BBB Wise Giving Report for
Mercy Corps

BBB Wise Giving Report issued December 2009
BBB Wise Giving Report expires February 2012


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


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Charity Contact Information

Name: Mercy Corps
Address: 45 SW Ankeny Street
  Portland, OR 97204
Phone: 503-896-5000
800-292-3355
Web Address: www.mercycorps.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1981, Washington
Affiliates: Mercy Enterprise Corporation dba Mercy Corps NW, Mercy Corps Foundation, Pax World Service, Mercy Cuts, Project Global Village, Mercy Corps Headquarters Building LLC, Mercy Corps Headquarters Manager, Inc., Mercy Corps Headquarters Master Tenant, LLC, Mercy Corps Headquarters Master Tenant Manager, LLC
Stated Purpose: "to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities."

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

Mercy Corps (MC) meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

MC is a global humanitarian organization which provides assistance to individuals and families in need in over 40 countries. When humanitarian disasters strike, the organization provides emergency relief, including food, water, shelter and other critical supplies. Where people struggle to provide the basics for their families, Mercy Corps makes small loans to help people start their own businesses, helps farmers grow better crops, and ensures that children have food, medical care and the opportunity to go to school.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008, MC's program expenses were:

  
Humanitarian assistance - relief 80,906,437
Livelihood/economic development 36,393,225
Humanitarian assistance - recovery 27,992,530
Civil society 19,320,531
Health 10,824,209
Total Program Expenses: $175,436,932
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Haiti Earthquake Relief Activities

               

MC continues to provide emergency relief to families living in camps in Port-au-Prince, including water, sanitation, psychosocial support, and temporary income through cash-for-work.  The organization reports that it in 28 camps in the Tabarre and Petionville areas of Port-au-Prince, MC is providing access to latrines and clean water, and helping families stay healthy by teaching them good hygiene practices.  MC has also started a water voucher system in 12 of the camps, which allows families in the camps to get their water directly from a nearby vendor, who MC reimburses.  MC is also providing 30-day employment to both displaced and host families and giving grants to families for use to address their immediate needs.

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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Neal Keny-Guyer, Chief Executive Officer
Compensation*:
 $274,656

Chair of the Board: Linda A. Mason
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Chairperson and Co-Founder, Bright Horizons Family Solutions

Board Size: 19

Paid Staff Size: 3700

*July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2008 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
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Fund Raising

               

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, telemarketing, special events, print advertisements, radio, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, and cause-related marketing.
Fund raising costs were 5% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $212,993,775, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
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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.
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Financial

               

The following information is based on MC's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008.

Source of Funds  
Government grants 76,157,043
Material aid 64,179,082
Private contributions 33,909,794
Other grants 27,772,209
Material aid- monetized 5,972,949
Contributions received for the aquisition of program related investments 5,777,998
Other revenue 5,548,309
Contributions and capital advances received for the aquisition of property 5,197,649
Total Income $224,515,033


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 87%  Fund Raising: 5%  Administrative: 8% 

Total income   $224,515,033
  Program expenses $175,436,932
  Fund raising expenses 10,685,425
  Administrative expenses 17,088,020
 
Total expenses   $203,210,377
Income in Excess of Expenses   21,304,656
Beginning net assets   44,983,044
Other Changes in Net Assets (1,103,410)
Ending net assets   65,184,290
Total liabilities   66,954,451
Total assets   $132,138,741

Note 1: Other changes in net assets above represents $1,103,410 in misdirected shipments considered by the organization to be stolen.

Note 2: MC's financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2008 reports gifts of in kind income of $64,179,082. This amount consists of pharmaceuticals ($35,276,517), apparel and household goods ($25,005,961), USG commodities ($3,368,457), construction and rehabilitation ($319,725), and computers ($208,422).

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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.

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