Our mission is to deliver hope to suffering children by equipping local churches for
gospel-centered mercy ministry.
Children’s Hunger Fund was established in 1991 by president and founder Dave Phillips. Since then, CHF has worked in the US and around the world to elevate the local church, equipping and positioning church leaders and volunteers to reach suffering children and families in their communities by delivering food and hope found in the gospel of Christ.
The Problem
More than ten percent of the world population lives in extreme poverty (less than $1.90 per day). Most lack access to one or more basic human needs: sufficient food, safe drinking water, or adequate shelter.
Combatting poverty and food insecurity demands more than simple charity. While nutritious food provides temporary relief of physical hunger, the life-giving truth of the gospel provides eternal hope and relief from spiritual poverty.
Our Solution
It starts with a Food Pak.
A Food Pak is a box of non-perishable food that can provide meals for a family facing food insecurity. The food is provided by generous donors and corporate partners and packed by volunteers into Food Paks.
Food Paks are then distributed to pastors and volunteers from local churches who are trained in gospel-centered relational mercy ministry. The food is then delivered directly to the homes of children and families in need in their community.
This unique style of home delivery allows for relationships to form between the family and the local church who is serving them. This relationship creates an opportunity to share the hope of the gospel, helping to meet not only physical needs but spiritual needs, as well.
Mercy Network
CHF has Mercy Networks in 29 countries. A CHF Mercy Network is a collection of like-minded churches, trained and equipped by CHF, that are pursuing gospel-centered, relational mercy ministry.
Our Values
Statement of Faith
THE TRINITY
God exists eternally as three persons; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19, 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Hebrews 9:14)
THE FATHER
The Heavenly Father, the first person of the triune Godhead, in His great love for the world, sent His beloved only begotten Son into the world as the Savior of mankind to provide everlasting life and Fatherhood for each believer. (John 3:16, Romans 8:14, 1 John 4:14)
THE SON
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God; was manifested in the flesh by virgin birth; was crucified as the only acceptable sacrifice for our sins; arose bodily from the grave; is preparing a place for us; will return for us. (John 1:35; John 1:1, 14, John 14:1-6, Acts 1:9-11, 1 Corinthians 15:3-9, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 3:18)
THE SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit draws, regenerates, and gifts us to confess Jesus as our Savior from our sins and Lord of our lives; indwells us to explain the Bible and empowers us to live godly lives. He is also the Agent of our security and inheritance in Christ. (John 16:7-14, Acts 5:3-4, Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 5:17-21)
HUMANKIND
Every person is a sinner and separated from God until repenting of his sins and receiving God’s gift of eternal life by trusting in Jesus Christ alone as Savior and Lord. (Acts 4:12, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, 1 Peter 1:18-21)
THE BIBLE
The Bible is the Word of God; it is God-breathed and without error; it is the final authority for our faith and living. (Psalm 19:7-8, Matthew 5:18; 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12, 2 Peter 1:20-21)
SECURITY
Believers are eternally safe and secure in Jesus and give evidence of genuine faith by a life of good works. (John 3:16, John 10:27-29, Romans 8:38-39, James 2:14-17)
THE CHURCH
The church is the living body of Christ on earth comprised of all believers in Jesus Christ, but is manifested through assemblies which are devoted to worshipping God, maturing believers and reaching unbelievers with the Gospel. (Matthew 16:8, Matthew 28:19-20, 1 Corinthians 12:27, Ephesians 1:22-23, Ephesians 4:11-13, Hebrews 10:25)
THE FUTURE
The future life of believers is a blessed eternity with God in heaven, but unbelievers face eternal suffering apart from God. (Matthew 25:46, John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 5:8, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Revelation 20:11-15)
CHOICE
Within God’s ultimate sovereign choice, eternal life is offered to the world from a divine heart of love that desires all to respond to that love, wanting no one to perish and promising an eternal relationship to every sincere seeker. (Proverbs 8:17, Jeremiah 19:13, Amos 5:4, John 1:7. 3:16-17, 5:40, 6:44, Romans 8:33, Ephesians 1:4-5, 1 Timothy 2:3-4, 2 Peter 3:9)
MARRIAGE
We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture (Genesis 2:18-25; Mark 10:6-9.)
We believe that God has provided for sexual intimacy to occur only within marriage and that any form of sexual intimacy outside of the bounds of marriage, as marriage is herein defined, is sin. (Matthew 15:18-20; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, 18, 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4).
Leadership
Dave Phillips
Dave's family tree includes the founders of several well-known charities, so the non-profit world was a natural fit for him. In fact, Dave's first job after graduating from Westmont College was at a relief organization, World Opportunities International.
Dave and Lynn live in Simi Valley, California with their four sons. Dave often travels overseas with his sons hoping to inspire them to service through their own personal poverty encounter.
Michael Richards
After faithfully serving CHF for nine years, Michael took a huge leap of faith, packed up his family, and moved to Texas to launch and expand CHF's ministry in the Southwest. Michael married his high school sweetheart, Carrie. They live in San Antonio, Texas with their three sons.
Jason Hartung
Morgan Owen
José Luis Amézquita
Buddy Brewer
Executive Director, Operations
Board of Directors
Dana Scannell
Len Harral
Dick Griffith
Léonce B. Crump Jr.
Dave Phillips
Glenn Carpenter
Steve McCormick
Mark Tatlock
Jim Wicker
Scott Olson
Mike Trujillo
Lori Young
Finances
Financial Integrity
Since its inception in 1991, CHF has placed a priority on efficiency, transparency and financial
accountability, consistently ranking at the top of America’s most cost-effective charities.
Recently, CHF earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. This is the highest possible rating that a non-profit can earn to distinguish itself as an organization that adheres to best practices and executes its mission in a financially efficient way.
This exceptional designation from Charity Navigator sets Children’s Hunger Fund apart from its peers and demonstrates to the public its trustworthiness. Children’s Hunger Fund has a strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency.
The 4-Star rating can reassure donors that when they donate to Children’s Hunger Fund, their
donation is being utilized towards the intended use.
Financial Reports
In submission to our membership with outside reviewer ECFA, we fully disclose our financial records and publicly post our tax returns, which detail exactly where all our funds are spent. We voluntarily submit to an annual review by a third-party auditor, maintaining full transparency with those who choose to support our work.
