Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) 
The information on this page was last updated 5/29/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
MEDA is an international economic development organization that creates business solutions to poverty. For nearly 70 years, MEDA has been creating business solutions to poverty that are sustainable, scalable, measurable and replicable.
MEDA began as an association of Mennonite business people who believed they were called to be faithful in generously sharing their abilities and resources. Continuing in that Christian tradition, MEDA welcomes all who share our values and want to join us in our mission.
MEDA has worked in over 70 countries and brings a unique market systems approach to project design that integrates technical assistance and access to capital. As an early leader in innovative finance, MEDA leverages public and private funding to advance social enterprises around the world that are positively impacting social, environmental and governance challenges in their communities. We work in agri-food market systems, focusing primarily on women and youth in rural communities in the Global South. Our success is measured by income, improved processes, increased knowledge, and the creation of decent work.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Mennonite Economic Development Associates
595 Parkside Drive, Suite 2
Waterloo, ON N2L 0C7
Website: meda.org
Phone: 1-800-665-7026
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 237398678
CEO/President: Dr. Dorothy Nyambi
Chairman: Jenny Shantz
Board size: 18
Founder: group of generous Mennonites
Ruling year: 1981
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
We believe that all people deserve the opportunity to earn a livelihood and that unleashing entrepreneurship is a powerful way to alleviate poverty.
Vision: That all people may unleash their God-given potential to earn a livelihood, provide for families and enrich communities.
Mission statement
Mission: MEDA creates business solutions to poverty.
Statement of faith
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Foreign Missions
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 1078 of 1117 | 118 of 123 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 958 of 1118 | 102 of 123 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 863 of 1118 | 93 of 123 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 1074 of 1117 | 119 of 123 |
According to the organization's Form 990, it received $3,188,963 in government grants in 2024.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 5% | 11% | 16% | 9% | 13% | 12% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 10% | 15% | 8% | 10% | 10% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 98% | 96% | 98% | 89% | 82% | 86% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 10% | 17% | 12% | 11% | 9% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 2% | 4% | 2% | 11% | 18% | 14% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 84% | 79% | 83% | 88% | 89% | 91% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 99% | 100% | 94% | 72% | 92% | 108% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 85% | 79% | 78% | 64% | 81% | 98% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 1% | 0% | 6% | 28% | 8% | -8% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | 0% | 5% | 27% | 7% | -7% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 9% | 10% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.38 | 0.49 | 0.55 | 0.41 | 0.27 | 0.33 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.30 | 4.13 | 6.16 | 3.68 | 5.20 | 3.15 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.28 | 2.03 | 3.38 | 1.49 | 1.40 | 1.04 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 18.20 | 14.39 | 2.78 | 4.61 | 1.49 | 2.05 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.05 | 0.07 | 0.36 | 0.22 | 0.67 | 0.49 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.05 | 5.50 | 2.28 | 6.30 | 2.82 | 5.92 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 7% | 26% | 28% | 41% | 63% | 65% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 24% | 22% | 35% | 50% | 50% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 62% | 151% | 131% | 145% | 138% | 105% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Cash | $2,227,552 | $2,164,794 | $5,089,429 | $5,168,576 | $9,363,595 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $2,395,076 | $1,036,697 | $2,050,436 | $696,168 | $317,877 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $4,622,628 | $3,201,491 | $7,139,865 | $5,864,744 | $9,681,472 |
| Long-term investments | $14,283,239 | $15,676,007 | $17,757,178 | $22,450,736 | $18,654,128 |
| Fixed assets | $37,658 | $50,860 | $714,866 | $733,136 | $77,184 |
| Other long-term assets | $127,967 | $802,546 | $653,684 | $1,448,627 | $2,096,799 |
| Total long-term assets | $14,448,864 | $16,529,413 | $19,125,728 | $24,632,499 | $20,828,111 |
| Total assets | $19,071,492 | $19,730,904 | $26,265,593 | $30,497,243 | $30,509,583 |
