Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about Children At Heart Ministries, the Children At Heart Foundation, and how our ministries are funded and governed.
What is Children At Heart Ministries?
Children At Heart Ministries is a family of ministries that is dedicated to transforming the lives of all children and families. Our family of ministries includes Gracewood, Miracle Farm Boys Ranch, and Texas Baptist Children’s Home.
What is the Children At Heart Foundation?
The Children At Heart Foundation serves the Children At Heart family of ministries by managing endowment resources and making grants to assist with operating costs and capital needs.
Where does Children At Heart get funding from?
Children At Heart depends on the generosity of its donors for daily operating costs, capital expansion, and other special needs. Donations include proceeds from annual giving campaigns, grants designated for specific purposes, and estate gifts.
How are the ministries governed?
Gracewood, Miracle Farm Boys Ranch, and Texas Baptist Children’s Home each have Presidents who are responsible for day-to-day operations and trustees who help establish policy, provide oversight, and offer an external perspective. The President and CEO of Children At Heart Ministries serves as the vice chair for each of the ministries’ boards.
The President and CEO of Children At Heart Ministries reports to the Children At Heart Ministries Board of Trustees. The board membership is appointed annually by the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
The Children At Heart Foundation is led by an independent Board of Trustees.
What accountability standards are Children At Heart required to meet?
Each of the individual ministries, including Children At Heart Ministries and the Children At Heart Foundation, are members of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. ECFA standards include a commitment to Christian faith, annual financial audits, transparency in financial operations, truthfulness in fundraising and communications, and respect for donor intent and donor expectations. Each ministry is also registered with GuideStar and files the IRS Form 990 annually, copies of which are available upon request.
How can I get information about an estate gift?
Our Mission Advancement staff has expertise in charitable estate planning and can help you and connect you to other valuable resources to assist in developing a plan that best meets the needs of your family and benefits the charities you love. Contact Maynard Phillips to learn more. As you would with any financial decision, you should also consult with your family and other personal financial advisers.