Free Wheelchair Mission (FWM) 
The information in this column was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 10/21/2021. To update the information in this column, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
Summary
Free Wheelchair Mission (FWM) provides free wheelchairs to the poor, crippled and disabled persons living in developing third-world countries. FWM believes that when Jesus Christ lived in this world, He had special love for the sick and crippled. They try to share the same concern now for the poor, especially those with physical immobility. The chairs are distributed free to those in need, regardless of one's religious affiliation if any.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Free Wheelchair Mission
15279 Alton Parkway
Suite 300
Irvine, CA 92618
Website: www.freewheelchairmission.org
Phone: (949) 273-8470
Email: info@freewheelchairmission.org
Organization details
EIN: 311781635
CEO/President: Mr. Don Schoendorfer, Ph D
Chairman: Stuart Rattray
Board size: 11
Founder: Mr. Don Schoendorfer, Ph D
Ruling year: 2001
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2004
Purpose
Free Wheelchair Mission believes in a world where everyone who needs a wheelchair has one.
With an estimated 75 million people around the world today in need of a wheelchair, Free Wheelchair Mission continues our mission to provide mobility to people living with disabilities in developing countries.
Free Wheelchair Mission continues its focus and commitment on becoming a leading provider of mobility in developing countries, but beyond placing recipients in a wheelchair, Free Wheelchair Mission is bringing transformation that opens doors to education, employment opportunities, and community that these individuals only dreamed of before receiving the gift of mobility.
Mission statement
To provide the transforming gift of mobility to people with disabilities living in developing nations as motivated by Jesus Christ.
Statement of faith
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Relief and Development
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 799 of 1022 | 69 of 85 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 1000 of 1024 | 85 of 85 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 897 of 1024 | 82 of 85 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 141 of 1022 | 17 of 85 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 21% | 18% | 20% | 18% | 16% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 21% | 18% | 20% | 17% | 16% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 99% | 99% | 99% | 99% | 99% | 100% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 21% | 18% | 18% | 19% | 16% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 85% | 73% | 76% | 75% | 75% | 79% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 95% | 97% | 102% | 108% | 92% | 103% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 79% | 71% | 77% | 81% | 69% | 82% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 5% | 3% | -2% | -8% | 8% | -3% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 12% | 14% | -11% | -44% | 33% | -17% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 7% | 6% | 7% | 6% | 6% | 5% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.62 | 3.27 | 4.88 | 4.07 | 3.03 | 4.96 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.25 | 1.48 | 1.29 | 1.24 | 1.14 | 1.22 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.36 | 4.85 | 6.28 | 5.06 | 3.46 | 6.05 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 8.90 | 2.62 | 4.73 | 3.26 | 7.12 | 11.28 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.10 | 0.38 | 0.21 | 0.31 | 0.14 | 0.09 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.15 | 1.53 | 1.51 | 1.64 | 2.98 | 1.81 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 12% | 34% | 26% | 31% | 17% | 13% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 51% | 20% | 15% | 17% | 27% | 17% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Cash | $1,898,610 | $1,404,251 | $543,960 | $2,573,489 | $1,373,348 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $97,808 | $358,450 | $639,941 | $267,122 | $341,428 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $1,008,130 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $1,996,418 | $1,762,701 | $2,192,031 | $2,840,611 | $1,714,776 |
| Long-term investments | $711,698 | $205,959 | $176,503 | $150,715 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $234,957 | $286,056 | $338,122 | $249,792 | $123,504 |
| Other long-term assets | $15,165 | $15,165 | $15,165 | $7,869 | $253,163 |
| Total long-term assets | $961,820 | $507,180 | $529,790 | $408,376 | $376,667 |
| Total assets | $2,958,238 | $2,269,881 | $2,721,821 | $3,248,987 | $2,091,443 |
| Liabilities | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $369,034 | $368,914 | $655,963 | $372,460 | $120,161 |
| Other current liabilities | $393,430 | $4,071 | $17,227 | $26,292 | $31,895 |
| Total current liabilities | $762,464 | $372,985 | $673,190 | $398,752 | $152,056 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $239,698 | $205,959 | $176,503 | $150,715 | $125,534 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $239,698 | $205,959 | $176,503 | $150,715 | $125,534 |
| Total liabilities | $1,002,162 | $578,944 | $849,693 | $549,467 | $277,590 |
| Net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Without donor restrictions | $1,167,388 | $859,733 | $1,521,502 | $2,010,287 | $973,740 |
| With donor restrictions | $788,688 | $831,204 | $350,626 | $689,233 | $840,113 |
| Net assets | $1,956,076 | $1,690,937 | $1,872,128 | $2,699,520 | $1,813,853 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Total contributions | $9,888,129 | $10,780,792 | $10,160,698 | $10,611,476 | $10,025,810 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $96,355 | $85,378 | $108,985 | $96,749 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $0 | $0 | $8,130 | $0 | $0 |
| Other revenue | $59,542 | $10,594 | $0 | $0 | ($60,057) |
| Total other revenue | $59,542 | $106,949 | $93,508 | $108,985 | $36,692 |
| Total revenue | $9,947,671 | $10,887,741 | $10,254,206 | $10,720,461 | $10,062,502 |
| Expenses | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Program services | $7,072,244 | $8,361,140 | $8,343,953 | $7,357,811 | $8,215,792 |
| Management and general | $564,936 | $730,530 | $719,215 | $613,151 | $552,252 |
| Fundraising | $2,045,352 | $1,977,261 | $2,018,430 | $1,863,832 | $1,611,458 |
| Total expenses | $9,682,532 | $11,068,931 | $11,081,598 | $9,834,794 | $10,379,502 |
| Change in net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $265,139 | ($181,190) | ($827,392) | $885,667 | ($317,000) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $265,139 | ($181,190) | ($827,392) | $885,667 | ($317,000) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Don Schoendorfer | President | $198,541 |
| Nuka Solomon | Chief Executive Officer | $152,232 |
| Angela Ruiz Gomez | National Director of Devel | $133,945 |
| Debbie Le Fever | Senior Director of Finance | $128,171 |
Compensation data as of: 6/30/2021
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 10/21/2021. To update the information below, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
History
Mid 1970s Don Schoendorfer witnessed a crippled Moroccan woman crawling across a dirt road which planted a seed that germinated in 1999 when he invested his education and professional expertise as a PhD Mechanical Engineer to create a simple, rugged, and inexpensive wheelchair. The mental picture of the crawling woman's anguish and loss of dignity had haunted him for years until God opened a path for Dr. Schoendorfer.
Program accomplishments
In collaboration with a network of like-minded partners, Free Wheelchair Mission has distributed 1.3 million wheelchairs to people living with disabilities in 94 developing countries around the world, providing renewed dignity, independence, and hope through the gift of mobility, at no cost to the recipient.