Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
For 80 years, Wycliffe has helped people around the world translate the Bible into their own languages. Currently, translated Scripture portions exist in more than 3,400 of the world's 7,000+ languages. There is active translation and linguistic development in 2,700+ languages across more than 140 countries. However, over 145 million people, using 1,892 spoken languages and 300+ sign languages, may need some form of Bible translation to begin. And at least 1.5 billion people do not have the full Bible available in their first language.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Colombian Sign Language
In this project, Wycliffe will be working with a local translation team to continue the work that has already been done in a previous project. Because sign language translations are three-dimensional, they are produced as videos. Now staff plan to:
• Translate and publish eight chapters from
Genesis and the remainder of 1 Corinthians.
The Gospel of Mark will be produced as well.
• Complete two Scripture-based video series —
one on church and the other on faith and prayer.
Scripture materials will be distributed via a mobile
Scripture app, a website, SD cards, DVDs and social
media platforms (Facebook and YouTube).
Genesis — Deaf Christians will be strengthened in their faith as they learn about biblical figures from the
Old Testament who demonstrated Christlike character. Gospel of Mark and 1 Corinthians — These books
will teach people about who Jesus is and what he’s accomplished, better equipping them to live a godly life that pleases him.
Afemai Cluster
Impacting over 660,000 speakers and 5 language groups, the Afemai Cluster translation teams are working to produce the first Scripture in the Atte, Enwan, Etsako, Ikhin, and Uneme languages! In this project, each team will:
• Translate and typeset the entire
New Testament.
• Record Scripture in audio format.
• Produce the “JESUS” film.
• Develop literacy primers, a dictionary and
a grammar guide.
• Train literacy teachers.
Trial editions of the following books will be published as soon as they’re completed:
Gospel of Luke — This book will introduce the person and work of Jesus to non-Christians, and better equip believers to clearly
communicate the Good News to others. Additionally, Luke is the key source text for the “JESUS” film, which church leaders are eager to use for community outreach.
1-2 Corinthians — The Apostle Paul’s epistles to the church in
Corinth will help deepen people’s understanding of what it looks
like to follow Christ, as well as encourage unity among believers.
Dre Ko Malolo
The Pacific region presents some of the greatest challenges of the Bible translation movement. It includes the country with the single greatest number of languages with unmet translation goals — Papua New Guinea. In addition, the Pacific is comprised of 21 island nations that are difficult to access and serve for a number of reasons. In 2011, the Pacific Wa’a partnership was formed to address the translation needs in this region.
The Dre Ko Malolo project is 4 year, collaborative effort of multiple partners that is designed to accomplish Vision 2025 and 2033 All Access Goals throughout the Pacific region. The project is addressing unmet translation goals in a minimum of 583 languages spoken by more than 1.2 million people in 21 island nations. At least 530 of these people groups have no Scripture in their language. The project is structured to incorporate and support successive engagement throughout the life of the project.
Where we work
Accreditations
Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) 1979
Philanthropy 400 2013
Philanthropy 400 2012
Philanthropy 400 2011
Philanthropy 400 2016
Awards
Affiliations & memberships
Christian Service Charities 2013
AFP (Association of Fundraising Professionals) 2010
Evangelical Council of Financial Accountability - Member 1979
Forbes 2018 list of America's Best Midsize Employers for the second year. 2018
USA Today 10 Best Reader's Choice 2020: Top 10 Best Religious Museums 2020
External reviews

Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsNumber of languages with access to Scripture
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
The total includes the number of languages with a complete Bible, the number of languages with the New Testament (and some portions), and the number of languages with portions of the Bible.
Number of languages with known active translation and linguistic development
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
2217 languages, 147 countries, 1.1 billion people with active translation or preparatory work begun.
Number of missionaries serving worldwide
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
3,259 missionaries serving in 56 countries.
Number of prayer partners surrounding people and projects in prayer
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
The total number of active prayer partners through The Bibleless Peoples Prayer Project and Wycliffe Prayer Focus.
Amount of funds raised towards Bible translation
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Wycliffe USA is part of the Wycliffe Global Alliance, an international association of organizations consisting of over 100 organizations from more than 60 nations with a common goal of providing Scripture for all people on earth in the language and form they understand best. To ensure that Wycliffe USA maintains focus, Wycliffe USA leaders developed a comprehensive organizational-wide initiative focusing on the following goals:
URGENCY Our sense of urgency is based on God’s deep affection for
humanity and His Desire that individuals from every tribe, language, people
and nation on earth enter into a relationship with Him. It is this urgency that
moves Wycliffe USA to seek ways to accelerate the pace of Bible translation
within parameters that ensure the quality of the translation and ensures that
we are doing it in the most cost-effective way.
PARTNERSHIP Scripture makes it clear that God is greatly glorified when
diverse individuals or communities work together harmoniously toward the
accomplishment of the things He sets forth to be done. While working
unilaterally may seem most efficient, it is not reflective of the very nature of
God. Additionally, the coordination of a holistic breadth of work by a variety
of organizations ultimately allows a greater efficiency. With these things in
mind, we choose to no longer do things by ourselves that could be done with
others.
