International Students Inc. 
The information on this page was last updated 9/27/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
International Students, Inc. ("ISI") strives to share Christ's love with international students and to equip them for effective service in cooperation with the local church and others. It is the vision of ISI to see every international student befriended, led to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and discipled for His service. ISI volunteers and staff help students with such things as learning about American culture, problems needing a native speaker, finding an American Christian mentor in their academic discipline, and (if interested) in learning about our Creator God and the Bible.
Contact information
Mailing address:
International Students Inc.
PO Box C
Colorado Springs, CO 80901
Website: internationalstudents.org
Phone: (719) 576-2700
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 530214853
CEO/President: Dr. See Seng Tan
Chairman:
Board size: 8
Founder:
Ruling year: 1953
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 09/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1982
Purpose
International Students, Inc. ("ISI") strives to share Christ's love with international students and to equip them for effective service in cooperation with the local church and others. It is the vision of ISI to see every international student befriended, led to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and discipled for His service.
ISI has field staff in more than 218 cities across the U.S., serving more than 404 campuses. While International Students, Inc. is a Christian organization, students need not be Christians to participate. Those from any nationality and all religious backgrounds are welcome and encouraged to participate. ISI offers international students social service and spiritual activities. It is not necessary to participate in spiritual activities in order to receive other services. Our services and friendship are offered unconditionally and students will not be pressured regarding participation in spiritual activities. ISI is committed to working with the local church, training volunteers and providing assistance as needed, so that volunteers within the churches can have an effective ministry to international students in their own community. We also partner with other ministries working to reach international students so that our focus is on coordination, not competition.
ISI volunteers and staff help students with such things as learning about American culture, problems needing a native speaker, finding an American Christian mentor in their academic discipline, and (if interested) in learning about our Creator God and the Bible.
Mission statement
International Students, Inc. exists to share Christ's love with international students and to equip them for effective service in cooperation with the local church and others.
Statement of faith
What We Believe
We believe in the divine inspiration and authority of the Scriptures. By this is meant a miraculous guidance of the Holy Spirit in their original writing, extending to all parts of the Scripture equally, applying even to the choice of the words, so that the result is the very Word of God; the only infallible rule of faith and practice. Moreover, it is our conviction that God has exercised such singular care and providence through the ages in preserving the written Word, that the Scriptures as we now have them are in every essential particular as originally given, and contain all things necessary to salvation.
We believe in the one God revealed as existing in three equal Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We believe in the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe in the Holy Spirit as a Divine Person, a personality as distinct as the Father and the Son.
We believe that as through one man sin entered the world and death through sin, so death passed unto all people, for that all have sinned.
We believe in the death of Jesus Christ, as a true substitute, and that His death was a sufficient expiation for the guilt of all people. We believe in His bodily resurrection from the dead.
We believe that those who receive Christ by faith have a new life from God given to them.
We believe that people are justified by faith alone and are counted as righteous before God only by the merit of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ imputed to them.
We believe in the everlasting conscious blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting conscious punishment of the lost.
We believe in the personal return of our Lord.
We believe it to be the supreme responsibility of the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ to make His Gospel known to all people."
Guiding Biblical Principles:
Final Authority for Matters of Belief and Conduct:
ISI's Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of International Students, Inc.'s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Executive Team/Board of Trustees is International Students, Inc.'s final interpretive authority on the Bible's meaning and application.
Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality:
We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God (Gen 1:26-27). Rejection of one's biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.
We believe that the term "marriage" means the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture (Gen 2:18-25). We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other (1 Cor 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb 13:4). We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman
We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and the use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God (Matt 15:18-20; 1 Cor 6:9-10).
We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of ISI as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to ISI members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by International Students, Inc. in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality (Matt 5:16; Phil 2:14-16; 1 Thess 5:22).
We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19-21; Rom 10:9-10; 1 Cor 6:9-11).
We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31). Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of International Students, Inc.
Statement of the Sanctity of Human Life:
We believe that all human life from conception through natural death is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are, therefore, called to defend, protect, and value all human life (Ps 139).
Statement on Racial Injustice
As a ministry dedicated to sharing Christ's love with international students-many of whom are people of color and all of whom are created in God's image-ISI unreservedly condemns racism and discrimination in all its forms against all peoples. We believe and affirm that we are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28), and we repent and confess where we have failed to uphold that truth in thought, word, and deed. We are wholly committed to fulfilling the biblical injunction to be makers of peace and ministers of reconciliation (Matthew 5:9; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20).
