Financial Integrity
Children of the Nations (COTN) is a 501(c)(3) organization. COTN has been awarded a Four Star Rating from Charity Navigator in recognition of the good stewardship we practice with the money given to us by donors like you. Our financial integrity has also earned us the endorsement of the ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability). Taking care of the investments with which we are entrusted is a top priority, and we believe maintaining integrity through transparency is an important way to communicate that your money is in good hands.
COTN's charity ID (employer identification number) is 91-1702551.
IRS Forms and Independent Audit Report
• 2023 IRS Form 990 ( 2023 Independent Audit Report )
• 2022 IRS Form 990 ( 2022 Independent Audit Report )
• 2021 IRS Form 990 ( 2021 Independent Audit Report )
• 2020 IRS Form 990 ( 2020 Independent Audit Report )
• 2019 IRS Form 990 ( 2019 Independent Audit Report )
• 2018 IRS Form 990 ( 2018 Independent Audit Report )
• 2017 IRS Form 990 ( 2017 Independent Audit Report )
• 2016 IRS Form 990 ( 2016 Independent Audit Report )
• 2015 IRS Form 990 (2015 Independent Audit Report )
• 2014 IRS Form 990 ( 2014 Independent Audit Report )
• 2013 IRS Form 990 ( 2013 Independent Audit Report )
• 2012 IRS Form 990 ( 2012 Independent Audit Report )
• 2011 IRS Form 990 ( 2011 Independent Audit Report )
• 2010 IRS Form 990 ( 2010 Independent Audit Report )
Year-End Financial Reports
COTN policies in effect to ensure our financial integrity:
Donor Privacy Policy
COTN is committed to respecting donors' privacy. Once a donor chooses to provide us with personal information, this information will only be used to support the relationship with COTN. We will never give or sell our mailing list or email list to others or interrupt a donor’s privacy with fundraising phone calls. If a donor changes their email address in their donor profile, any previously selected email preferences associated with that profile, will apply to the newly submitted email address associated with that profile. If donors prefer not to receive mailings or email from COTN, they can notify us by mail, email, or phone and they will be removed from our mailing list. You can find contact information right here.
COTN keeps donor information on file in order to provide gift receipts for tax purposes and to tailor subsequent communications to the donor. Information is used to complete a transaction, communicate to the donor, and update the donor on child sponsorship and special events. All donor information is kept in a password protected database and is never shared with others. For electronic donations by credit card or bank account, all donor information is in a password protected system and stored in a secure location at our Silverdale office. Credit card and bank account information is used only for processing funds donated and is not retained for other purposes.
Donor information can include name, address, phone number, email address, gift details, sponsorship details, mailing preferences, and bank or credit card information if the donor gives electronically. Donors may contact us by mail, email, or phone to update or change their donor information.
Personal Data
This section of the COTN privacy policy will explain how our organization uses the personal data we collect from you when you use our website.
What data do we collect?
COTN collects the following data:
- Personal identification information (Name, email address, phone number, home address, and birthday)
How do we collect your data?
You directly provide COTN with most of the data we collect. We collect data and process data when you:
- Register online or become a donor (see our Donor Privacy Policy for more information).
- Voluntarily complete a donor survey or provide feedback on any of our message boards or via email.
- Use or view our website via your browser’s cookies.
How will we use your data?
COTN collects your data so that we can:
- Process your donation and manage your account.
- Email and text message you with special offers, upcoming events, and content we think you might like.
- Send direct mail materials to your address.
When COTN processes your donation, it may send your data to, and also use the resulting information from, credit reference agencies to prevent fraudulent donations.
How do we store your data?
COTN securely stores your data in a password protected database and is never shared with others.
Marketing
COTN would like to send you information about events and services of ours that we think you might like if you have agreed to receive marketing, you may always opt out at a later date.
You have the right at any time to stop COTN from contacting you for marketing purposes. If you no longer wish to be contacted for marketing purposes, please email info@cotni.org.
What are your data protection rights?
COTN would like to make sure you are fully aware of all of your data protection rights. Every user is entitled to the following:
The right to access – You have the right to request COTN for copies of your personal data. if you request printed copies mailed to you, we may charge you a small fee.
The right to rectification – You have the right to request that COTN correct any information you believe is inaccurate. You also have the right to request COTN to complete the information you believe is incomplete.
The right to erasure – You have the right to request that COTN erase your personal data, under certain conditions.
The right to restrict processing – You have the right to request that COTN restrict the processing of your personal data, under certain conditions.
The right to object to processing – You have the right to object to COTN’s processing of your personal data, under certain conditions.