CAPACITY BUILDING When an organization or individual is focused on a
single, critical task, it is easy to miss opportunities for a greater good. We
choose to commit ourselves - with the greater good in mind - to making
short-term sacrifices in order to harvest long- term results. The results of
capacity building include trained personnel, sufficient funding, and networks
of people and institutions that can consistently provide guidance, consultancy
and finances.
CREATIVE STRATEGIES We recognize that we cannot make our full
contribution to Vision 2025 by either working harder or simply doing more of
what we have been doing all along. Instead, we must work differently,
embrace new attitudes and expand our repertoire of strategies so we can
significantly increase our effectiveness.
SUSTAINABILITY In a world marked by uncertainty and instability,
reliance on any one person, strategy, system or organization for critical
work in poor stewardship. Spreading the weight of responsibility as well as
sharing the privilege of participation more broadly ensures that work is
more likely to continue even in the midst of crisis. We commit ourselves to
see that what has been started will be brought as clos
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
The following set of strategies have been set in order to meet our goals and Wycliffe’s mission to see a Bible translation program in progress in every language still needing one by 2025:
Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging
All Wycliffe USA staff, wherever they are found, will understand and join in the journey of diversity, inclusion, and belonging from a missiological, theological, and practical perspective.
U.S. Church Relationships
We will develop a missiological and theological understanding of our relationship with the Church, and implement a strategy, structure, and service mentality that seeks to build healthy relationships and effective partnerships with U.S. churches.
Recruiting & Sending Well
We will take steps to equip individuals recruited and sent by Wycliffe USA to help them serve effectively within modern realities.
Leadership Development
We will create and implement robust leadership development planning and programs that identify and equip current and emerging Wycliffe USA-affiliated leaders, wherever they are found, with the skills, tools, and behaviors they need to confidently lead themselves and others.
Long-Term Revenue Health
We will review the assumptions underlying our Wycliffe USA revenue streams, using past and future research to model long-term revenue health for Wycliffe USA.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Wycliffe USA helps accomplish its mission by mobilizing prayer, people and funds for the ongoing work of Bible Translation. Our capabilities are monitored as follows:
PRAYER: People are engaged in informed prayer for Wycliffe members, partners, Bibleless peoples and programs. Wycliffe has people engaged in prayer via the Bibleless Peoples Prayer Project, Intercessor and Pray Today Subscribers. As of October 1, 2021, Wycliffe has involved 26,969 prayer partners.
STAFFING: Sufficient numbers of committed people of godly character, with the ability to work together effectively, are recruited, prepared, nurtured and retained. Currently, there are over 3,000 staff (including missionaries) committed to the work of Bible translation.
FUNDING: Wycliffe USA‘s sponsored Bible translation projects are receiving adequate financial support. For FY2021, $213.1 million was invested in Bible translation. Our capabilities are significantly enhanced through partnerships. Wycliffe USA recognizes that the need for Bible translation is so great that we can't do it alone and that collaboration with God's people accelerates the process with excellence. So we work in partnership with churches and organizations worldwide to effectively and efficiently accomplish Bible translation.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Wycliffe Global Alliance Progress as of October 2021: Scripture exists in over 3,415 of the over 7,000 languages currently known to be in use. At least 1.5 billion people do not have the full Bible available in their first language. Over 815 million of these have the New Testament; others have portions or at least some level of work begun. There is known active translation and linguistic development happening in 2,731 languages across more than 170 countries. Estimates suggest over 145 million people, speaking 1892 spoken languages and over 200 sign languages, may need some form of Bible translation to begin. Wycliffe Global Alliance organizations and personnel have been involved in the translation of Bibles and New Testaments in more than 2,100 languages.
Wycliffe USA’s FY21 Organizational Actuals: Wycliffe USA’s FY21 began in October 2020 and ended in September 2021. FY21 actuals are as follows: Mobilized 3,259 missionaries to serve worldwide, Invested $213.1 million in Bible translation, engaged 153 new languages, involved 26,969 prayer partners.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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Who are the people you serve with your mission?
We serve the Bibleless communities around the world and other organizations involved in the greater Bible translation movement.
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How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person), Community meetings/Town halls, Constituent (client or resident, etc.) advisory committees, Suggestion box/email,
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve,
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With whom is the organization sharing feedback?
The people we serve, Our staff, Our board, Our funders, Our community partners,
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We act on the feedback we receive,
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback,
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc.
Board of directorsas of 2/15/2022
Mr. Larry Cheng
Volition Capital LLC
Term: 2019 - 2022
Mrs. Lindsay Olesberg
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
Term: 2019 - 2022
Lindsay Olesberg
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
Larry Cheng
Volition Capital LLC
Patricia Miersma
SIL/Wycliffe International Linguistic Center
Julie Shimer
Welch Allyn
Fidencio Burgueno
Church of God (Cleveland, TN)
Bonnie Nystrom
SIL International
Mark Taber
Wycliffe USA
Juanita Watters
SIL International
Grace Mathews
India Mobile Congress
Dan Butler
SIL Eurasia
Julian Dangerfield
Shalom Outreach
Brian Russel
YouVersion
Florence Wamae
Bible Translation Advocate
Daniel Watters
SIL International
John Pramod
VIVIO Health
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? No -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
The organization's co-leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 07/31/2020GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.