| Liabilities | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $321,245 | $361,313 | $243,005 | $549,930 | $224,394 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $788,383 | $1,305,915 | $3,383,482 | $4,505,715 |
| Total current liabilities | $321,245 | $1,149,696 | $1,548,920 | $3,933,412 | $4,730,109 |
| Debt | $4,589,063 | $4,430,795 | $9,248,348 | $15,242,878 | $15,196,470 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $4,589,063 | $4,430,795 | $9,248,348 | $15,242,878 | $15,196,470 |
| Total liabilities | $4,910,308 | $5,580,491 | $10,797,268 | $19,176,290 | $19,926,579 |
| Net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Without donor restrictions | $14,161,184 | $14,150,413 | $15,468,325 | $11,320,953 | $10,583,004 |
| With donor restrictions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assets | $14,161,184 | $14,150,413 | $15,468,325 | $11,320,953 | $10,583,004 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Total contributions | $9,006,449 | $11,296,249 | $13,104,520 | $7,317,578 | $7,967,659 |
| Program service revenue | $338,737 | $212,126 | $1,442,095 | $1,638,631 | $977,838 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $16,931 | $0 | $796 | $568 | $1,874 |
| Other revenue | $26,307 | $51,459 | $255,406 | $10,907 | $313,967 |
| Total other revenue | $381,975 | $263,585 | $1,698,297 | $1,650,106 | $1,293,679 |
| Total revenue | $9,388,424 | $11,559,834 | $14,802,817 | $8,967,684 | $9,261,338 |
| Expenses | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Program services | $7,434,733 | $9,022,967 | $9,416,255 | $7,293,660 | $9,087,415 |
| Management and general | $966,088 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fundraising | $976,832 | $1,786,784 | $1,239,190 | $936,075 | $946,201 |
| Total expenses | $9,377,653 | $10,809,751 | $10,655,445 | $8,229,735 | $10,033,616 |
| Change in net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $10,771 | $750,083 | $4,147,372 | $737,949 | ($772,278) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $10,771 | $750,083 | $4,147,372 | $737,949 | ($772,278) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Claude Clodomir | Chief of Party, Haiti, MEDA | $302,787 |
| Dorothy Nyambi | President/CEO, MEDA | $170,177 |
| Pierre Kadet | Regional Director, West & Central Africa | $159,012 |
| Lindsay Wallace | Sr. Vice President, Strategy & Impact | $147,776 |
| Jessica Villanueva | Sr. Director, Technical Areas of Practice, MEDA | $143,860 |
| Mike Miller | Sr. Vice President, Marketing & Development, MEDA | $141,883 |
Compensation data as of: 6/30/2024
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 5/29/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Investment as a Legacy since 1953
MEDA's story began in the aftermath of World War II. Over 35,000 Mennonites fled from East Germany and Russia, with about 5,000 settling in Paraguay. Initially, the recent newcomers struggled to make a living in their new South American home. Many were skilled craftspeople and farmers eager to set up their businesses but lacked the necessary financial resources.
At first, development assistance efforts in Paraguay mainly helped establish schools and hospitals. Yet, while this assistance was essential, it was only a temporary solution. The newly settled Mennonites needed capital to support business growth. Over time, Mennonite businesspeople in North America provided their fellow Mennonites with long-term financial assistance, which enabled them to build permanent settlements in Paraguay.
On December 10th, 1953, a group of generous Mennonites met at the old Atlantic Hotel in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. They decided to form an impact investment group and pooled their resources to send financial support to Paraguay. From this historic meeting, MEDA was formed.
Creating Business Solutions to Poverty
With the assistance of MEDA and their brothers and sisters in North America, the Paraguayans established businesses. They formed communities rooted in the ideals of peace, justice, and entrepreneurship.
Eventually, MEDA realized it could support people to lift themselves out of poverty by assisting small businesses worldwide. This new awareness inspired a new mission and vision - to create business solutions to poverty. Over time, the organization expanded its services and expertise to Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America.
Today, we continue our founders' work. MEDA views investment as a seed that can bloom into something greater. The seeds of prosperity that our founders planted decades earlier have continued to grow through the MEDA Risk Capital Fund and through the support that we've received from our generous private and institutional donors. These seeds have blossomed into millions of people in the Global South and beyond building successful enterprises, learning new skills, and growing higher quality and environmentally sustainable crops.
Program accomplishments
Our Global Impact FY2021:
200,854 individuals
7,765 businesses
52% women
106,088 decent work