Columbia Christian School

Legal name: Columbia Christian Schools

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
931094933
IRS 990 coverage
2012–2024
Official website data refreshed
Sep 2026
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Location
Portland, OR, United States
Phone
503.252.8577
Rating
83
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Affiliation
Christianity

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$4,111,652
Expenses
$4,221,141
Assets
$9,673,149
Liabilities
$3,971,706

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

10 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • AMI VENSEL (PRESIDENT)

Highest reported compensation

  • AMI VENSEL (PRESIDENT): $99,274 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

The mission of Columbia Christian School is to provide a Christ-centered education focused on excellence in faith, character, and academics to students from Pre-K through 12th grade. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, gender, national and ethnic origin, age, disability, or veteran status; however, as a nonprofit religious organization, Columbia Christian Schools reserves the right to carefully and fully explore the religious values, faith, and convictions (including personal conduct) of applicants and employees in order to employ and continue the employment of those individuals who support, advance, and live in a manner consistent with, the mission statement and biblical principles. Columbia Christian Schools 9101 E Burnside St.

What it reported doing in 2024

Christian education: in fiscal year 2024/2025 a total of 292 students were enrolled in the school.early childhood program: the columbia christian pre-k program is designed to provide a safe and nurturing environment that allows children to gain an appreciation of their world and others around them through guided discovery as well as large and small group interactions. These experiences will provide developmentally appropriate activities where the child is an active participant in the learning process. Elementary school: the elementary curriculum includes art, bible, computers, language arts (grammar, reading, spelling, writing, etc.), library skills, mathematics, music/drama, physical education, science, social studies and spelling. All core subjects are taught by the primary teacher, while art, computers, library skills, music/drama, and physical education are all taught by specialists in those areas. Daily devotionals and bible classes are an essential part of the educational experience. As part of the regular curriculum, elementary classes are also involved in occasional field trips. Elementary teachers teach all subjects from a christian perspective. Middle school: the middle school curriculum is based on state standards and best practices for middle level education. The middle school curriculum includes year-long core classes in bible, english language arts, mathematics, physical education, science (including life science, earth science, and physical science), and social sciences (including geography, world history, and u.s. History). High school: the high school curriculum is based on the state guidelines for graduation requirements and includes art, bible/religion, choir, computers, economics, english language arts, fine arts, foreign language, keyboarding, mathematics, physical education, science (including life science, earth science, physical science, biology, environmental science, chemistry and physics), social sciences (including careers, economics, geography, personal finance, psychology, world history, u.s. History and government), and yearbook. High school students are involved in occasional field trips designed to enhance the curriculum. Secondary teachers teach all subjects from a christian perspective.

Operating model

Revenue model
Earned-program. 81% of the money available for current operations came from fees and other program revenue.
Distribution model
Hybrid. The nonprofit split its reported program spending across 75% for direct work, and 25% for grants.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

The verdict

STRONG - The filed numbers largely add up and a large share of available resources goes toward mission work. Fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised and expenses are high relative to revenue.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 68
  • Transparency & Controls: 94
  • Accountability: 100
  • Sustainability: 43
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 71.9%; rating input score 72
  • Program expense ratio: 71.3%; rating input score 71
  • Fundraising efficiency: $10.13 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 38; 38th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: -2.7%; rating input score 25; 25th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.29; rating input score 66; 66th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.41; rating input score 26; 26th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 2.4%; rating input score 74; 74th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 4.1% per year; rating input score 100; 34th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 4.2% per year; rating input score 100; 35th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 0.2% per year; rating input score 100; 13th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • What they do: 1 programs and campaigns described on the official site
  • Where the money goes: 71.9% of revenue deployed · 71.3% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 9 of 9 board members independent · 8 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 2 filed program accomplishments · $3M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $99K · 10 people listed
  • Consistency: 29 of 29 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 7 filed schedules · includes major donors and grants
  • Filing history: 12 filing years from 2012 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 1 filed money-flow record
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • Moderate — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 38/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 25/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 26/100.