Zoe International
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
REACH EVERY PERSON: BRING THE GOOD NEWS. TRAIN FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST.RESCUE EVERY CHILD: END CHILD TRAFFICKING. RESTORE SURVIVORS AND AT-RISK ORPHANS.
- Income
- $6.7 million
- Spending
- $7.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 2.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 84%
- Employees
- 70
- Volunteers
- 75
- Highest pay
- $169,865, chief operating officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $3.1 million spent. HOUSING AND RELATED SERVICESOF THE 13 HIGH-INTENSITY AREAS IDENTIFIED IN THE UNITED STATES BY THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION FOR CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING, THREE ARE LOCATED IN CALIFORNIA: LOS ANGELES, SAN FRANCISCO, AND SAN DIEGO METROPOLITAN AREAS. ZOE HOME FOR YOUTH (ZHY) PROVIDES SPECIALIZED, INTENSIVE TREATMENT AND 24-HOUR CARE AND SUPERVISION FOR UP TO 6 YOUTH, AGES 12-17, WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND OTHER SLAVE-LIKE TREATMENT. ZHY SUPPORTS YOUTH IN DEVELOPING FAMILY CONNECTIONS AND NATURAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)STAFF ASSIST YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN IDENTIFYING AND CULTIVATING THEIR INHERENT STRENGTHS TO AID IN THEIR HEALING PROCESS FROM THE IMPACTS OF TRAUMA. THESE RELATIONAL CONNECTIONS EASE THEIR TRANSITIONS TO FAMILY-BASED PLACEMENT OR INDEPENDENT LIVING AND PROMOTE LONG-TERM PERSONAL SUCCESS. ZOE ALSO PROVIDES RESOURCES, REFERRAL SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND TRAUMA INFORMED ACTIVITIES TO YOUNG SURVIVORS OF TRAFFICKING WHO ARE IN THE CARE OF THE COUNTY'S DCFS AND DEPARTMENT OF PROBATION. ZOE PROVIDES ONGOING VICTIM ADVOCACY SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES UPON RESCUE FROM TRAFFICKING OR WHEN A SOCIAL WORKER SUSPECTS A CHILD IS BEING TRAFFICKED OR AT RISK OF BEING TRAFFICKED.
- $2.1 million spent. ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION THROUGH ZOE'S ADVOCACY PROGRAM, WE SERVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY HUMAN TRAFFICKING OR ARE AT HIGH RISK OF TRAFFICKING. WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR OUR AMAZING PARTNERS WHO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES FOR THE CHILDREN WE SERVE. ZOE HAS AN ADVOCACY SERVICES CONTRACT AND A PLACEMENT CONTRACT FOR ZOE HOME FOR YOUTH (ZHY) WITH THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES (THE COUNTY), DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (DCFS) AND SUPPORTS THE DCFS IN A VARIETY OF WAYS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)ZOE SUPPLIES RESOURCES AND GIFTS AND ASSISTS IN COORDINATING EVENTS FOR THE TRAFFICKED CHILDREN SERVED BY THE COUNTY, AS WELL AS CONDUCTS HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS AND PREVENTION EVENTS THAT PROVIDE INFORMATION THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES AT THE HOME, INCLUDE TRAUMA INFORMED, ARTS-BASED ACTIVITIES TEACHING LIFE SKILLS AND POSITIVE STRATEGIES TO RESPOND TO LIFE CHALLENGES. ZOE PRODUCES PODCASTS THAT WE HOPE WILL EDUCATE THE WORLD ABOUT THE ISSUE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. IN OUR PODCAST "LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS" WE AIM TO SHINE THE LIGHT ON THE ISSUE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING BY SHARING HONEST STORIES OF HOPE AND BY SHARING PRACTICAL ADVICE THAT WE HOPE WILL INSPIRE OTHERS TO FIGHT FOR FREEDOM. ZOE IS ALSO FOCUSED ON EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF KNOWLEDGE. WE CREATE HIGH-QUALITY, EDUCATIONAL BROCHURES, VIDEOS, AND OTHER MATERIALS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES FROM TRAFFICKING. PART OF THE RESTORATION PROCESS FOR THE OLDER TEENS IS GIVING THEM TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO LIVE A LIFE OUTSIDE OF OUR HOME.
- $1.2 million spent. MISSIONSJESUS SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES, "THE HARVEST TRULY IS PLENTIFUL, BUT THE LABORERS ARE FEW. THEREFORE, PRAY THE LORD OF THE HARVEST TO SEND OUT LABORERS INTO HIS HARVEST." (MATTHEW 9:37-38). ZOE EMPLOYS A NUMBER OF MISSIONARIES AND THEIR FAMILIES. MANY OF OUR MISSIONARIES HAVE JOINED OUR ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION AFTER WITNESSING CHILDREN RESCUED FROM HUMAN TRAFFICKING TRANSFORM INTO HAPPY AND WELL-ROUNDED INDIVIDUALS. THE RESTORATION THEY WITNESSED IN ZOE CHILDREN WAS ENOUGH TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES AND JOBS IN THE UNITED STATES TO SERVE AS ZOE MISSIONARIES IN THAILAND. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)HAVING GOD'S HEART FOR THE NATIONS MAKES US BETTER CHRISTIANS, RESULTING IN OUR SERVICE TO HIM GROWING AND EXPANDING WHEREVER HE PLANTS US. ZOE IS INSPIRING THE CHURCH TO ENGAGE IN WORLD MISSIONS BY TEACHING AT CHURCHES, SEMINARS, AND CONFERENCES; PROVIDING LONG-TERM MISSIONARY TRAINING AND PLACEMENT; PLANNING SPECIALIZED SHORT-TERM MISSIONS; AND ENCOURAGING CONTINUAL PRAYER UNTIL EVERY PERSON HAS HEARD THE GOSPEL.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2003.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Map International (Brunswick, GA), EIN 36-2586390. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.