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Top Rated

Mercy Corps

CharityWatch report issued
October 2022

Top-Rated Charity
A
CharityWatch Grade
Our independent grade based
on a number of factors.
 
87%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$6
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

Contact Information

Mercy Corps
45 SW Ankeny Street
Portland, OR 97204

Other Names

None

Tax Status

501(c)3

Stated Mission

To alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities.

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Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 06/30/2021

Program Percentage: 87%

The percentage of Mercy Corps's cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).

$555,000,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $6

How many dollars Mercy Corps spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$309,000,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Government Funding

25% to 49%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
Mercy Corps IRS Form 990 91-1148123
Mercy Corps & Affiliates Audited Consolidated Financial Statements multiple
Entity: Mercy Corps
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 91-1148123
Entity: Mercy Corps & Affiliates
Document Type: Audited Consolidated Financial Statements
Tax ID: multiple

Governance & Transparency

CharityWatch evaluates certain criteria related to a charity's Governance and Transparency. Donors may want to consider a charity's willingness to be open and transparent with CharityWatch to be a good litmus test for determining its commitment to public accountability.
This charity is Top-Rated
What does it mean to be Top-Rated?
 
Mercy Corps
meets governance benchmarks.
 
Mercy Corps
meets transparency benchmarks.
Transparency
Provides Financial Information
Audit Accessibility
Governance: Policies
Reports regularly & consistently monitoring & enforcing compliance with a written Conflict of Interest Policy
Reports required, annual disclosure by officers, directors, and key staff of interests that could give rise to conflicts
Reports having a written Whistleblower Policy
Reports having a written Document Retention and Destruction Policy
Governance: Financials
Reports providing copy of tax form to all board members prior to filing it with IRS
Reports that financial statements were audited by an independent accountant
Governance: Board of Directors
Reports at least 5 voting board members
51% or more of voting board members reported as independent
Reports documenting minutes of board and board committee meetings
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy Opt-Out Policy  

  Name Title Compensation
1 Beth Dehamel Interim CEO $469,582
2 Neal Keny-Guyer Past Officer $437,412
3 Michael Radcliffe Chief of Party $317,116
1
Name: Beth Dehamel
Title: Interim CEO
Compensation: $469,582
2
Name: Neal Keny-Guyer
Title: Past Officer
Compensation: $437,412
3
Name: Michael Radcliffe
Title: Chief of Party
Compensation: $317,116

CharityWatch Analysts perform an in-depth analysis of charities' audited financial statements and IRS tax filings, and often review other documents such as state filings, annual reports, and fundraising contracts during their evaluations. Below are select notes that CharityWatch believes may be of interest to donors.

CharityWatch's rating of Mercy Corps includes the financial activities of the entities consolidated in the Mercy Corps & Affiliates audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.

According to the Mercy Corps fiscal 2021 consolidated audit (Note 1(a) re: Business and Organization): "The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Mercy Corps Global and its controlled affiliates under common control. ... All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated..."

According to Note 1(a) of the consolidated audit, the active consolidated affiliates in fiscal 2021 are: (1) Kompanion Development Institution; (2) Kompanion Bank Closed Joint Stock Company; (3) Kompanion Invest; (4) MC Nigeria LTD/GTE; (5) Mercy Corps Development Holdings, LLC; (6) Mercy Corps Europe; (7) Mercy Corps India; (8) Mercy Corps Corporate Fund (previously Asian Credit Public Fund); (9) Mercy Corps Netherlands; and (10) CIT Services, LLC.

According to the Mercy Corps & Affiliates audited Consolidated Statement of Activities for the year ended June 30, 2021, Mercy Corps reports receiving in-kind "Material aid" and donated "Gifts in kind" on which it placed a value of $1,386,000 and $1,335,000, respectively. The value of the donated "Gifts in kind" received in fiscal 2021 includes approximately $996,000 "of gifts in kind legal services," according to Note 2(c) of the Mercy Corps fiscal 2021 audited financial statements.

