Medical Teams International (MTI) 
The information on this page was last updated 7/20/2022. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
In our broken world, so many people are suffering. They are pushed to the margins and forgotten. Men, women and children are persecuted and left without homes. They are hurting, sick and in crisis.
God calls us to love the vulnerable, to dare to love like Jesus. He uses us to provide people in crisis with protection and care.
We work to restore health as the first step to restoring hope. Because every person deserves the chance for a better life.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Medical Teams International
PO Box 4288
Portland, OR 97208
Website: medicalteams.org
Phone: (503) 624-1000
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 930878944
CEO/President: Martha Newsome
Chairman: J. Michael Goodwin
Board size: 15
Founder: Mr. Ron Post
Ruling year: 1987
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 09/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1987
Purpose
People in crisis are dying from preventable causes. Our staff and volunteers are working to change that by bringing basic but life-saving medical care.
Going where we're needed most, we ease the suffering of those devastated by crises. We mobilize staff and volunteers quickly - entering places of turmoil, disease and natural disaster - to save lives and leave communities healthier.
Mission statement
Daring to love like Jesus, we boldly break barriers to health and restore wholeness in a hurting world.
Statement of faith
Our faith and calling starts with daring to love like Jesus - only then can we begin to boldly break barriers to health and restore wholeness in a hurting world.
We believe every person is made in the image of God. Because every person is made in the image of God, every person deserves love. Every person deserves the chance for a better life. The chance for health and wholeness.
At Medical Teams, we are called to care for God's vulnerable children by addressing critical health needs. We are called to serve in a way that honors, upholds and restores the dignity and value of every human being. We are compelled to practice a love for all people - no matter their religion, nationality, sex or race.
When we look into the face of a worried mother cradling her sick child, we see God. When we meet a refugee carrying the wounds of war, we see God. When we treat a person who has survived a disaster or someone suffering a chronic illness, we see God. We believe that every person is worthy and precious.
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 | | 675 of 1031 | 49 of 83 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 748 of 1032 | 61 of 83 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 555 of 1032 | 42 of 83 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 530 of 1031 | 45 of 83 |
Click here to read Medical Teams International (MTI)'s response to our ratings
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 9% | 8% | 6% | 8% | 8% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 9% | 8% | 6% | 8% | 8% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 99% | 93% | 93% | 99% | 98% | 98% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 9% | 7% | 7% | 8% | 7% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 1% | 7% | 7% | 1% | 2% | 2% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 85% | 85% | 87% | 90% | 88% | 90% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 93% | 100% | 105% | 87% | 101% | 111% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 79% | 86% | 91% | 78% | 89% | 99% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 7% | 0% | -5% | 13% | -1% | -11% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 19% | 0% | -8% | 28% | -1% | -22% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 6% | 6% | 5% | 3% | 4% | 3% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.49 | 1.44 | 1.62 | 1.68 | 1.86 | 2.18 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.24 | 1.40 | 1.47 | 1.20 | 1.28 | 1.32 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.04 | 2.01 | 2.37 | 2.01 | 2.39 | 2.88 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 10.59 | 6.65 | 6.64 | 10.42 | 11.44 | 14.10 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.09 | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0.10 | 0.09 | 0.07 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.76 | 5.08 | 4.30 | 5.41 | 4.58 | 3.87 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 11% | 11% | 10% | 8% | 7% | 5% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 62% | 62% | 56% | 55% | 50% | 43% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Cash | $6,395,563 | $14,669,175 | $5,815,417 | $1,781,330 | $1,305,139 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $12,895,643 | $11,893,118 | $29,581,611 | $20,466,221 | $19,696,098 |
| Short-term investments | $11,572,370 | $2,781,389 | $2,517,271 | $2,963,742 | $3,297,365 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $30,863,576 | $29,343,682 | $37,914,299 | $25,211,293 | $24,298,602 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $5,695,489 | $5,628,916 | $7,420,715 | $7,133,748 | $7,865,322 |
