FAQs

Here are some questions that we frequently hear.

Why do you need support / why don't they pay you?

Many people are surprised to learn that, regardless of the role that we play in the organization, we will always be supported by the donations of individuals and churches. The reason for this goes back more than fifty years.

As a part of Campus Crusade for Christ, FamilyLife operates within the Religious Missionary Order model. Founder Bill Bright realized soon after he started CCC on the campus of UCLA in 1951 that centrally trying to raise donations and paying salaries would severely limit the growth of the organization. By allowing each staff member to share their vision and calling and raise their own support, Campus Crusade is able to grow much faster so that today it represents over 60 ministries that function in countries representing 98% of the world's population.

We view it as an opportunity to involve more of the body of Christ in our ongoing work to effectively develop godly families and share the gospel through this commonly felt need.

What happens to the money I donate?

Donations are made to Campus Crusade for Christ, a 501(c)3 corporation which means that gifts are tax-deductible. As a charter member of the ECFA, Crusade's guidelines for stewardship can be found online. Your gifts to support our family should specify that you prefer they be used on our behalf. Those gifts are then associated with our CCC staff account.

Of the gifts that are given, 88% are directly available to us to provide for our salary, benefits, ministry expenses and other related items. It is what we live on. Another 5% is taken to help support missionaries for CCC serving overseas who have more limited access to the American support-base. The remaining 7% is used by CCC HQ to help pay for the expenses associated with managing the staff team.

This high standard means that virtually all of your donation dollars are applied where you intend them to be.

How will I know what is happening with my donations?

We are committed to ensuring that you are informed about what impact your support is having. We view this as a partnership and we owe that to you. As a result, we try to communicate often about the ongoing work.

Our primary method is through a regular (usually monthly) newsletter that offers a mixture of ministry news, family news, and encouragement. This is freely available to anyone who wishes to receive it, whether they support us or not. It is available in both paper format and by email.

We are also always available for questions via phone or email.