Blessman International 
The information on this page was last updated 10/2/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Transforming a nation one child at a time.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Blessman International
2557 106th Street
Urbandale, IA 50322
Phone: (515)343-5920
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 421523757
CEO/President: Dr. James Blessman
Chairman:
Board size: 9
Founder: Jim & Beth Blessman
Ruling year: 2002
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2015
Purpose
By 2030, tens of thousands of South African children will know eternal hope through Jesus Christ, have access to basic human services, and receive the nurturing support necessary to reach their potential.
Mission statement
Blessman International, our donors, and volunteers bring God's love and eternal hope to South African families. We do this through faith formation and locally sustainable programs that:
Feed hungry people
Foster food-secure communities
Offer dignity through the provision of basic water and sanitation
Provide opportunities for child development and learning
Statement of faith
We believe in one God, the creator of all things revealed in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe Jesus is the Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary. He is fully God and fully man, completely holy.
We believe the Bible is the Word of God, it is the final authority, and it is divinely inspired and inerrant.
We believe Jesus Christ died on the cross, shedding His blood, and rose again in atonement for our sins giving us eternal life in Him.
We believe that to be forgiven, we must repent of our sins and believe that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
We believe that Jesus Christ will return as promised and will rule and reign on the earth.
We believe in the Lord Jesus' power and the resurrection of the dead. The wicked will be judged, and the saved will enter a new Heaven and new earth.
We believe those who have accepted Jesus Christ's gift of redemption are part of the body of Christ, regardless of religious denomination.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Foreign Missions
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 656 of 1123 | 66 of 123 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 749 of 1124 | 82 of 123 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 518 of 1124 | 49 of 123 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 560 of 1123 | 56 of 123 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 5% | 7% | 8% | 7% | 12% | 13% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 12% | 13% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 98% | 97% | 98% | 101% | 101% | 99% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 7% | 7% | 8% | 11% | 13% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 2% | 3% | 2% | -1% | -1% | 1% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 85% | 87% | 85% | 86% | 79% | 79% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 99% | 96% | 100% | 84% | 111% | 102% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 85% | 83% | 86% | 72% | 88% | 80% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 1% | 4% | 0% | 16% | -11% | -2% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | 8% | 0% | 26% | -30% | -4% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 9% | 6% | 7% | 6% | 11% | 8% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.38 | 1.66 | 1.50 | 1.31 | 2.48 | 1.94 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.30 | 3.13 | 2.89 | 3.43 | 1.81 | 1.46 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.28 | 5.21 | 4.35 | 4.50 | 4.47 | 2.84 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 18.96 | 4.46 | 5.16 | 8.37 | 8.21 | 4.18 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.05 | 0.22 | 0.19 | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.24 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.07 | 1.79 | 2.22 | 2.35 | 2.36 | 3.22 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 7% | 8% | 7% | 3% | 15% | 16% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 8% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 62% | 55% | 62% | 74% | 34% | 43% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Cash | $532,244 | $413,221 | $459,483 | $369,560 | $363,885 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $70,966 | $129,149 | $38,443 | $14,730 | $234,901 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $603,210 | $542,370 | $497,926 | $384,290 | $598,786 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $28,116 | $23,913 | $29,211 | $34,123 | $39,766 |
| Other long-term assets | $1,256,658 | $1,001,243 | $1,182,940 | $275,250 | $236,785 |
| Total long-term assets | $1,284,774 | $1,025,156 | $1,212,151 | $309,373 | $276,551 |
| Total assets | $1,887,984 | $1,567,526 | $1,710,077 | $693,663 | $875,337 |
| Liabilities | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $58,000 | $41,339 | $45,369 | $42,041 | $66,216 |
| Other current liabilities | $77,302 | $63,735 | $14,137 | $4,750 | $76,864 |
| Total current liabilities | $135,302 | $105,074 | $59,506 | $46,791 | $143,080 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $56,800 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $9,910 | $11,312 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $9,910 | $11,312 | $0 | $56,800 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $145,212 | $116,386 | $59,506 | $103,591 | $143,080 |
| Net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Without donor restrictions | $1,312,025 | $1,068,659 | $1,384,042 | $427,891 | $414,629 |
| With donor restrictions | $430,747 | $382,481 | $266,529 | $162,181 | $317,628 |
| Net assets | $1,742,772 | $1,451,140 | $1,650,571 | $590,072 | $732,257 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Total contributions | $3,193,973 | $2,306,929 | $2,690,696 | $1,550,330 | $1,655,797 |
| Program service revenue | $108,257 | $68,068 | $4,715 | $432 | $14,168 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | ($1,396) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other revenue | ($24,262) | ($22,517) | ($20,665) | ($8,361) | ($2,825) |
| Total other revenue | $82,599 | $45,551 | ($15,950) | ($7,929) | $11,343 |
| Total revenue | $3,276,572 | $2,352,480 | $2,674,746 | $1,542,401 | $1,667,140 |
| Expenses | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Program services | $2,724,954 | $2,013,783 | $1,925,193 | $1,351,208 | $1,339,813 |
| Management and general | $186,989 | $170,670 | $134,774 | $184,016 | $143,162 |
| Fundraising | $230,334 | $174,449 | $182,485 | $182,827 | $215,471 |
| Total expenses | $3,142,277 | $2,358,902 | $2,242,452 | $1,718,051 | $1,698,446 |
| Change in net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $134,295 | ($6,422) | $432,294 | ($175,650) | ($31,306) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $134,295 | ($6,422) | $432,294 | ($175,650) | ($31,306) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Robert Seaberg | Us Ops Director | $32,760 |
| Larry Vanderpool | Top Fin Officer | $5,021 |
| C Beth Blessman | Director | $777 |
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 10/2/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
After visiting over 70 countries on short-term mission trips, Dr. Jim and Beth Blessman began working with Jacques van Bommel, the founder and director of Reaching a Generation (RaG). Eventually, the ministry grew and developed into its own entity to offer South African children and young adults God's love and eternal hope through faith formation and programs to feed hungry children, foster food-secure communities, and offer dignity through basic water and sanitation.
Blessman International now has three campuses in the Limpopo province of South Africa. The Thompson Campus is home to our offices, Lethabo Sewing and Training Center, staff housing, and the Leroy Blessman Lodge of Dreams which houses guests and service teams. The Del Cramer Campus is home to Lighthouse Christian Church. It is also where the Del Cramer Child Development Center operates, which includes an after-school program for impoverished children, a computer lab, a bakery, a soccer and netball sports complex, a sewing center, and a small agricultural area. The Mountain View Farm campus is where Blessman International has a more extensive farming operation that supplements the feeding centers, additional staff housing, and the Ridgway Youth Hostel, where agricultural students are housed. Mountain View Hope Christian Church is located nearby.
Blessman International, Inc. is a non-profit corporation established as a charitable organization under IRS Section 501(c)(3) in the United States. In South Africa, Blessman International, Inc. is a registered NGO. All gifts are tax-deductible and are used to purchase ministry supplies and to pay for direct expenses of the ministry. The ministry employs US office staff to handle day-to-day administrative responsibilities; however, Dr. Blessman does not take a salary from the ministry.
Program accomplishments
We've planted two churches and share the Good News of Jesus Christ with over 3,000 students each week.
We distribute over 6,000,000 meals each year to hungry children through our network of feeding hubs.