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Fellowship Evangelism
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 779 of 1096 | 26 of 32 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 890 of 1098 | 27 of 32 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 751 of 1098 | 21 of 32 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 431 of 1096 | 18 of 32 |
Click here to read International Students Inc.'s response to our ratings
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 7% | 12% | 13% | 13% | 13% | 13% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 11% | 12% | 13% | 13% | 13% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 87% | 86% | 94% | 96% | 97% | 98% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 7% | 13% | 13% | 13% | 13% | 14% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 13% | 14% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 2% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 83% | 78% | 77% | 77% | 76% | 77% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 93% | 82% | 91% | 98% | 98% | 92% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 75% | 64% | 70% | 75% | 75% | 71% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 7% | 18% | 9% | 2% | 2% | 8% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 10% | 27% | 16% | 5% | 5% | 19% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 11% | 9% | 9% | 10% | 10% | 9% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.16 | 1.14 | 1.09 | 1.44 | 1.50 | 1.48 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.40 | 1.43 | 1.41 | 1.83 | 1.88 | 1.93 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.55 | 1.63 | 1.53 | 2.64 | 2.81 | 2.86 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 13.01 | 30.25 | 22.17 | 10.04 | 9.93 | 9.45 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.07 | 0.03 | 0.05 | 0.10 | 0.10 | 0.11 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 7.04 | 7.10 | 7.50 | 4.10 | 3.84 | 3.75 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 7% | 3% | 32% | 27% | 28% | 30% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 29% | 21% | 23% | 25% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 81% | 84% | 62% | 51% | 48% | 47% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Cash | $3,769,381 | $3,838,006 | $1,438,546 | $1,226,924 | $1,506,942 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Short-term investments | $3,591,573 | $3,958,239 | $3,226,113 | $3,181,245 | $2,661,831 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $7,360,954 | $7,796,245 | $4,664,659 | $4,408,169 | $4,168,773 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $3,042,510 | $3,112,517 | $3,579,065 | $3,712,725 | $3,751,530 |
| Other long-term assets | $108,686 | $68,881 | $310,247 | $163,136 | $133,629 |
| Total long-term assets | $3,151,196 | $3,181,398 | $3,889,312 | $3,875,861 | $3,885,159 |
| Total assets | $10,512,150 | $10,977,643 | $8,553,971 | $8,284,030 | $8,053,932 |
| Liabilities | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $243,370 | $351,592 | $384,404 | $385,131 | $380,513 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $80,000 | $58,676 | $60,760 |
| Total current liabilities | $243,370 | $351,592 | $464,404 | $443,807 | $441,273 |
| Debt | $0 | $3,130,293 | $1,814,134 | $1,915,156 | $1,994,582 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $115,805 | $55,442 | $57,764 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $115,805 | $3,185,735 | $1,871,898 | $1,915,156 | $1,994,582 |
| Total liabilities | $359,175 | $3,537,327 | $2,336,302 | $2,358,963 | $2,435,855 |
| Net assets | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Without donor restrictions | $4,310,289 | $2,935,057 | $2,317,778 | $2,275,158 | $2,281,935 |
| With donor restrictions | $5,842,676 | $4,505,259 | $3,899,891 | $3,649,909 | $3,336,142 |
| Net assets | $10,152,975 | $7,440,316 | $6,217,669 | $5,925,067 | $5,618,077 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Total contributions | $12,692,935 | $12,337,212 | $12,104,397 | $12,320,236 | $12,643,442 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $1,786,026 | $528,625 | $138,325 | $25,176 | $11,376 |
| Other revenue | $257,070 | $274,331 | $342,110 | $361,209 | $301,992 |
| Total other revenue | $2,043,096 | $802,956 | $480,435 | $386,385 | $313,368 |
| Total revenue | $14,736,031 | $13,140,168 | $12,584,832 | $12,706,621 | $12,956,810 |
| Expenses | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Program services | $9,370,045 | $9,228,192 | $9,488,313 | $9,468,019 | $9,142,766 |
| Management and general | $1,093,777 | $1,087,622 | $1,214,817 | $1,285,491 | $1,122,788 |
| Fundraising | $1,559,560 | $1,601,707 | $1,589,100 | $1,646,121 | $1,647,542 |
| Total expenses | $12,023,382 | $11,917,521 | $12,292,230 | $12,399,631 | $11,913,096 |
| Change in net assets | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $2,712,649 | $1,222,647 | $292,602 | $306,990 | $1,043,714 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $2,712,649 | $1,222,647 | $292,602 | $306,990 | $1,043,714 |
Compensation
Compensation data for this ministry has not been collected.
Response from ministry
International Students, Inc. (ISI) is private Christian church registered under IRS code 501(c)3 and 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(1)(A)(i). As a church, ISI is exempt from IRS 990 filings. However, ISI believes strongly in transparency and makes its audited financials available to the public. ISI has been a member in good standing with the ECFA since 1982. ISI has also voluntarily provided compensation data for its top executive to Ministry Watch. Board of Trustees members are unpaid volunteers of the organization with the exception of the CEO.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 9/27/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Program accomplishments
Needs
ISI has communicated the following needs:
Prayer- ISI's ministry relies heavily on prayer. Through the persistent prayers of intercessors, ISI's team is watching lives change and miracles happen. Information on how to get involved maybe found on ISI website.
ISI is always in need of volunteers. The following are just a few areas one may help; Friendship Partners, ISI Affiliates and Associates and ISI Ministry Representatives. Additional information may be found on ISI's website.