International Friendships, Inc. 
The information on this page was last updated 3/17/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
International students often struggle with culture shock, stress, and loneliness when leaving their homes to study in the US. International Friendships, Inc. (IFI) is a national organization partnering with local churches, universities, and volunteers to provide life-changing hospitality and friendship to international students. We work strategically to make the world feel at home and extend God's love globally - right where we are.
International Friendships, Inc. (IFI) is a community organization that works in partnership with universities and Christian volunteers to promote friendship and hospitality for international students, scholars, and their families. IFI also partners with internationals through on-campus student organizations.
We seek to promote friendship and hospitality for international students. The students participating come from a variety of countries. Staff members work closely with volunteers from local churches to provide various services that address the social, cultural, and spiritual interests of international students. Our activities are open to students from all cultural and religious backgrounds.
IFI respects the role of university officials engaged in serving international students and scholars. We strive to have a high level of integrity and responsibility in our interactions with university officials and with international students and scholars. We adhere to the NAFSA: Association of International Educators Statement of Ethical Principles in our ministry to international students and scholars.
Contact information
Mailing address:
International Friendships, Inc.
PO Box 933319
Columbus, OH 44193
Website: www.ifipartners.org
Phone: (614) 294-2434
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 310971249
CEO/President: Rich Mendola
Chairman: Rick Negley
Board size: 12
Founder: Phil Saksa / Mabel Bahler
Ruling year: 1980
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 08/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1994
Purpose
Vision: God's love extended globally in partnership with spiritually vibrant international students
1-on-1 friendships mean the world to us: Our goal is to match every international student with a local friend. No program can replace a genuine friendship.
We link arms with local churches from day one: We work closely with local churches to help mobilize their congregations into cross-cultural friendships.
We keep training so you keep learning: We are committed to providing resources and training to improve our volunteers' cultural understanding.
Mission statement
To extend life-changing hospitality and friendship to international students out of reverence for Jesus
Statement of faith
We Believe:
1. that the scriptures of the Old and New Testament are inspired by God, inerrant in the original writings, and of supreme and final authority in faith and life (2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21);
2. in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (1 John 5:7; Genesis 1:26; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 9:6; Hebrews 1:8-9);
3. that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary and is true God and true man (John 1:1, 14, 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Philippians 2:5-6; 1 Timothy 2:5);
4. that man was created in the image of God; that he sinned, and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death (which is separation from God) and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature (Genesis 1:26-31, 3:1-7; Romans 5:12- 21);
5. that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice, and that all who believe in Him are justified on the grounds of His shed blood (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 16:31; Hebrews 9:22; John 1:12);
6. in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in His ascension into heaven, and in His present life there for us, as High Priest and Advocate (Luke 24:36, 39; John 2:19, 20:26- 28; Philippians 3:20-21);
7. in "that blessed hope," the personal and imminent return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 11:26; Philippians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 3:13, 4:15-5:4, 5:23; 2 Timothy 4:8; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:28, 10:25, 37; 1 John 2:28, 3:2-3; Revelation 3:11; 16:15, 22:12-13, 22:20-21);
8. that all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God (John 1:12, 3:16; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3, 8:9, 10:9-10; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 1:13-14, 2:8-9; Galatians 3:26; Titus 3:5);
9. in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting punishment of the lost (John 5:28-29; Acts 17:31, 24:15; 1 Corinthians 15:12; Revelation 20:12-13); and
* This Doctrinal Statement does not exhaust the extent of IFI's beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Evangelism
