Disable all preview features

International : Humanitarian Relief Supplies

Direct Relief

Deliver a world of good

four stars

98.23

6100 wallace becknell Santa Barbara, CA 93117
tel: (805) 964-4767   Web Site
EIN: 95-1831116

Board Leadership
Mark Schwartz
Board Chair

CEO
Thomas Tighe
President and CEO

 
 
  Score
(out of 100) 		Rating
Overall Score & Rating 98.23 four stars
  Financial 97.50 four stars
  Accountability & Transparency 100.00 four stars
This rating was published 07/01/2019 and includes data from FY2018, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

Direct Relief is a humanitarian organization, active in all 50 states and more than 80 countries, with a mission to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies.

Nongovernmental, nonsectarian, and not-for-profit, Direct Relief provides assistance to people and communities without regard to politics, religion, ethnic identities or ability to pay.

Direct Relief's assistance programs - which focus on emergency preparedness and disaster response and the prevention and treatment of disease - are tailored to the particular circumstances and needs of the world's most vulnerable and at-risk populations.

Direct Relief honors the generosity of its donors by following a firm policy of full transparency in all of its operations.

This tradition of transparent, direct and targeted assistance, provided in a manner that respects and involves the people served, has been a hallmark of the organization since its founding in 1948 by refugee war immigrant William Zimdin.

Direct Relief is a humanitarian organization, active in all 50 states and more than 80 countries, with a mission to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies.

Nongovernmental, nonsectarian, and not-for-profit, Direct Relief provides assistance to people and communities without regard to politics, religion, ethnic identities or ability to pay.

Direct Relief's assistance programs - which focus on emergency preparedness and disaster response and the prevention and treatment of disease - are tailored to the particular circumstances and needs of the world's most vulnerable and at-risk populations.

Direct Relief honors the generosity of its donors by following a firm policy of full transparency in all of its operations.

This tradition of transparent, direct and targeted assistance, provided in a manner that respects and involves the people served, has been a hallmark of the organization since its founding in 1948 by refugee war immigrant William Zimdin.

Impact Information

data icon
GuideStar is Charity Navigator's trusted partner in sharing information on how this organization seeks impact.  GuideStar has recognized this organization with a Platinum Seal of Transparency for voluntarily and publicly sharing information about how they measure their progress and results.  Learn More about Impact Information.
Reported Results
Showing 3 of 5
Total in 2018
Number of distribution outlets for products
1,697
Number of products distributed
155,152,000
Total value of in-kind materials the organization distributed
1,167,240,000
Number of deliveries of humanitarian medical resources to communities in need.
11,052
Number of countries supported with deliveries of humanitarian medical resources.
97
This organization has earned a GuideStar's Platinum Seal of Transparency by voluntarily sharing the measures of progress and results they use to pursue their mission. Organizations earn Platinum Seals by selecting from a catalog of over 900 expert recognized metrics or by creating a new metric that best fits their work. This information is reported by the organization and displayed publicly on their GuideStar Nonprofit Profile. With over 1.6 million Nonprofit Profiles, 9 million annual visitors and over 200 data partners, GuideStar is the world's leading source of information about nonprofit organizations. A nonprofit itself, GuideStar is dedicated to providing better data for better decisions for a better world.
This impact information is current as of January 2020, when it was provided to us by GuideStar. At this time, Impact information published on this organization's page has no effect on its rating per our methodology.

Learn more about how we calculate the overall score and rating.

Financial

four stars

97.50

Accountability & Transparency

four stars

100.00

This rating was published 07/01/2019 and includes data from FY2018, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?
Overall Rating Chart
  Program Expenses
(Percent of the charity's total expenses spent on the programs
and services it delivers)		 99.4%
  Administrative Expenses 0.3%
  Fundraising Expenses 0.1%
  Fundraising Efficiency < $0.01
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 0.24
  Program Expenses Growth 20.1%
  Liabilities to Assets 8.2%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Direct Relief on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Direct Relief on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
Information Provided on the Form 990  
  Independent Voting Board Members
  No Material diversion of assets
  Audited financials prepared by independent accountant
  Does Not Provide Loan(s) to or Receive Loan(s) From related parties
  Documents Board Meeting Minutes
  Provided copy of Form 990 to organization's governing body in advance of filing
  Conflict of Interest Policy
  Whistleblower Policy
  Records Retention and Destruction Policy
  CEO listed with salary
  Process for determining CEO compensation
  Board Listed / Board Members Not Compensated
Is the following information easily accessible on the charity's website?  
  Donor Privacy Policy
  Board Members Listed
  Audited Financials
  Form 990
  Key staff listed

