Direct Relief, a California-based humanitarian aid organization, became the ninth-largest charity in the United States this year, according to Forbes Magazine's annual ranking of U.S. charities based on private support.
The ranking is based on Direct Relief's revenue of $892 million in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2015, nearly twice the $455 million Direct Relief received in 2014.
The vast majority of Direct Relief's revenue, $859 million of the $892 million total, came in the form of donated medications and medical supplies, which the organization provides, at no charge, to support humanitarian health efforts throughout the United States and internationally.
"Direct Relief is being called upon more than ever before to assist people who are vulnerable – from poverty or emergency situations, and often both," said Thomas Tighe, Direct Relief President and CEO. "The Forbes ranking reflects an expansion in private support – mainly in the form of donated essential medications – which are critically needed by people stuck in the huge gaps that remain in both the U.S. and around the world."
"Direct Relief's cash revenue of $27 million came from private contributors, whose financial support enabled the organization to deliver of 1,837 tons, or 278 million defined daily doses, of requested medications and supplies to health centers and clinics in all 50 U.S. states and more than 70 countries worldwide, including in response to the Ebola crisis that occurred in West Africa and the earthquakes in Nepal.
Direct Relief has a long tradition of stretching every dollar to serve people in the most productive, efficient way possible," said Tighe. "We are so deeply thankful to Direct Relief's financial supporters, whose contributions have an increased multiplier effect by companies providing goods and services that otherwise would have to be purchased."
100 Percent Efficient
In addition to listing charities by their size, Forbes evaluates the largest 50 charities according to three key efficiency ratios: charitable commitment, fundraising efficiency, and donor dependency. Direct Relief is among seven charities on this year's list rated as 100 percent efficient in fundraising, and the only California-based charity with a perfect score.
Direct Relief received a score of 99 percent in the charitable commitment category, which measures "how much of total expense went directly to the charitable purpose." Nine charities scored 99 percent or higher in this category.
Top Charity Ratings
Forbes joins other independent charity evaluators in giving Direct Relief high marks for its efficiency. This includes Charity Navigator, the country's largest independent evaluator of charities, which assigns Direct Relief an overall score of 99.4/100 and the No. 1 spot on its list of the "Ten Best Charities Everyone's Heard Of."