[Note: CharityWatch generally excludes the value of in-kind (non-cash) donations of goods and services from its calculations of Program % and Cost to Raise $100. More information on how grades are calculated and the treatment of in-kind donations can be found on the Our Process page.]

According to the Mercy Corps & Affiliates consolidated audit of June 30, 2021 (Note 7, Debt) [$s in thousands, as noted]:

"...The Organization received $7,612 [thousand] in funding from The Small Business Administration's (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) on April 23, 2020. The Organization received a letter from the SBA stating the debt and interest was forgiven in full on June 16, 2021."

According to the Mercy Corps & Affiliates consolidated audit of June 30, 2021 (Note 11, Commitments and Contingencies) [$s in thousands, as noted]:

"The Organization receives a substantial portion of its funding in the form of grants from government and multilateral agencies. These grants contain certain compliance and internal control requirements that, if violated, may result in the disallowance of certain costs incurred under the grant programs. Additionally, the Organization is involved in various legal proceedings and claims arising in the normal course of business. The Organization adjusts the contingent liabilities each year based on settlement of accrued amounts and potential liabilities that are reasonably likely and estimable. At June 30, 2021 and 2020, the Organization had total accrued contingent liabilities of $3,083 [thousand] and $2,894 [thousand], respectively...

"While it is not possible to determine the ultimate liability, if any, in these matters at this time, in the opinion of management, such matters will not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Organization in excess of the recorded contingent liability."

According to the Mercy Corps & Affiliates consolidated audit of June 30, 2021 (Note 2(s) re: COVID-19):

"The spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) around the world has caused significant volatility in U.S. and international markets. There is still significant uncertainty around the breadth and duration of business disruptions related to COVID-19, as well as its impact on the U.S. and international economies. To date [November 2, 2021], COVID-19 has had an impact on how the Organization runs programs and accomplishes its mission, but has not had a material impact on its ability to operate."

According to the Mercy Corps & Affiliates consolidated audit of June 30, 2021 (Note 15, Subsequent Events):

"The Organization has performed an evaluation of subsequent events through November 2, 2021, which is the date the [audited] consolidated financial statements were available to be issued. Subsequent to year end Mercy Corps acquired Energy 4 Impact through a transfer agreement which transferred all membership interests from the Directors of Energy 4 Impact to Mercy Corps on September 30, 2021. Energy 4 Impact seeks to reduce poverty by accelerating access to clean energy, helping businesses and communities make better use of that expanded access, and working with the private sector to support the sustainability of these efforts."

According to the Mercy Corps (MC) tax filing for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021, MC reports re: Compensation, Supplemental Information (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part III):

Regarding severance payments to officers, directors, trustees, key employees and highest compensated employees (Schedule J, Part I, Line 4a):

"Keny-Guyer, N $437,000 severance. Centrella, J $73,347 severance."

[Neal Keny-Guyer and Jeremiah Centrella are each reported as a "former officer," with total compensation of $437,412 and $215,238, respectively, in calendar year 2020 (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part II).]


Regarding nonfixed payments to officers, directors, trustees, key employees and highest compensated employees (Schedule J, Part I, Line 7):

"Mercy Corps evaluates the reasonableness of maximum variable compensation regardless of whether the maximum of the variable compensation amount is actually paid. Non fixed payment of a bonus was provided to [a] few employees of the organization based on compensation and performance reviewed. The bonus was determined based on performance in comparison to peer organizations and in context of the challenges faced by the organization during the year. Schrader, L $2,500; McKenna, T $15,000."

[Leesa Shrader is reported as "AgriFin Accelerate - Program Director," with total compensation of $290,769 in calendar year 2020; Tjada D'Oyen McKenna is reported as Chief Executive Officer, with total compensation of $113,871 in calendar year 2020 (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part II).]


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