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Direct Relief (CA) 98.23 four stars
Brother's Brother Foundation (PA) 92.38 four stars
Global Health Ministries (MN) 93.59 four stars
Christian Blind Mission International (IL) 91.16 four stars
Vitamin Angels (CA) 98.23 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $1,221,306,740
   Federated Campaigns $104,157
   Membership Dues $0
   Fundraising Events $0
   Related Organizations $9,653,506
   Government Grants $0
Total Contributions $1,231,064,403
   Program Service Revenue $0
Total Primary Revenue $1,231,064,403
   Other Revenue $4,219,086
TOTAL REVENUE $1,235,283,489
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $1,235,423,130
   Administrative Expenses $4,887,945
   Fundraising Expenses $2,196,157
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $1,242,507,232
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $-7,223,743
   
Net Assets $259,723,786

Program names and associated costs are listed for the top programs as reported on the charity's most recently filed Form 990. The top programs displayed will include the largest three programs, or those programs covering at least 60% of the charity's total expenses, whichever comes first.

Program Name Amount Spent % of Program Expenses
Community Health $829,490,496 67.1%
Disaster Response $292,275,668 23.7%
Disease Prevention and Treatment $106,935,138 8.6%

Ratings History
Direct Relief has received 9 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator.

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2018-06 07/01/2019 98.23 four stars
2017-06 05/01/2018 100.00 four stars
2016-06 05/01/2017 100.00 four stars
2015-06 07/01/2016 100.00 four stars
2014-06 06/01/2016 100.00 four stars
 
CN 2.0
2014-06 05/01/2015 99.94 four stars
2013-06 07/01/2014 99.71 four stars
2012-06 08/01/2013 99.90 four stars
2011-06 05/01/2012 99.91 four stars
2010-06 09/20/2011 99.92 four stars
 
CN 1.0
2010-06 02/01/2011 99.88 four stars
2009-06 07/01/2010 89.52 three stars
2008-03 05/01/2009 92.39 four stars
2007-03 06/01/2008 99.88 four stars
2006-03 03/01/2007 92.42 four stars
2005-03 03/01/2006 94.91 four stars
2003-12 10/01/2004 92.41 four stars
2002-12 01/01/2004 86.34 three stars
2001-12 02/05/2003 92.42 four stars
2000-12 10/15/2002 92.41 four stars

The data displayed on this tab is provided by the IRS in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

EIN 95-1831116
Name in IRS Master File DIRECT RELIEF
NTEE Code Q33
NTEE Classification International Relief
NTEE Type International, Foreign Affairs and National Security
Classification Charitable Organization
Subsection 501(c)(3)  (View the list of codes)
Activities (602) Gifts, grants, or loans to other organizations
(561) Gifts or grants to individuals (other than scholarships)
(179) Other health services
Foundation Status Organization that normally receives no more than one-third of its support from gross investment income and unrelated business income and at the same time more than one-third of its support from contributions, fees, and gross receipts related to exempt purposes.  509(a)(2)
Deductibility Contributions are deductible
Affiliation Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations).
Group Name [Not Applicable]
Ruling Date November, 1949
Filing Requirement 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End June
IRS Forms 990
(provided courtesy of Foundation Center)		 (Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!)
  • June, 2017
  • June, 2016
  • June, 2015
  • June, 2014
  • June, 2013
Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$416,309 0.03% Thomas E. Tighe President, CEO

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Direct Relief (CA) 98.23 four stars
Vitamin Angels (CA) 98.23 four stars
Giving Children Hope (CA) 90.71 four stars
World Medical Relief (MI) 93.98 four stars
American Foundation For Children With AIDS (PA) 89.39 three stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

This charity has an official representative registered with Charity Navigator.

Charity Contact Info

Direct Relief
6100 wallace becknell
Santa Barbara, CA 93117
tel: (805) 964-4767
fax: (805) 681-4838
EIN: 95-1831116

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

Mark Schwartz
Board Chair

CEO

Thomas Tighe
President and CEO

please wait...

    • I want to donate to Direct Relief

      $
      next

    • Frequency

      back
      next

    • Would you like us to email someone and CC you?

      This email identifies you as the donor but does not specify the amount of your gift.
      back
    A donation of to has been added to your Giving Basket!

    Basket Total:
    Check Out Now or Continue Researching

Join Our Mailing List

Join over 400,000 other informed givers and get updates on charity ratings, new features, hot topics, and tips for donating.

As seen on