The right to data portability – You have the right to request that COTN transfer the data that we have collected to another organization, or directly to you, under certain conditions.
If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you. If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact us at our email: info@cotn.org
Call us at: 360-698-7227
Or write to us:
CHILDREN OF THE NATIONS
P.O. Box 3970
Silverdale, WA 98383
Cookies
Cookies are text files placed on your computer to collect standard Internet log information and visitor behavior information. When you visit our websites, we may collect information from you automatically through cookies or similar technology
For further information, visit allaboutcookies.org.
How do we use cookies?
COTN uses cookies in a range of ways to improve your experience on our website, including:
- Keeping you signed in
- Understanding how you use our website
What types of cookies do we use?
There are a number of different types of cookies, however, our website uses:
- Functionality – COTN uses these cookies so that we recognize you on our website and remember your previously selected preferences. These could include what language you prefer and location you are in. A mix of first-party and third-party cookies are used.
- Advertising – COTN uses these cookies to collect information about your visit to our website, the content you viewed, the links you followed and information about your browser, device, and your IP address. COTN sometimes shares some limited aspects of this data with third parties for advertising purposes. We may also share online data collected through cookies with our advertising partners. This means that when you visit another website, you may be shown advertising based on your browsing patterns on our website.
How to manage cookies
You can set your browser not to accept cookies, and the above website tells you how to remove cookies from your browser. However, in a few cases, some of our website features may not function as a result.
Privacy policies of other websites
The COTN website contains links to other websites. Our privacy policy applies only to our website, so if you click on a link to another website, you should read their privacy policy.
Changes to our privacy policy
COTN keeps its privacy policy under regular review and places any updates on this web page. This privacy policy was last updated on 7 June 2019.
How to contact us
If you have any questions about COTN’s privacy policy, the data we hold on you, or you would like to exercise one of your data protection rights, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Email us at: info@cotn.org
Call us: 360-698-7227
Or write to us at:
CHILDREN OF THE NATIONS
P.O. Box 3970
Silverdale, WA 98383
Accounting Policies
Description of Operations
Children of the Nations (referenced hereafter as “the Organization”) is incorporated as a non-profit corporation. Its purpose is to provide holistic Christ-centered care to orphaned and destitute children, enabling them to create positive and lasting change in their nations. The locations of operations include the headquarters in Silverdale, Washington, and offices in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin. The organization directly supports, through financial and organizational resources, foreign aid non-governmental (NGOs) in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Malawi, Sierra Leone, and Uganda.
Basis of Accounting
The Organization has adopted a policy of preparing its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; accordingly the financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting.
Basis of Presentation
The organization follows the recommendations of the Financial Accounting Standards Board in its Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 958 Not-for-Profit Entities. Under ASC 958, the Organization is required to report information regarding its financial position and activities according to two classes of net assets: with donor restrictions, and without donor restrictions.
With donor restrictions: Net assets that result from contributions whose use by the Organization is restricted by donor imposed stipulations that may expire with the passage of time or can be fulfilled or otherwise removed by actions of the Organization.
Without donor restrictions: Net assets that are not restricted by donor stipulation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect certain reported amounts and disclosures. Accordingly, actual results could differ from those estimates.
Contributions
The Organization accounts for contributions in accordance with the recommendations of the Financial Accounting Standards Board in its ASC 958.605, “Accounting for Contributions Received and Contributions Made.” In accordance with ASC 958.605.15, contributions received are recorded as net assets with donor restriction or without donor restriction depending on the existence, nature and fulfillment of any donor stipulations that limit the use of the donated assets. Contributions that are restricted by the donor are reported as increases in net assets without donor restriction if the restrictions are fulfilled or expire in the fiscal year in which such contributions are recognized. Other restricted contributions are reported as increases in net assets with donor restriction and are reclassified to net assets without donor restriction upon fulfillment or expiration of the donor restriction in a later fiscal year.
Donated services are recognized as contributions in accordance with ASC 958.605 if the services (a) create or enhance non-financial assets or (b) require specialized skills, are provided by individuals possessing those skills, and would typically need to be purchased if not provided by donation. Volunteers provide general office and administrative support throughout the year that are not recognized as contributions in the financial statements since the recognition criteria under ASC 958 were not met.
The Organization also mandates a 10% administrative fee on most monetary donations, to be used for unrestricted purposes of the Organization.
Income Tax Status
The Organization is exempt from income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and has been classified by the Internal Revenue Service as a not-for-profit organization and is not classified as a “private foundation” within the meaning of Section 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Management evaluated the Organization’s tax positions and concluded that the Organization had taken no uncertain tax positions that require adjustment to the financial statements.