Hope of Life International 
The information on this page was last updated 4/8/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Hope of life International is a faith-based humanitarian nonprofit organization
helping children, families and communities in Eastern Guatemala.
We work to fight malnutrition and end poverty.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Hope of Life International
125 Sockanosset Cross Road
Suite B
Cranston, RI 02920
Website: www.hopeoflifeintl.org
Phone: (401) 421-9078
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 262061324
CEO/President: Katie Arriaza
Chairman: Lorne Olichny
Board size: 8
Founder: Carlos & Cheryl Vargas
Ruling year: 2010
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
A Guatemala where all children and families live with dignity and are free from economic poverty and inequity.
Our programs seek to transform generations from dependence to lasting independence, creating strong leaders for the world and for the Kingdom of God.
Mission statement
Saving Lives.
We believe that the way in which we work with marginalized communities through the individualization of our programming, our training and communication, and the relationships we build, is just as important as the services we provide.
Statement of faith
Donor confidence score
Show donor confidence score details
To understand our donor confidence score, click here.
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Community Development
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 66 of 1435 | 16 of 148 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 170 of 1435 | 20 of 148 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 116 of 1435 | 24 of 148 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 279 of 1436 | 31 of 148 |
To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 4% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 91% | 99% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 9% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 83% | 97% | 97% | 98% | 97% | 97% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 96% | 75% | 114% | 102% | 83% | 100% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 79% | 72% | 110% | 100% | 81% | 97% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 4% | 25% | -14% | -2% | 17% | 0% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 4% | 89% | -207% | -15% | 95% | 33% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 11% | 2% | 3% | 1% | 2% | 2% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.02 | 2.57 | 14.45 | 8.17 | 4.02 | 22.40 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.89 | 1.01 | 1.14 | 1.06 | 1.16 | 2.90 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.14 | 2.61 | 16.40 | 8.65 | 4.67 | 65.00 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 12.56 | 249.67 | 16.36 | 49.71 | 15.87 | 0.65 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.07 | 0.00 | 0.06 | 0.02 | 0.06 | 1.54 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.79 | 4.58 | 0.69 | 1.36 | 2.41 | -0.10 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 10% | 2% | 16% | 6% | 16% | 83% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 1% | 11% | 4% | 11% | 29% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 77% | 38% | 6% | 11% | 21% | 1% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Cash | $1,258,216 | $743,899 | $2,808,819 | $2,114,111 | $126,163 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $43,015 | $54,463 | $289,494 | $126,790 | $89,072 |
| Short-term investments | $8,671,797 | $361,648 | $337,585 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $9,973,028 | $1,160,010 | $3,435,898 | $2,240,901 | $215,235 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $143,429 | $156,966 | $200,551 | $358,882 | $409,275 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $143,429 | $156,966 | $200,551 | $358,882 | $409,275 |
| Total assets | $10,116,457 | $1,316,976 | $3,636,449 | $2,599,783 | $624,510 |
| Liabilities | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $39,945 | $70,905 | $39,101 | $132,536 | $240,408 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $30,022 | $8,650 | $90,747 |
| Total current liabilities | $39,945 | $70,905 | $69,123 | $141,186 | $331,155 |
| Debt | $136,853 | $144,965 | $155,671 | $273,763 | $184,224 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $136,853 | $144,965 | $155,671 | $273,763 | $184,224 |
| Total liabilities | $176,798 | $215,870 | $224,794 | $414,949 | $515,379 |
| Net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Without donor restrictions | $9,939,659 | $375,701 | $2,033,904 | $185,467 | $69,518 |
| With donor restrictions | $0 | $725,405 | $1,377,751 | $1,999,367 | $39,613 |
| Net assets | $9,939,659 | $1,101,106 | $3,411,655 | $2,184,834 | $109,131 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Total contributions | $34,554,645 | $16,741,091 | $29,199,564 | $12,530,389 | $14,025,519 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $293,949 | $8,632 | $1,417 | $0 | $0 |
| Other revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total other revenue | $293,949 | $8,632 | $1,417 | $0 | $0 |
| Total revenue | $34,848,594 | $16,749,723 | $29,200,981 | $12,530,389 | $14,025,519 |
| Expenses | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Program services | $25,245,858 | $18,466,776 | $29,218,035 | $10,146,438 | $13,609,588 |
| Management and general | $535,885 | $482,054 | $412,047 | $259,787 | $322,276 |
| Fundraising | $234,775 | $77,309 | $73,856 | $48,461 | $57,990 |
| Total expenses | $26,016,518 | $19,026,139 | $29,703,938 | $10,454,686 | $13,989,854 |
| Change in net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $8,832,076 | ($2,276,416) | ($502,957) | $2,075,703 | $35,665 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $8,832,076 | ($2,276,416) | ($502,957) | $2,075,703 | $35,665 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Katie Arriaza | President | $134,117 |
| Yuana Sutton | COO | $108,721 |
| Erica Vargas | Vice President | $56,593 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2024
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 4/8/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
The mission of Saving Lives has always been the heartbeat of the work we do. It is the theme that each and every staff recalibrates to every single day. Saving Lives is what started every single project birthed in the last 37 years.
It was 1987 when a young Carlos Vargas - suffering from a debilitating unknown illness - returned to Llano Verde, Guatemala, to live out what he thought were his final days. While in the small village, people who were sick themselves - one elderly gentleman in particular - came to Carlos to beg for help. In a deathbed deal with God, Vargas vowed to dedicate his remaining days to helping those who were infirm or suffering from poverty. From that day forward, Carlos's body began to heal. The ministry started at the foot of a mountain, on one acre of land, meeting needs of the elderly who were homeless, abused, abandoned, and desperate.
Just two years later in 1989, baby Jose became the very first infant in our medical rescue program, which has since treated more than 25,000 children for malnutrition. And now, 37 years later, this ministry which calls a 3,000-acre mountain home, is serving hundreds of thousands of people each year through physical and spiritual programs with one continuing goal: to Save Lives.