Keys for Kids Ministries 
The information on this page was last updated 1/31/2024. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Keys for Kids Ministries is an international Christian ministry, based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which produces and distributes excellent media resources to evangelize and disciple kids and their families.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Keys for Kids Ministries
2060 43rd St SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49508
Website: keysforkids.org
Phone: (616) 647-4500
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 381675000
CEO/President: Greg Yoder
Chairman: Duane Culver, CPA
Board size: 6
Founder: Mel Johnson
Ruling year: 1945
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 09/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1993
Purpose
To offer kids, teens, and families the opportunity to hear the Gospel, know Christ, and walk with Him.
Mission statement
We exist to ignite a passion for Christ in kids, teens, and families worldwide.
Statement of faith
We believe that:
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, and it is the final authority from God for our faith and practice.1
Jesus Christ was born of a virgin and is God in the flesh.2
The blood of Christ, shed through His death on the cross, is the only atonement for human sin.3
The death, burial, and bodily resurrection of Jesus and His ascension into heaven are literal facts.4
"The Church" is composed of all those who, by faith, have trusted Christ as Savior and Lord.5
The blessed hope of the Christian is the personal return of Jesus Christ to establish His eternal kingdom on earth and resurrect the bodies of all believers to everlasting life. Those who reject Jesus and His gift of salvation will be condemned to everlasting punishment.6
We believe in the Trinity with God as the Father, Jesus as the Son, and the Holy Spirit sent by God to be our Comforter-the Godhead, three in one.7
1 Luke 24:25-27; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Matt. 1:23; Luke 1:30-35; John 1:1-4, 14; 3 Rom. 5:8; 1 Pet. 2:24; 4 Luke 24:50-51; 1 Cor. 15:3-8 ; 5 1 Cor. 12:12-13 ; 6 Rom. 8:18-25; Rev. 21:1-8; 7 Matt. 28:19; Acts 9:31, 1 Cor. 12:11
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Educational Media
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 895 of 1118 | 34 of 45 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 816 of 1119 | 33 of 45 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 1042 of 1119 | 41 of 45 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 416 of 1118 | 17 of 45 |
According to the organization's Form 990, it received $386,918 in government grants in 2023.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 8% | 13% | 13% | 8% | 18% | 17% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 7% | 11% | 11% | 7% | 16% | 15% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 93% | 91% | 87% | 88% | 90% | 87% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 7% | 14% | 12% | 9% | 14% | 16% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 7% | 9% | 13% | 12% | 10% | 13% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 81% | 66% | 70% | 73% | 71% | 62% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 94% | 80% | 94% | 76% | 115% | 93% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 77% | 53% | 66% | 56% | 82% | 58% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 6% | 20% | 6% | 24% | -15% | 7% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 7% | 28% | 8% | 37% | -22% | 10% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 12% | 20% | 18% | 18% | 14% | 21% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.78 | 1.07 | 1.17 | 1.12 | 1.43 | 1.26 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.48 | 1.55 | 1.84 | 1.87 | 2.40 | 2.12 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.47 | 1.66 | 2.15 | 2.10 | 3.44 | 2.66 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 14.32 | 14.32 | 8.21 | 9.60 | 10.01 | 4.30 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.12 | 0.10 | 0.10 | 0.23 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 6.92 | 6.72 | 4.91 | 5.12 | 3.14 | 3.46 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 8% | 5% | 7% | 6% | 18% | 11% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 14% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 98% | 89% | 80% | 84% | 57% | 71% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Cash | $783,477 | $735,119 | $513,126 | $352,965 | $487,229 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $473,987 | $49,979 | $36,049 | $47,633 | $22,223 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $148,143 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $1,257,464 | $785,098 | $697,318 | $400,598 | $509,452 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $692,340 | $658,032 | $605,770 | $560,510 | $569,081 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $692,340 | $658,032 | $605,770 | $560,510 | $569,081 |
| Total assets | $1,949,804 | $1,443,130 | $1,303,088 | $961,108 | $1,078,533 |
