Sozo Children 
The information on this page was last updated 1/9/2025. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
As a mission-based ministry, we serve God by serving others. By meeting the needs of children once trapped in generational poverty, we equip them mentally, physically, and spiritually to become strong leaders for Christ who will transform their communities for the next generation.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Sozo Children
4 41ST St. S
Birmingham, AL 35222
Website: sozochildren.org
Phone: (205) 208-0016
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 274552700
CEO/President: Suzanne Owens
Chairman: Ed Caldwell
Board size: 17
Founder:
Ruling year: 2012
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2016
Purpose
All children thriving. All communities transformed.
Mission statement
Our mission at Sozo Children is to empower vulnerable children to become thriving leaders for Jesus Christ.
Statement of faith
We believe the Bible to be the inspired, infallible, ultimately authoritative Word of God.
We believe there is one God, eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is deity, that He was born of a virgin, that we are redeemed by His atoning death through His shed blood, that He bodily resurrected and ascended into Heaven, and that He will come again in power and great glory.
We believe individuals are saved through a direct, personal encounter with the risen Lord, at which time they are regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
We believe individuals are saved by grace, through faith in Christ, not by our own works.
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whom Christ indwells each believer enabling him to live a godly life of obedience as he reaches for maturity.
We believe the Holy Spirit unites all true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and that together they form one body, the church.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Relief and Development
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 726 of 1118 | 61 of 100 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 682 of 1119 | 61 of 100 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 341 of 1119 | 27 of 100 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 928 of 1118 | 81 of 100 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 9% | 10% | 8% | 7% | 12% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 4% | 7% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 99% | 55% | 52% | 58% | 61% | 58% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 4% | 5% | 6% | 5% | 7% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 1% | 45% | 48% | 42% | 39% | 42% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 86% | 90% | 88% | 84% | 86% | 83% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 100% | 113% | 107% | 81% | 83% | 92% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 87% | 102% | 95% | 68% | 71% | 77% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 0% | -13% | -7% | 19% | 17% | 8% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | -15% | -7% | 18% | 16% | 9% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 7% | 5% | 7% | 9% | 9% | 9% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.53 | 1.25 | 0.98 | 0.75 | 0.77 | 1.04 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.26 | 3.15 | 2.59 | 2.17 | 2.74 | 4.96 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.17 | 3.93 | 2.53 | 1.64 | 2.12 | 5.15 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 13.11 | 11.59 | 11.98 | 22.08 | 11.80 | 11.30 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.07 | 0.09 | 0.08 | 0.05 | 0.08 | 0.09 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.68 | 2.79 | 4.34 | 7.00 | 5.18 | 2.12 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 8% | 3% | 4% | 2% | 3% | 2% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 53% | 78% | 98% | 130% | 125% | 95% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Cash | $315,145 | $650,138 | $1,318,635 | $876,092 | $335,625 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $33,523 | $42,496 | $45,572 | $16,317 | $72,436 |
| Short-term investments | $420,875 | $389,473 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $769,543 | $1,082,107 | $1,364,207 | $892,409 | $408,061 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $1,644,596 | $1,700,384 | $1,596,806 | $1,550,151 | $1,614,506 |
| Other long-term assets | $9,889 | $17,086 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $1,654,485 | $1,717,470 | $1,596,806 | $1,550,151 | $1,614,506 |
| Total assets | $2,424,028 | $2,799,577 | $2,961,013 | $2,442,560 | $2,022,567 |
| Liabilities | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $66,377 | $90,324 | $61,793 | $53,501 | $36,105 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $22,109 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $66,377 | $90,324 | $61,793 | $75,610 | $36,105 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $9,889 | $17,086 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $9,889 | $17,086 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $76,266 | $107,410 | $61,793 | $75,610 | $36,105 |
| Net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Without donor restrictions | $2,318,122 | $2,608,202 | $2,762,968 | $2,230,698 | $1,871,501 |
| With donor restrictions | $29,640 | $83,965 | $136,252 | $136,252 | $114,961 |
| Net assets | $2,347,762 | $2,692,167 | $2,899,220 | $2,366,950 | $1,986,462 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Total contributions | $1,456,177 | $1,340,429 | $1,600,409 | $1,384,276 | $1,314,303 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $24,610 | $9,792 | $1,391 | $5,064 | $1,384 |
| Other revenue | $1,187,686 | $1,204,421 | $1,161,863 | $882,761 | $955,311 |
| Total other revenue | $1,212,296 | $1,214,213 | $1,163,254 | $887,825 | $956,695 |
| Total revenue | $2,668,473 | $2,554,642 | $2,763,663 | $2,272,101 | $2,270,998 |
| Expenses | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Program services | $2,723,949 | $2,420,829 | $1,884,276 | $1,619,158 | $1,753,233 |
| Management and general | $164,630 | $191,160 | $211,202 | $178,847 | $194,066 |
| Fundraising | $132,807 | $130,755 | $135,915 | $93,608 | $153,247 |
| Total expenses | $3,021,386 | $2,742,744 | $2,231,393 | $1,891,613 | $2,100,546 |
| Change in net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($352,913) | ($188,102) | $532,270 | $380,488 | $170,452 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($352,913) | ($188,102) | $532,270 | $380,488 | $170,452 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Owens Suzanne | Chief Executive Officer | $88,492 |
| Freeman Leslie | Chief Operating Officer | $71,928 |
| Head Cathy | Chief Financial Officer | $31,216 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2023
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 1/9/2025. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Sozo Children was founded on May 13, 2010, out of an urgent need to care for neglected children in Uganda. When two missionaries discovered a group of children in dire need of care-they did the only thing they knew to do. In just ten days, and with the local Ugandan Government's help, a new home was started initially providing seventeen children a roof over their heads, clean clothes, and hope for the future.