CHURCH RELATIONS, STUDY BIBLES AND DEUTEROCANONICAL BOOKS; IN AFRICAN THE ROLE OF BIBLE SOCIETY GENERAL SECRETARIES IN MOVING TRANSLATION WORK FORWARD; AND IN EUROPE-MIDDLE EAST, PARTNERSHIP, CHURCH RELATIONS AND CONTEXTUALISATION ISSUES.- PROVIDING LITERACY CLASSES 19,111 CHILDREN, 10,885 MEN AND 27,197 WOMEN IN 84 LANGUAGES, THROUGH 37 PROJECTS.- PROVIDING CAPACITY-BUILDING TRAINING FOR LITERACY STAFF IN THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION AND THE AFRICAN CONTINENT EQUIPPING 38 PARTICIPANTS FROM 18 BIBLE SOCIETIES. THE UBS-SIL COLLABORATIVE ONLINE MEETINGS AROUND INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY AND INTERNATION LITERACY DAY IN 2023 HAD OVER 150 PARTICIPANTS FROM WITHIN THE FELLOWSHIP AND PARTNER AGENCIES.

    Expenses $48,440,560 · Grants $34,549,918 · Revenue $1,802,084

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Elaine Duncan

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Simon Peter Mukhama

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Dr Rieuwerd Buitenwerf

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Reverend Dr Rupen Das

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Rachel Parr

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Dr Christopher Rosel

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Barry Morris

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Rev Dr Erni Seibert

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Mr Eduardo Petrecca

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Dirk Gevers

    DIRECTOR GENERAL

    Total calculated
    $112,639
    From this org
    $112,639
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

  • Adrian White

    CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $132,033
    From this org
    $114,200
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,833
    Hours/week
    40

  • Steven Voth

    HEAD OF TRANSLATION SKILLS FACILITATION

    Total calculated
    $149,167
    From this org
    $138,779
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $10,388
    Hours/week
    40

  • Professor Alexander Schweitzer

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GLOBAL BIBLE MINISTRY

    Total calculated
    $151,723
    From this org
    $142,911
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,812
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $133,326
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $9,585
    Deferred
    $8,812
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $151,723

  • Steven Berneking

    DIRECTOR OF BIBLE MINISTRY TECHNOLOGY

    Total calculated
    $130,823
    From this org
    $122,266
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,557
    Hours/week
    40

  • Andrew Warren-Rothlin

    TRANSLATION ROADMAP COORDINATOR

    Total calculated
    $137,281
    From this org
    $128,397
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,884
    Hours/week
    40

  • Elsbeth Scherrer

    DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL BIBLE PUBLISHING

    Total calculated
    $143,871
    From this org
    $121,790
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $22,081
    Hours/week
    40

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 1a · Travel for companions
  • 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
  • 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 1A
THE ORGANIZATION REIMBURSED TRAVEL EXPENSES TO THE DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR SPOUSAL TRAVEL.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Taxable family on this return

Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.

Related corporations and trusts

Part IV: related organizations taxable as a corporation or trust.

  • UNITED BIBLE SOCIETIES

    MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION · DE

    Directly controlled by NONE

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
12 November 2024
IRS schema version
2023v5.1
Source object
202403179349308205

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