| Liabilities | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $87,782 | $95,573 | $72,640 | $40,037 | $118,601 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $87,782 | $95,573 | $72,640 | $40,037 | $118,601 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $137,246 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $3,229 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $3,229 | $0 | $0 | $137,246 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $91,011 | $95,573 | $72,640 | $177,283 | $118,601 |
| Net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Without donor restrictions | $1,396,327 | $1,096,173 | $980,151 | $505,766 | $544,539 |
| With donor restrictions | $462,466 | $251,384 | $250,297 | $278,059 | $415,393 |
| Net assets | $1,858,793 | $1,347,557 | $1,230,448 | $783,825 | $959,932 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Total contributions | $2,358,557 | $1,566,334 | $1,680,647 | $1,080,549 | $1,258,325 |
| Program service revenue | $17,506 | $24,044 | $17,637 | $8,005 | $20,281 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $23,798 | ($1,424) | $149 | $146 | $543 |
| Other revenue | $200,397 | $210,595 | $214,866 | $111,284 | $173,879 |
| Total other revenue | $241,701 | $233,215 | $232,652 | $119,435 | $194,703 |
| Total revenue | $2,600,258 | $1,799,549 | $1,913,299 | $1,199,984 | $1,453,028 |
| Expenses | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Program services | $1,372,329 | $1,179,976 | $1,066,729 | $981,825 | $847,137 |
| Management and general | $418,684 | $304,972 | $270,172 | $197,346 | $290,023 |
| Fundraising | $298,009 | $200,844 | $126,423 | $196,920 | $218,786 |
| Total expenses | $2,089,022 | $1,685,792 | $1,463,324 | $1,376,091 | $1,355,946 |
| Change in net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $511,236 | $113,757 | $449,975 | ($176,107) | $97,082 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $511,236 | $113,757 | $449,975 | ($176,107) | $97,082 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Greg Yoder | President | $92,149 |
Compensation data as of: 9/30/2023
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 1/31/2024. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Keys for Kids expresses its history as follows:
In November of 1942, a group of men headed by Dr. David Otis Fuller inaugurated the first Children's Bible Hour broadcast on a local Grand Rapids station. Interest mounted, funds were supplied, and many radio stations were added. Today, by the guiding hand of God, Children's Bible Hour is a nation-wide program, and it is also heard in many foreign countries. The history of the Children's Bible Hour and the personal history of Charlie Vander Meer run along parallel lines. Children's Bible Hour began broadcasting in November 1942. About a year later, when he was nine years old, Charlie was picked out of a studio audience to participate in a live broadcast of CBH.
From there he went on to a regular spot in the program, reading from "Charlie's Scrapbook," reciting poems, helping in the dramatized stories, and often serving as "junior emcee." At 17, Charlie left the program for four years of college study, graduating in 1956 with a major in radio and television production. Immediately he joined the staff of Children's Bible Hour and in 1959 was named Assistant Director. He worked closely with "Aunt Bertha" Shooks until her retirement in 1972 when he assumed the directorship of the ministry and host of the radio programs.
Now known as "Uncle Charlie" to boys and girls around the world, he heads a ministry that is currently aired on 600 broadcast outlets in all 50 states and in approximately 80 foreign countries. In addition to broadcasts in the English language, Keys for Kids is involved in six foreign language broadcasts for children. Keys for Kids also has an extensive print ministry, specializing in a bi-monthly devotional guide for children called KEYS FOR KIDS. This book has also been printed in seven other languages. Audio-Visual materials produced by Keys for Kids include music and story cassettes, CD's, music and story Videos. The children heard on the radio broadcasts also appear in monthly concerts, and a 10-day summer tour.
In addition to serving on the Board of Directors of Keys for Kids, Charlie also serves on the Board of the Arizona based Family Life Communications. Charlie and his wife Bette have three grown children and eight grandchildren. Charlie also has a "wooden friend" named Wally who goes with him in many children's meetings, where Charlie has a presentation of ventriloquism, Gospel magic, and dramatized story. He believes that Jesus meant what He said in Mark 10:14: "LET THE CHILDREN COME TO ME...AND FORBID THEM NOT!"
Program accomplishments
Needs
Why is the need so great? Culture teaches our kids lies. Some churches have abandoned the gospel. And some parents are abdicating their responsibility to disciple their kids. Keys for Kids Ministries is pointing children and teens to truth, providing churches with biblical tools, and training parents around the world to disciple their kids. These efforts here and abroad take significant resources and prayer.
By supporting Keys for Kids today, you're helping kids, teens, and families worldwide know and follow Christ and create lifelong habits of being in God's Word every day.