Bethany Christian Services 
The information on this page was last updated 5/2/2024. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Bethany supports vulnerable kids and families in the U.S. and around the world, because everyone deserves to be safe, loved, and connected. Today, 140 million kids don't have a permanent home. That's unacceptable. At Bethany, we witness what happens when people choose love. Not theoretical, unblemished love, but the real, messy, imperfect kind.
Love that empowers vulnerable kids and families everywhere. The children hurting at home, and the ones unprotected at a border. The orphans and vulnerable children who feel alone, and the refugees living in a world of uncertainty. Everyone deserves to be loved. Together, we can change the world through family.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Bethany Christian Services
901 Eastern Ave. NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Website: www.bethany.org
Phone: (800) 238-4269
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 381405282
CEO/President: Keith Cureton
Chairman: Mark Augustyn
Board size: 13
Founder: Marguerite Bonnema and Mary DeBoer
Ruling year: 1987
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
Bethany envisions a world where all children, youth, and families are safe, loved, and connected.
Mission statement
Bethany demonstrates the love and compassion of Jesus Christ by protecting children, empowering youth, and strengthening families through quality social services.
Statement of faith
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Adoption/Foster Care
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 1109 of 1118 | 38 of 41 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 1069 of 1119 | 37 of 41 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 1117 of 1119 | 40 of 41 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 942 of 1118 | 31 of 41 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 12% | 463% | 1910% | 704% | 120% | 137% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 12% | 14% | 21% | 16% | 15% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 72% | 3% | 1% | 3% | 13% | 11% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 11% | 14% | 19% | 15% | 15% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 28% | 97% | 99% | 97% | 87% | 89% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 81% | 19% | 23% | 10% | 2% | 3% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 98% | 106% | 100% | 115% | 105% | 97% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 77% | 21% | 23% | 11% | 2% | 3% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 2% | -6% | 0% | -15% | -5% | 3% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 3% | -3% | 0% | -9% | -2% | 1% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 12% | 69% | 64% | 71% | 82% | 82% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.83 | 0.38 | 0.57 | 0.54 | 0.33 | 0.28 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.35 | 1.49 | 1.58 | 1.66 | 1.41 | 1.53 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.54 | 0.57 | 0.90 | 0.89 | 0.47 | 0.43 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 10.29 | 3.39 | 25.71 | 16.24 | 4.40 | 4.01 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.10 | 0.30 | 0.04 | 0.06 | 0.23 | 0.25 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 7.16 | 14.91 | 12.77 | 12.69 | 19.73 | 21.04 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 10% | 36% | 23% | 27% | 33% | 32% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 15% | 19% | 21% | 15% | 14% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 97% | 169% | 135% | 137% | 200% | 241% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Cash | $9,823,282 | $4,872,774 | $4,628,251 | $6,941,233 | $3,990,415 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $3,426,865 | $2,665,153 | $2,993,722 | $2,012,540 | $2,638,280 |
| Short-term investments | $29,099,531 | $24,586,167 | $22,486,548 | $39,575,302 | $35,344,261 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $42,349,678 | $32,124,094 | $30,108,521 | $48,529,075 | $41,972,956 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $20,344,763 | $18,019,499 | $18,800,816 | $18,704,687 | $21,343,910 |
| Other long-term assets | $351,460 | $586,743 | $961,376 | $1,184,609 | $794,573 |
| Total long-term assets | $20,696,223 | $18,606,242 | $19,762,192 | $19,889,296 | $22,138,483 |
| Total assets | $63,045,901 | $50,730,336 | $49,870,713 | $68,418,371 | $64,111,439 |
| Liabilities | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $12,506,296 | $1,249,548 | $1,854,284 | $11,033,331 | $10,454,142 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $12,506,296 | $1,249,548 | $1,854,284 | $11,033,331 | $10,454,142 |
| Debt | $9,410,180 | $9,674,536 | $10,418,531 | $10,364,399 | $9,225,619 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $493,505 | $734,866 | $1,117,690 | $1,361,825 | $1,010,645 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $9,903,685 | $10,409,402 | $11,536,221 | $11,726,224 | $10,236,264 |
| Total liabilities | $22,409,981 | $11,658,950 | $13,390,505 | $22,759,555 | $20,690,406 |
| Net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Without donor restrictions | $37,217,078 | $35,030,414 | $31,207,740 | $42,017,014 | $40,069,292 |
| With donor restrictions | $3,418,842 | $4,040,972 | $5,272,468 | $3,641,802 | $3,351,741 |
| Net assets | $40,635,920 | $39,071,386 | $36,480,208 | $45,658,816 | $43,421,033 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Total contributions | $583,165 | $206,250 | $708,752 | $2,923,261 | $1,969,156 |
| Program service revenue | $21,451,342 | $27,896,120 | $21,673,751 | $17,765,486 | $15,309,743 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $580,146 | $802,778 | $891,070 | $989,559 | $1,168,585 |
| Other revenue | $30,493 | $36,505 | $46,521 | $32,081 | $37,941 |
| Total other revenue | $22,061,981 | $28,735,403 | $22,611,342 | $18,787,126 | $16,516,269 |
| Total revenue | $22,645,146 | $28,941,653 | $23,320,094 | $21,710,387 | $18,485,425 |
| Expenses | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Program services | $4,660,347 | $6,538,994 | $2,623,224 | $487,412 | $574,444 |
| Management and general | $16,651,413 | $18,531,097 | $19,098,116 | $18,795,867 | $14,701,917 |
| Fundraising | $2,701,481 | $3,939,284 | $4,991,816 | $3,518,699 | $2,703,545 |
| Total expenses | $24,013,241 | $29,009,375 | $26,713,156 | $22,801,978 | $17,979,906 |
| Change in net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($1,368,095) | ($67,722) | ($3,393,062) | ($1,091,591) | $505,519 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($1,368,095) | ($67,722) | ($3,393,062) | ($1,091,591) | $505,519 |
Compensation
Compensation data for this ministry has not been collected.
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 5/2/2024. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
In 1944, friends Marguerite Bonnema and Mary DeBoer opened their home to care for a baby girl who needed emergency shelter. Over the next few months, they took in five more babies, and a vision was born to help more children.
That fall, with help from Andrew VanderVeer, they founded Bethany Christian Home as a nonprofit organization. And in 1945, they moved the home to a residence on 13-acres in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where Bethany's headquarters stands today.
They knew then that families, not institutions, are the best source of care and connection for children. So in 1951, Bethany became a licensed adoption agency, helping 25 children find permanence with a family.
Today-across the country and around the world-Bethany partners with churches and communities to strengthen and preserve families, find families for children who need them, and support refugees and immigrants who have fled danger. Because everyone deserves to be safe, loved, and connected.
One selfless act of hospitality set a global mission in motion. More than 80 years later, we believe-like Marguerite and Mary-that together, we can change the world through family.
Program accomplishments
Bethany is reviewed by the Council of Accreditation on a regular basis to receive its reaccreditation. The accreditation process is designed to identify providers that have set high performance standards for themselves and have made a commitment to their constituents to deliver the highest quality services. COA continually recognizes Bethany Christian Services as one of these outstanding providers.
Over 75 years ago, we began our work by serving a single child. Today, we work in more than 30 states and more than a dozen countries worldwide, serving more than 50,000 people every year.