BBB Wise Giving Report for
Mercy Ships

BBB Wise Giving Report issued January 2011
BBB Wise Giving Report expires January 2013


This BBB Accredited charity meets all 20 Standards for Charity Accountability and is a Seal Holder. Find out more...


Find out more about this charity:

Back To Top

Charity Contact Information

Name: Mercy Ships
Address: Post Office Box 2020
  Garden Valley, TX 75771
Phone: 903-939-7000
Web Address: www.mercyships.org
Back To Top

BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1983, California
Affiliates: Mercy Ships International, Mercy Ships Foundation
Stated Purpose: "to minister to the needs of the whole person, spiritually and physically."

Back To Top

Evaluation Conclusions

               

Mercy Ships (MS) meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Back To Top

Programs

               

Mercy Ships is a global charity that has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978. Mercy Ships aims to bring hope and healing to the forgotten poor by mobilizing people and resources worldwide, and serving all people without regard for race, gender, or religion.

For the year ended December 31, 2009, MS's program expenses were:

  
Ship and field operations 42,487,252
Total Program Expenses: $42,487,252
Back To Top

Governance

               

Chief Executive : Samuel T. Smith, Chief Executive Officer
Compensation*:
 $175,628

Highest Paid Executive: Donald K. Stephens, President/Founder
Compensation*: $233,577

Chair of the Board: Michael E. Ullman, III
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: CEO and Chairman of JC Penney

Board Size: 32

Paid Staff Size: 212

*2009 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Back To Top

Fund Raising

               

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, special events, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, and membership appeals.
Fund raising costs were 11% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $50,239,183, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
Back To Top

Tax Status

               

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
Back To Top

Financial

               

The following information is based on MS's audited financial statements (combined with affiliates) for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Contributions 23,320,165
Contributed services 16,613,066
Contributed goods 6,535,768
Contributions for staff support 3,770,184
Fee revenue 1,758,842
Sales and other revenue 1,033,199
Gain on sale of assets 27,549
Loss on foreign exchange -194,045
Total Income $52,864,728


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 82%  Fund Raising: 11%  Administrative: 7% 

Total income   $52,864,728
  Program expenses $42,487,252
  Fund raising expenses 5,615,792
  Administrative expenses 3,623,179
 
Total expenses   $51,726,223
Income in Excess of Expenses   1,138,505
Beginning net assets   50,493,068
Other Changes in Net Assets 493,710
Ending net assets   52,125,283
Total liabilities   10,412,364
Total assets   $62,537,647

Note: In the financial section above, "other changes in net assets" refers to a change in cumulative translation adjustments.

Back To Top

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.

This report is not to be used for fund raising or promotional purposes.

Send to:



What is an Accredited Charity