Better Business Bureau

Charity Contact Information BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments Programs

Tax Status Governance Fund Raising Financial

Name:	Direct Relief International
Address:	27 South La Patera Lane
	Santa Barbara, CA 93117
Phone:	805-964-4767 805-681-4838
Web Address:	www.directrelief.org

Direct Relief International (DRI) meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

DRI provides medical assistance to improve the quality of life for people affected by poverty, disaster, and civil unrest in the United States and throughout the world. The organization reports that it works to strengthen the in-country health efforts of over 250 international partners in 58 countries and over 1,000 safety-net health centers and clinics in all 50 states in the U.S. by providing material resources – medicines, supplies and equipment. DRI’s medical assistance programs help to equip health professionals working in resource-poor communities to meet the challenges of diagnosing, treating, and caring for people without regard to politics, religion, gender, race, or ability to pay. DRI has formulated maternal and child health programs that focus on improving essential medical services for women and children, including prenatal care, safe delivery, care for low-birth weight babies, and access to basic medicines, supplies, and nutritional support for newborns and their mothers. DRI also distributes emergency preparedness supplies to local schools and communities and personal care products to local shelters, social service agencies, and relief centers.

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, DRI's program expenses were:

International services	145,302,000
Domestic services	61,393,000
International disaster	15,640,000
Soouthern California fire services	2,029,000
Tsunami services	487,000
Total Program Expenses:	$224,851,000

Chief Executive : Thomas E. Tighe, President/CEO

Compensation*:

$304,946

Chair of the Board: Stanley C. Hatch
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Retired Attorney

Board Size: 31

Paid Staff Size: 53

*April 1, 2007 - March 31, 2008 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, special events, print advertisements, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, and cause-related marketing.

Fund raising costs were 1% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $199,761,000, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)

DRI incurred joint costs of $119,011 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs $89,240 was allocated to administrative expenses and $29,771 was allocated to fund raising expenses.

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.

The following information is based on DRI's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008.

Source of Funds
Pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and equipment	187,473,000
Contributions	8,755,000
Corporate and foundation grants	2,081,000
Investment income	1,110,000
Gain on sale of investments	1,051,000
Contributed freight	549,000
Special events	437,000
Professional services received	301,000
Workplace giving compaigns	156,000
Contributed goods - other	9,000
Program service fees	5,000
Change in value - split interest agreements	-3,000
Unrealized loss on investments	-688,000
Total Income	$201,236,000

Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 98%  Fund Raising: 1%  Administrative: 1%

Total income				$201,236,000
	Program expenses			$224,851,000
	Fund raising expenses			1,234,000
	Administrative expenses			1,746,000
Total expenses				$227,831,000
Expenses in Excess of Income				(26,595,000)
Beginning net assets				130,887,000
Ending net assets				104,292,000
Total liabilities				2,232,000
Total assets				$106,524,000

Note: DRI's March 31, 2008 financial statements report in-kind contributions in the amount of $188,332,744. Included in this amount is $179,697,086 (pharmaceuticals), $6,132,578 (medical supplies), $1,643,740 (medical equipment), $548,614 (donated freight) and $301,457 (donated goods/services).