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 945 of 1104 | 38 of 45 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 696 of 1105 | 29 of 45 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 864 of 1105 | 37 of 45 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 833 of 1104 | 28 of 45 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 7% | 9% | 9% | 9% | 9% | 12% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 9% | 9% | 9% | 8% | 11% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 97% | 97% | 99% | 98% | 97% | 95% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 9% | 9% | 10% | 9% | 13% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 3% | 3% | 1% | 2% | 3% | 5% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 82% | 74% | 73% | 74% | 78% | 71% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 99% | 99% | 95% | 85% | 94% | 90% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 78% | 74% | 69% | 63% | 74% | 64% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 1% | 1% | 5% | 15% | 6% | 10% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 1% | 1% | 7% | 23% | 9% | 15% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 11% | 17% | 18% | 16% | 13% | 16% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.01 | 0.97 | 1.17 | 1.12 | 1.15 | 1.23 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.53 | 2.32 | 1.82 | 1.93 | 1.99 | 1.07 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.22 | 2.26 | 2.13 | 2.16 | 2.28 | 1.32 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 11.32 | 1.55 | 22.09 | 26.14 | 9.20 | 20.23 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.09 | 0.64 | 0.05 | 0.04 | 0.11 | 0.05 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.64 | 1.89 | 5.38 | 5.34 | 4.68 | 8.64 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 11% | 36% | 15% | 17% | 21% | 8% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 6% | 10% | 12% | 13% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 74% | 66% | 72% | 74% | 69% | 75% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Cash | $1,619,690 | $1,406,145 | $1,254,635 | $818,830 | $1,719,492 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $101,928 | $45,286 | $43,586 | $374,269 | $25,862 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $1,721,618 | $1,451,431 | $1,298,221 | $1,193,099 | $1,745,354 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $2,279,172 | $1,188,603 | $1,209,906 | $1,183,302 | $124,065 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $2,279,172 | $1,188,603 | $1,209,906 | $1,183,302 | $124,065 |
| Total assets | $4,000,790 | $2,640,034 | $2,508,127 | $2,376,401 | $1,869,419 |
| Liabilities | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $1,108,374 | $65,703 | $49,659 | $129,688 | $86,289 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $1,108,374 | $65,703 | $49,659 | $129,688 | $86,289 |
| Debt | $238,416 | $261,228 | $297,174 | $300,000 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $87,366 | $80,393 | $81,990 | $60,368 | $61,128 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $325,782 | $341,621 | $379,164 | $360,368 | $61,128 |
| Total liabilities | $1,434,156 | $407,324 | $428,823 | $490,056 | $147,417 |
| Net assets | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Without donor restrictions | $2,559,134 | $2,215,910 | $2,077,574 | $1,538,547 | $1,665,251 |
| With donor restrictions | $7,500 | $16,800 | $1,730 | $347,798 | $56,751 |
| Net assets | $2,566,634 | $2,232,710 | $2,079,304 | $1,886,345 | $1,722,002 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Total contributions | $3,797,594 | $3,196,555 | $3,208,359 | $2,814,006 | $2,448,412 |
| Program service revenue | $67,292 | $19,798 | $31,716 | $46,018 | $43,463 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $2,756 | $883 | $5,916 | $18,865 | $68,387 |
| Other revenue | $52,649 | $24,735 | $37,952 | $9,528 | $5,124 |
| Total other revenue | $122,697 | $45,416 | $75,584 | $74,411 | $116,974 |
| Total revenue | $3,920,291 | $3,241,971 | $3,283,943 | $2,888,417 | $2,565,386 |
| Expenses | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Program services | $2,882,654 | $2,251,474 | $2,074,082 | $2,131,853 | $1,635,412 |
| Management and general | $672,181 | $544,612 | $445,990 | $349,171 | $374,520 |
| Fundraising | $342,948 | $292,891 | $285,591 | $242,838 | $293,206 |
| Total expenses | $3,897,783 | $3,088,977 | $2,805,663 | $2,723,862 | $2,303,138 |
| Change in net assets | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $22,508 | $152,994 | $478,280 | $164,555 | $262,248 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $22,508 | $152,994 | $478,280 | $164,555 | $262,248 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Richard Mendola | CEO | $125,326 |
| Don Hayes | CFO | $74,713 |
| T Scott Holahan | COO | $60,585 |
Compensation data as of: 8/31/2022
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 3/17/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
For a timeline, visit: https://www.ifipartners.org/about/history
Program accomplishments
43 campuses
136 churches
1,196 volunteers
Needs
- Funding for national ministry expansion
- More volunteers to befriend, serve and equip more international students
- New staff on campuses where internationals are studying