Blessman International

The information on this page was last updated 4/5/2023. 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

Website: blessmaninternational.org

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.

Transparency grade

A

To understand our transparency grade, click here.


Financial efficiency ratings

Sector: Foreign Missions

CategoryRatingOverall rankSector rank
Overall efficiency rating650 of 107772 of 140
Fund acquisition rating725 of 107892 of 140
Resource allocation rating525 of 107854 of 140
Asset utilization rating565 of 107770 of 140

Financial ratios

Funding ratiosSector median20212020201920182017
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts =
Fundraising expense /
Total contributions
5%7%12%13%17%7%
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio =
Fundraising expense /
Total revenue
4%7%12%13%15%6%
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance =
Total contributions /
Total revenue
98%101%101%99%89%92%
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio =
Fundraising expense /
Total expenses
5%8%11%13%16%7%
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance =
Total other revenue /
Total revenue
2%-1%-1%1%11%8%
 
Operating ratiosSector median20212020201920182017
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio =
Program services /
Total expenses
84%86%79%79%77%71%
Spending ratio Spending ratio =
Total expenses /
Total revenue
89%84%111%102%98%87%
Program output ratio Program output ratio =
Program services /
Total revenue
75%72%88%80%75%62%
Savings ratio Savings ratio =
Surplus (deficit) /
Total revenue
11%16%-11%-2%2%13%
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate =
Surplus (deficit) /
Net assets
15%26%-30%-4%5%32%
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio =
Management and general expense /
Total expenses
10%6%11%8%8%21%
 
Investing ratiosSector median20212020201920182017
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total assets
1.151.312.481.941.731.81
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment =
Total assets /
Total current assets
1.183.431.811.461.501.55
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total current assets
1.644.504.472.842.612.80
 
Liquidity ratiosSector median20212020201920182017
Current ratio Current ratio =
Total current assets /
Total current liabilities
23.968.378.214.186.3310.66
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio =
Total current liabilities /
Total current assets
0.040.120.120.240.160.09
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level =
(Total current assets -
Total current liabilities) /
(Total expenses / 12)
6.682.352.363.223.873.88
 
Solvency ratiosSector median20212020201920182017
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio =
Total liabilities /
Total assets
6%3%15%16%23%18%
Debt ratio Debt ratio =
Debt /
Total assets
0%0%8%0%0%0%
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio =
Net assets /
Total expenses
82%74%34%43%45%46%

Financials

Balance sheet
 
Assets20212020201920182017
Cash$459,483$369,560$363,885$456,066$544,935
Receivables, inventories, prepaids$38,443$14,730$234,901$166,982$10,642
Short-term investments$0$0$0$0$0
Other current assets$0$0$0$0$0
Total current assets$497,926$384,290$598,786$623,048$555,577
Long-term investments$0$0$0$0$0
Fixed assets$29,211$34,123$39,766$45,234$46,503
Other long-term assets$1,182,940$275,250$236,785$268,968$256,725
Total long-term assets$1,212,151$309,373$276,551$314,202$303,228
Total assets$1,710,077$693,663$875,337$937,250$858,805
 
Liabilities20212020201920182017
Payables and accrued expenses$45,369$42,041$66,216$98,496$52,141
Other current liabilities$14,137$4,750$76,864$0$0
Total current liabilities$59,506$46,791$143,080$98,496$52,141
Debt$0$56,800$0$0$0
Due to (from) affiliates$0$0$0$0$0
Other long-term liabilities$0$0$0$112,797$99,093
Total long-term liabilities$0$56,800$0$112,797$99,093
Total liabilities$59,506$103,591$143,080$211,293$151,234
 
Net assets20212020201920182017
Without donor restrictions$1,384,042$427,891$414,629$328,756$493,663
With donor restrictions$266,529$162,181$317,628$397,201$213,908
Net assets$1,650,571$590,072$732,257$725,957$707,571
 
Revenues and expenses
 
Revenue20212020201920182017
Total contributions$2,690,696$1,550,330$1,655,797$1,474,486$1,650,013
Program service revenue$4,715$432$14,168$184,954$133,687
Membership dues$0$0$0$0$0
Investment income$0$0$0$0$286
Other revenue($20,665)($8,361)($2,825)$120$0
Total other revenue($15,950)($7,929)$11,343$185,074$133,973
Total revenue$2,674,746$1,542,401$1,667,140$1,659,560$1,783,986
 
Expenses20212020201920182017
Program services$1,925,193$1,351,208$1,339,813$1,244,520$1,109,563
Management and general$134,774$184,016$143,162$124,055$332,163
Fundraising$182,485$182,827$215,471$256,377$113,343
Total expenses$2,242,452$1,718,051$1,698,446$1,624,952$1,555,069
 
Change in net assets20212020201920182017
Surplus (deficit)$432,294($175,650)($31,306)$34,608$228,917
Other changes in net assets$0$0$0$0$0
Total change in net assets$432,294($175,650)($31,306)$34,608$228,917

Compensation

NameTitleCompensation
C Beth BlessmanDirector$8,185

Compensation data as of: 12/31/2019


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 4/5/2023. 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.


Needs