Free Wheelchair Mission 
The information on this page was last updated 7/7/2025. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Free Wheelchair Mission is a humanitarian, faith-based nonprofit that designs and manufactures cost-efficient, durable wheelchairs for developing countries around the world.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Free Wheelchair Mission
15279 Alton Parkway
Suite 300
Irvine, CA 92618
Website: freewheelchairmission.org
Phone: (949) 273-8470
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 311781635
CEO/President: Don Schoendorfer/Nuka Hart
Chairman: David Hummelberg
Board size: 11
Founder: Don Schoendorfer, PhD
Ruling year: 2002
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
Articles
| 6/28/2022 | MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT: Free Wheelchair Mission |
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 | | 806 of 1134 | 71 of 104 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 1064 of 1134 | 99 of 104 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 897 of 1134 | 77 of 104 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 141 of 1134 | 20 of 104 |
Click here to read Free Wheelchair Mission's response to our ratings
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 17% | 18% | 17% | 18% | 18% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 17% | 18% | 18% | 18% | 18% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 99% | 100% | 100% | 101% | 102% | 102% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 18% | 19% | 18% | 20% | 19% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 1% | 0% | 0% | -1% | -2% | -2% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 86% | 79% | 78% | 76% | 76% | 75% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 101% | 96% | 98% | 99% | 94% | 97% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 87% | 76% | 76% | 76% | 71% | 73% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | -1% | 4% | 2% | 1% | 6% | 3% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 1% | 20% | 10% | 3% | 22% | 14% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 7% | 3% | 4% | 6% | 5% | 6% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.61 | 3.90 | 3.54 | 3.18 | 2.80 | 3.13 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.22 | 1.07 | 1.15 | 1.14 | 1.08 | 1.09 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.14 | 4.15 | 4.08 | 3.62 | 3.01 | 3.42 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 12.23 | 9.98 | 7.87 | 4.34 | 6.50 | 7.33 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.08 | 0.10 | 0.13 | 0.23 | 0.15 | 0.14 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.68 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.55 | 3.37 | 3.03 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 8% | 19% | 26% | 28% | 24% | 34% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 13% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 53% | 21% | 21% | 23% | 27% | 21% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Cash | $2,331,454 | $2,823,715 | $2,623,983 | $2,647,341 | $2,370,610 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $276,143 | $243,385 | $228,361 | $79,965 | $97,808 |
| Short-term investments | $1,540,081 | $297,037 | $259,650 | $315,461 | $239,698 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $4,147,678 | $3,364,137 | $3,111,994 | $3,042,767 | $2,708,116 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $91,630 | $134,544 | $171,171 | $222,940 | $234,957 |
| Other long-term assets | $179,783 | $379,404 | $262,235 | $15,165 | $15,165 |
| Total long-term assets | $271,413 | $513,948 | $433,406 | $238,105 | $250,122 |
| Total assets | $4,419,091 | $3,878,085 | $3,545,400 | $3,280,872 | $2,958,238 |
| Liabilities | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $403,854 | $415,651 | $705,005 | $466,717 | $369,034 |
| Other current liabilities | $11,575 | $11,575 | $11,575 | $1,745 | $330 |
| Total current liabilities | $415,429 | $427,226 | $716,580 | $468,462 | $369,364 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $393,100 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $408,382 | $591,420 | $259,650 | $315,461 | $239,698 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $408,382 | $591,420 | $259,650 | $315,461 | $632,798 |
| Total liabilities | $823,811 | $1,018,646 | $976,230 | $783,923 | $1,002,162 |
| Net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Without donor restrictions | $3,005,567 | $2,214,343 | $1,860,349 | $1,577,549 | $1,167,388 |
| With donor restrictions | $589,713 | $645,096 | $708,821 | $919,400 | $788,688 |
| Net assets | $3,595,280 | $2,859,439 | $2,569,170 | $2,496,949 | $1,956,076 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Total contributions | $17,856,139 | $14,009,506 | $11,491,258 | $9,881,138 | $9,770,825 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $102,650 | $29,438 | $26 | $25 | $14 |
| Other revenue | ($16,771) | ($10,658) | ($159,938) | ($167,025) | ($236,315) |
| Total other revenue | $85,879 | $18,780 | ($159,912) | ($167,000) | ($236,301) |
| Total revenue | $17,942,018 | $14,028,286 | $11,331,346 | $9,714,138 | $9,534,524 |
| Expenses | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Program services | $13,617,266 | $10,689,328 | $8,590,222 | $6,933,518 | $6,986,318 |
| Management and general | $532,053 | $501,983 | $662,063 | $447,505 | $564,936 |
| Fundraising | $3,072,025 | $2,546,706 | $2,006,840 | $1,792,242 | $1,718,131 |
| Total expenses | $17,221,344 | $13,738,017 | $11,259,125 | $9,173,265 | $9,269,385 |
| Change in net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $720,674 | $290,269 | $72,221 | $540,873 | $265,139 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $720,674 | $290,269 | $72,221 | $540,873 | $265,139 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Don Schoendorfer | President | $237,012 |
| Nuka Solomon | Chief Executive Officer | $189,830 |
| Angela Ruiz Gomez | National Director of Dev | $148,927 |
| Wayne Twigg | Director of Finance | $132,790 |
| Brad Cooper | Director of Marketing | $123,510 |
| Keith Herr | Director of Manufacturing | $121,974 |
| Vanessa Ann Mendoza | Director of Programs | $112,250 |
Compensation data as of: 6/30/2024
Response from ministry
Free Wheelchair Mission believes in a world where everyone who needs a wheelchair has one. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about our organization. To support our work of transforming lives through the gift of mobility, please visit FreeWheelchairMission.org.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 7/7/2025. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
In 1979, Don Schoendorfer witnessed a woman in Morocco crawling across a dirt road. This heartbreaking sight sent him on a journey to help this woman and others like her living in developing countries. Using his MIT education and professional expertise in the biomedical field, he created a simple and inexpensive wheelchair in his garage. After distributing the first few wheelchairs in India, he founded the faith-based nonprofit, Free Wheelchair Mission in 2001.
Program accomplishments
In collaboration with a network of like-minded partners, Free Wheelchair Mission has distributed more than 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.
Needs
There are still an estimated 75 million individuals around the world who are waiting for wheelchairs. You can partner with Free Wheelchair Mission in helping to provide the gift of mobility at FreeWheelchairMission.org.