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Direct Relief

EIN 95-1831116 · Santa Barbara, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceReports resultsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DIRECT RELIEF IS A HUMANITARIAN AID 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 - WITHOUT REGARD TO POLITICS, RELIGION, OR ABILITY TO PAY.

Income
$2.4 billion
Spending
$2.3 billion
Spent on programs
99%
Reserves
5.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
164
Volunteers
344
Highest pay
$1.1 million, chief executive officer (thru 12/24)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (international, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    99% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (international, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Reports results. Its tax return states measurable results. These are its own figures and nobody has checked them.

Results it reports

  • Provided material and financial support to more than 2,600 community health providers in 92 countries.Work delivered
  • Provided healthcare partners in 60 countries with 34 million courses of medication.Work delivered

Read from the return by an AI model and shown only where the wording was found in the return. These are the charity's own figures.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $1.1 billion spent. COMMUNITY HEALTH - DIRECT RELIEF, THROUGH ITS COMMUNITY HEALTH INITIATIVES, EQUIPS HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN LOW-RESOURCE SETTINGS WITH THE MEDICAL RESOURCES THEY NEED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, AND CARE FOR THEIR PATIENTS - REGARDLESS OF ABILITY TO PAY. IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2025, DIRECT RELIEF PROVIDED MATERIAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO MORE THAN 2,600 COMMUNITY HEALTH PROVIDERS IN 92 COUNTRIES. THIS INCLUDES THE U.S., WHERE DIRECT RELIEF OPERATES THE NATION'S LARGEST CHARITABLE MEDICINE PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS AND NONPROFIT CLINICS IN ALL 50 STATES. AS A RESULT OF DIRECT RELIEF'S SUPPORT, ORGANIZATIONS AND HEALTH PROVIDERS CAN FOCUS THEIR TIME AND RESOURCES ON EXPANDING AND IMPROVING THEIR SERVICES INSTEAD OF PROCURING MEDICINE AND SUPPLIES.
  2. $616.7 million spent. DISASTER RESPONSE - DIRECT RELIEF, THROUGH ITS DISASTER RESPONSE PROGRAMS, ADDRESSES THE NEEDS OF VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES BEFORE DISASTERS STRIKE BY PRE POSITIONING EMERGENCY MEDICAL MATERIALS WITH HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN AREAS AT RISK FROM NATURAL DISASTERS. WHEN DISASTERS OCCUR, DIRECT RELIEF LEVERAGES ITS NETWORK OF HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS TO ASSESS IMMEDIATE NEEDS, UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION, AND RESPOND QUICKLY AND PRECISELY. DIRECT RELIEF'S EFFORTS ARE ALWAYSIN RESPONSE TO SPECIFIC REQUESTS FROM LOCAL PARTNERS AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RESPONDERS TO AVOID DUPLICATION OF EFFORTS AND PREVENT LOGISTICAL BOTTLENECKS, AND ENSURE THE MOST EFFICIENT USE OF RESOURCES.
  3. $579.7 million spent. DISEASE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT - TO ALLEVIATE THE DISEASE BURDEN IN PROVIDERS TO ASSESS IMMEDIATE NEEDS, UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION, AND RESPOND QUICKLY AND PRECISELY. DIRECT RELIEF'S EFFORTS ARE ALWAYS IN RESPONSE TO SPECIFIC REQUESTS FROM LOCAL PARTNERS AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RESPONDERS TO AVOID DUPLICATION OF EFFORTS AND PREVENT LOGISTICAL BOTTLENECKS, AND ENSURE THE MOST EFFICIENT USE OF RESOURCES.RESOURCE CONSTRAINED COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD, DIRECT RELIEF SUPPORTS A GLOBAL NETWORK OF LOCALLY-RUN HEALTH FACILITIES WITH THE MEDICINES, MEDICAL SUPPLIES, AND FUNDING. IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2025, DIRECT RELIEF PROVIDED HEALTHCARE PARTNERS IN 60 COUNTRIES WITH 34 MILLION COURSES OF MEDICATION TO TREAT CONDITIONS THAT INCLUDE CANCER, DIABETES, AND RARE DISEASES. DIRECT RELIEF ALSO SUPPORTS PROGRAMS TO ADVANCE BREAST CANCER AWARENESS AND EARLY DETECTION, CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING, AS WELL AS COMPREHENSIVE DIABETES PREVENTION AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDE ASSISTANCE FOR CHILDREN WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES.
  4. $5.1 million spent. DIRECT RELIEF HAS AN INTERNAL POLICY TO TRANSFER ALL BOARD-DESIGNATED UNRESTRICTED BEQUESTS AND GIFTS TO THE BOARD RESTRICTED INVESTMENT FUND (BRIF) HELD BY DIRECT RELIEF FOUNDATION. THE PURPOSE OF THE BRIF IS TO PROVIDE A RESERVE FOR FUTURE OPERATIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 1949.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.