Kids Around The World 
The information on this page was last updated 3/5/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
All it takes is an encounter with hope to make a lasting impact.
Together, our three programs meet both physical and spiritual needs of kids around the world. By providing meals, giving the gift of playgrounds, and making the Bible come to life through story, we are delivering hope and helping kids to encounter Jesus firsthand.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Kids Around The World
5245 28th Avenue
Rockford, IL 61109
Website: kidsaroundtheworld.com
Phone: 815-229-8731
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 364007250
CEO/President: Jeff Rosene
Chairman: Bill & Tonya Meister
Board size: 26
Founder: Denny and Evie Johnson
Ruling year: 1996
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2002
Purpose
We will strategically impact the lives of four million children through our outreach programs (KIDStory, OneMeal, and Playgrounds) by the year 2020. We recognize that nearly 25% of children under the age of 14 who hear and believe the Gospel message will begin a relationship with Jesus, so our vision is to see one million one lives transformed.
We also recognize that 85% of children learn best through teaching that is oral based, so we will share the message of God's love primarily through Bible Storying. Our training will focus on methods and strategies that will assist in creating environments where children can be nurtured to make an impact in their communities.
Our primary area of focus will be in communities where the Church isn't engaged to meet the needs of children, or there is no Church presence at all. In order for us to accomplish our vision, we partner and network with like-minded churches, organizations, and individuals to globally impact the lives of children.
Mission statement
We impact the lives of kids and their surrounding communities with God's transforming hope through food, play, and story.
Statement of faith
Articles
| 6/19/2026 | Life Action Ministries No Longer Files Form 990, Falls Into 'Exercise Caution' Category |
Donor confidence score
Show donor confidence score details
To understand our donor confidence score, click here.
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Relief and Development
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 485 of 1420 | 46 of 114 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 629 of 1420 | 51 of 114 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 405 of 1420 | 37 of 114 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 742 of 1421 | 59 of 114 |
To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 5% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 4% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 5% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 4% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 98% | 99% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 5% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 2% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 86% | 90% | 91% | 90% | 88% | 89% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 99% | 95% | 97% | 84% | 94% | 92% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 83% | 85% | 88% | 76% | 83% | 81% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 1% | 5% | 3% | 16% | 6% | 8% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 6% | 11% | 6% | 27% | 9% | 21% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 7% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 6% | 7% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.50 | 1.65 | 1.62 | 1.29 | 1.30 | 2.34 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.16 | 2.94 | 4.67 | 4.86 | 3.12 | 5.21 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.06 | 4.86 | 7.56 | 6.27 | 4.05 | 12.18 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 11.75 | 17.14 | 20.13 | 20.03 | 19.78 | 12.61 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.08 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.90 | 2.33 | 1.51 | 1.82 | 2.81 | 0.91 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 8% | 14% | 16% | 12% | 17% | 3% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 12% | 15% | 11% | 15% | 1% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 54% | 52% | 52% | 68% | 64% | 42% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2024 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Cash | $828,295 | $827,552 | $621,345 | $810,699 | $266,266 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $922,286 | $94,907 | $176,091 | $142,615 | $125,920 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $50,867 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $1,750,581 | $922,459 | $797,436 | $953,314 | $443,053 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $559,254 | $602,840 | $591,725 | $597,787 | $65,169 |
| Other long-term assets | $2,839,726 | $2,783,363 | $2,486,086 | $1,424,754 | $1,798,604 |
| Total long-term assets | $3,398,980 | $3,386,203 | $3,077,811 | $2,022,541 | $1,863,773 |
| Total assets | $5,149,561 | $4,308,662 | $3,875,247 | $2,975,855 | $2,306,826 |
| Liabilities | 2024 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $102,142 | $45,828 | $39,812 | $48,207 | $35,137 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $102,142 | $45,828 | $39,812 | $48,207 | $35,137 |
| Debt | $600,369 | $626,673 | $420,213 | $450,649 | $22,607 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $3,714 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $604,083 | $626,673 | $420,213 | $450,649 | $22,607 |
| Total liabilities | $706,225 | $672,501 | $460,025 | $498,856 | $57,744 |
| Net assets | 2024 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Without donor restrictions | $4,443,336 | $3,592,255 | $3,305,222 | $2,300,442 | $2,155,082 |
| With donor restrictions | $0 | $43,906 | $110,000 | $176,557 | $94,000 |
| Net assets | $4,443,336 | $3,636,161 | $3,415,222 | $2,476,999 | $2,249,082 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2024 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Total contributions | $8,921,988 | $7,176,445 | $5,940,162 | $4,098,158 | $5,870,297 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $60,922 | $15,048 | $1,385 | ($5,929) | $6,803 |
| Other revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total other revenue | $60,922 | $15,048 | $1,385 | ($5,929) | $6,803 |
| Total revenue | $8,982,910 | $7,191,493 | $5,941,547 | $4,092,229 | $5,877,100 |
| Expenses | 2024 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Program services | $7,630,597 | $6,338,554 | $4,501,167 | $3,401,617 | $4,775,316 |
| Management and general | $405,310 | $250,250 | $247,728 | $246,861 | $374,079 |
| Fundraising | $464,857 | $381,385 | $254,747 | $215,307 | $245,175 |
| Total expenses | $8,500,764 | $6,970,189 | $5,003,642 | $3,863,785 | $5,394,570 |
| Change in net assets | 2024 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $482,146 | $221,304 | $937,905 | $228,444 | $482,530 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $482,146 | $221,304 | $937,905 | $228,444 | $482,530 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Jeffrey J Rosene | President/Ce | $213,156 |
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 3/5/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
In 1994, KATW began when Denny and Evie Johnson came up with a plan to help Rockford's sister cities around the world (sister cities allow for average citizens to engage in diplomatic relationships). One of Rockford's many sister cities is Brovary, Ukraine. As a gift to Brovary, KATW built the first of two playgrounds for the city's children.
In March 2000, Jim Rosene started working full-time for KATW as President. For the first 6 years, Kids Around the World was an all volunteer organization - gifted men and women led the charge under the leadership of the Board of Directors. As the organization continued to grow, it became obvious they needed a full-time leader and in March 2000, Kids Around the World welcomed Jim Rosene as their President.
In 2008, KATW started OneMeal, a mobile food-packing program that feeds children worldwide. Local churches, schools, businesses, and civic groups even host food packing events at their own locations or at the KATW warehouse.
From the very beginning, we had an outreach to children with puppets, songs and flannelgraphs, but realized we could accomplish so much more if we were able to train and equip leaders with an oral-based strategy: Bible Storytelling. It was in 2015 that we officially launched KIDStory, impacting lives of children by creating an environment where they are loved and accepted, play games, and have fun learning the Bible.
In October 2015, we launched an aggressive campaign, One Million One! In order to accomplish our goals, we needed more space and in May 2016 we moved to our new location in Rockford - nearly 50,000 square feet of warehousing - allowing us to accomplish so much more.
Our story began 25 years ago when a team of volunteers traveled to Ukraine to build a playground for children in need.
Since then, we have built over 800 playgrounds, shipped over 27,000,000 meals, and nearly 20,000 KIDStory Clubs have been launched, providing ongoing storytelling methodology centered on Jesus' hope.
Program accomplishments
SINCE 1994, AND WITH YOUR HELP, WE HAVE DONE BIG THINGS!
1003+ PLAYGROUNDS BUILT
49.7+ MILLION MEALS PROVIDED
891+ ACTIVE STORYCLUBS
35+ HOPE ZONES IN 3 COUNTRIES