SIL International

The information on this page was last updated 11/16/2022. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]


Summary

We are a global, faith-based nonprofit that works with local communities around the world to develop language solutions that expand possibilities for a better life. SIL's core contribution areas are Bible translation, literacy, education, development, linguistic research and language tools.

We are eager for the day when all people enjoy equal access to education, to socio-economic opportunities, and to resources for spiritual growth - no matter what language they speak or sign.


Contact information

Mailing address:
SIL International
7500 W. Camp Wisdom Road
Dallas, TX 75236-5629

Website: sil.org

Phone: 972-708-7300

Email: [email protected]


Organization details

EIN: 751840827

CEO/President: Dr. Michel Kenmogne

Chairman: Hans Combrink

Board size: 15

Founder: William Cameron Townsend

Ruling year: 1983

Tax deductible: Yes

Fiscal year end: 09/30

Member of ECFA: Yes

Member of ECFA since: 2020


Purpose

We long to see people flourishing in community using the languages they value most.

SIL's service with ethnolinguistic minority communities is motivated by the belief that all people are created in the image of God, and that languages and cultures are part of the richness of God's creation. SIL is founded on the principle that communities should be able to pursue their social, cultural, political, economic and spiritual goals without sacrificing their ethnolinguistic identity. As a faith-based nonprofit organization, SIL works alongside language communities as they discover how to harness the power of their language to address challenges and reach their goals.


Mission statement

Inspired by God's love, we advocate, build capacity, and work with local communities to apply language expertise that advances meaningful development, education, and engagement with Scripture.


Statement of faith

Donor confidence score

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Transparency grade

A

To understand our transparency grade, click here.


Financial efficiency ratings

Sector: Foreign Missions

CategoryRatingOverall rankSector rank
Overall efficiency rating702 of 103194 of 135
Fund acquisition rating236 of 103234 of 135
Resource allocation rating644 of 103275 of 135
Asset utilization rating982 of 1031130 of 135

Financial ratios

Funding ratiosSector median20212020201920182017
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts =
Fundraising expense /
Total contributions
4%2%0%0%0%0%
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio =
Fundraising expense /
Total revenue
4%1%0%0%0%0%
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance =
Total contributions /
Total revenue
98%72%72%67%64%62%
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio =
Fundraising expense /
Total expenses
5%1%0%0%0%0%
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance =
Total other revenue /
Total revenue
2%28%28%33%36%38%
 
Operating ratiosSector median20212020201920182017
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio =
Program services /
Total expenses
84%83%81%78%80%93%
Spending ratio Spending ratio =
Total expenses /
Total revenue
90%89%100%106%97%98%
Program output ratio Program output ratio =
Program services /
Total revenue
76%74%81%83%77%91%
Savings ratio Savings ratio =
Surplus (deficit) /
Total revenue
10%11%0%-6%3%2%
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate =
Surplus (deficit) /
Net assets
14%6%0%-4%2%1%
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio =
Management and general expense /
Total expenses
10%16%18%22%20%7%
 
Investing ratiosSector median20212020201920182017
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total assets
1.180.320.380.480.440.47
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment =
Total assets /
Total current assets
1.273.323.634.373.644.03
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total current assets
1.761.071.382.081.611.89
 
Liquidity ratiosSector median20212020201920182017
Current ratio Current ratio =
Total current assets /
Total current liabilities
20.650.920.930.901.061.06
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio =
Total current liabilities /
Total current assets
0.051.081.071.110.940.95
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level =
(Total current assets -
Total current liabilities) /
(Total expenses / 12)
6.03-0.92-0.64-0.640.430.34
 
Solvency ratiosSector median20212020201920182017
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio =
Total liabilities /
Total assets
8%33%30%26%26%24%
Debt ratio Debt ratio =
Debt /
Total assets
0%0%0%0%0%0%
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio =
Net assets /
Total expenses
77%209%184%155%166%162%

Financials

Balance sheet
 
Assets20212020201920182017
Cash$27,310,099$20,611,209$14,374,702$19,255,909$15,671,239
Receivables, inventories, prepaids$8,908,481$6,433,642$5,503,097$6,044,611$6,021,907
Short-term investments$0$0$0$0$0
Other current assets$0$0$0$0$0
Total current assets$36,218,580$27,044,851$19,877,799$25,300,520$21,693,146
Long-term investments$49,522,016$39,072,672$37,781,830$36,189,866$33,426,438
Fixed assets$32,048,270$30,312,980$27,633,935$29,260,706$30,433,645
Other long-term assets$2,543,333$1,801,171$1,527,587$1,239,572$1,812,637
Total long-term assets$84,113,619$71,186,823$66,943,352$66,690,144$65,672,720
Total assets$120,332,199$98,231,674$86,821,151$91,990,664$87,365,866
 
Liabilities20212020201920182017
Payables and accrued expenses$36,967,805$26,973,181$21,356,034$23,250,980$20,037,352
Other current liabilities$2,197,169$2,083,314$719,292$600,134$482,681
Total current liabilities$39,164,974$29,056,495$22,075,326$23,851,114$20,520,033
Debt$0$0$0$0$0
Due to (from) affiliates$0$0$0$0$0
Other long-term liabilities$395,137$432,285$415,630$399,607$384,190
Total long-term liabilities$395,137$432,285$415,630$399,607$384,190
Total liabilities$39,560,111$29,488,780$22,490,956$24,250,721$20,904,223
 
Net assets20212020201920182017
Without donor restrictions$70,083,784$62,242,398$58,508,385$60,568,222$59,877,752
With donor restrictions$10,688,304$6,500,496$5,821,810$7,171,721$6,583,891
Net assets$80,772,088$68,742,894$64,330,195$67,739,943$66,461,643
 
Revenues and expenses
 
Revenue20212020201920182017
Total contributions$31,201,534$26,880,971$25,918,427$26,976,968$25,854,576
Program service revenue$8,023,183$8,322,176$10,188,109$11,004,733$10,913,053
Membership dues$0$0$0$0$0
Investment income$2,699,306$636,478$834,736$2,401,120$3,179,134
Other revenue$1,391,559$1,630,585$1,960,099$1,673,715$2,088,728
Total other revenue$12,114,048$10,589,239$12,982,944$15,079,568$16,180,915
Total revenue$43,315,582$37,470,210$38,901,371$42,056,536$42,035,491
 
Expenses20212020201920182017
Program services$31,915,973$30,509,793$32,241,084$32,472,137$38,074,074
Management and general$6,138,715$6,815,408$9,052,628$8,197,660$2,939,988
Fundraising$534,851$127,583$107,344$69,068$29,055
Total expenses$38,589,539$37,452,784$41,401,056$40,738,865$41,043,117
 
Change in net assets20212020201920182017
Surplus (deficit)$4,726,043$17,426($2,499,685)$1,317,671$992,374
Other changes in net assets$0$0$0$0$0
Total change in net assets$4,726,043$17,426($2,499,685)$1,317,671$992,374

Compensation

NameTitleCompensation
Michel KenmogneExecutive Dir.$148,276
Mark RobinsonDirector$74,448
George ShultzSecretary$60,532
Daniel AgeeDirector$50,862
Eleanor Berry - Assist TreasurerCOO$45,755
Sunny HongDirector$39,718
Donald P Buhler - CFOTreasurer$31,467
Liz Thomson Vice ChairDirector$25,733
Mary PearceDirector$22,332
Yuko Takata - OutgoingDirector$20,705
Eugene C Burnham - AssistantSecretary$8,454
Aboubakari SamaDirector$7,927

Compensation data as of: 9/30/2020


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 11/16/2022. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]


History

The principal founder of SIL International was William Cameron Townsend (1896-1982). He began cross-cultural work with the Kaqchikel people of Guatemala in 1919. By 1929, Townsend's vision had broadened to include other peoples who also needed language development. SIL International (then known as the Summer Institute of Linguistics) began in 1934 as a summer training program in Arkansas, USA, with two students. The enrollment of these summer classes grew each subsequent year.

Kenneth L. Pike (1912-2000) was one of five students in the 1935 course. He began work on the Mixtec language in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. This work launched Pike into his life-long work in linguistics and the study of language in the context of human behavior. Dr. Pike served as President of SIL until 1979.

For a timeline, visit: sil.org/about/history


Program accomplishments

As of October 2021, we are involved in approximately 1,633 active language projects in 98 countries. These projects impact more than 855+ million people within 1,347 local communities. SIL's work brings together more than 4,200 staff from 84 countries who work alongside thousands more local partners and community volunteers worldwide.


Needs