| Other long-term assets | $6,570,710 | $8,064,965 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $12,266,199 | $13,693,881 | $7,420,715 | $7,133,748 | $7,865,322 |
| Total assets | $43,129,775 | $43,037,563 | $45,335,014 | $32,345,041 | $32,163,924 |
| Liabilities | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $3,453,043 | $2,993,321 | $2,574,922 | $2,186,748 | $1,701,436 |
| Other current liabilities | $1,190,461 | $1,427,098 | $1,062,430 | $17,742 | $21,582 |
| Total current liabilities | $4,643,504 | $4,420,419 | $3,637,352 | $2,204,490 | $1,723,018 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $4,643,504 | $4,420,419 | $3,637,352 | $2,204,490 | $1,723,018 |
| Net assets | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Without donor restrictions | $29,204,292 | $300,834,281 | $31,996,170 | $25,918,227 | $26,071,518 |
| With donor restrictions | $9,281,979 | $8,533,716 | $9,701,492 | $4,222,324 | $4,369,388 |
| Net assets | $38,486,271 | $38,617,144 | $41,697,662 | $30,140,551 | $30,440,906 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Total contributions | $57,692,558 | $61,704,440 | $86,507,592 | $58,908,494 | $61,845,721 |
| Program service revenue | $2,906,701 | $727,800 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $922,264 | $263,952 | $128,648 | $239,459 | $466,847 |
| Other revenue | $307,074 | $3,757,998 | $969,468 | $835,893 | $915,852 |
| Total other revenue | $4,136,039 | $4,749,750 | $1,098,116 | $1,075,352 | $1,382,699 |
| Total revenue | $61,828,597 | $66,454,190 | $87,605,708 | $59,983,846 | $63,228,420 |
| Expenses | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Program services | $52,914,447 | $60,755,587 | $68,340,390 | $53,227,801 | $62,821,879 |
| Management and general | $3,760,360 | $3,632,206 | $2,545,358 | $2,291,439 | $2,290,754 |
| Fundraising | $5,284,663 | $5,146,915 | $5,162,849 | $4,764,961 | $4,888,679 |
| Total expenses | $61,959,470 | $69,534,708 | $76,048,597 | $60,284,201 | $70,001,312 |
| Change in net assets | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($130,873) | ($3,080,518) | $11,557,111 | ($300,355) | ($6,772,892) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($130,873) | ($3,080,518) | $11,557,111 | ($300,355) | ($6,772,892) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Martha Newsome | CEO | $306,464 |
| Jon Beighle | VP MARKETING & DEV. | $216,805 |
| Pamela S Blikstad | FORMER VP/CFO | $206,419 |
| Roger Sandberg | VP FIELD OPERATIONS | $198,115 |
| Cynthia Breilh | US PROGRAMS DIRECTOR | $156,474 |
| Stephe Dean | DIRECTOR, INFO. SYSTEMS | $148,037 |
| Devon Pearce | COMPLIANCE DIRECTOR | $141,921 |
| Joseph DiCarlo | GLOBAL AMBASSADOR | $137,609 |
| Dan Ward | GLOBAL PROGRAMS DIRECTOR | $125,622 |
| Gayle Rietmulder | VP/CFO (NEW EFFECTIVE FY20) | $80,620 |
Compensation data as of: 9/30/2020
Response from ministry
Posted on March 27, 2003
The board of directors, staff and volunteers of Northwest Medical Teams appreciate so much the favorable comments provided by MinistryWatch and the supporters who were solicited for input in this year's evaluation. Our work is first and foremost to glorify God and extend His love to hurting people around the world. We're blessed to be a part of Kingdom work in a very tangible way... saving lives, for today and perhaps for eternity.
We appreciate the opportunity to clarify some of the issues cited by our critics, including:
1) Not enough emphasis on evangelistic outreach.
In almost every situation, and especially in our long-term international development projects, we partner with local Christian groups to extend their efforts to build relationships with non-believers. We also provide funds and volunteers to extend Bible-based ministry to children in Romania, Mexico and Moldova.
2) Afraid that the organization will stray from its Christian roots and turn into just another secular "relief and development" type organization.
Every board member signs an evangelical statement of faith as a condition for membership. Our mission, which can only be changed by the board of directors, specifically states we will "demonstrate the love of Christ" to people affected by poverty, conflict and disaster. We are very intentional about this element of our work. All staff members and volunteers agree to respect and support our mission statement.
3) Too much emphasis on short-term help; not enough sustainable impact.
By its very nature, disaster relief is short-term -- providing immediate life-saving assistance for people and communities stressed beyond their normal capacity to provide basic health services. Once the most urgent needs are met, local government and social services should be able to sustain on-going recovery and re-development. At the same time, we try to design our disaster response efforts to develop local capacities and to promote long-term sustainable impact whenever possible.
The majority of our volunteer work, however, is non-disaster. We send out short-term development teams, but as part of on-going long-term projects. In Mexico, Moldova, Romania and other countries, our short-term teams have served continually for 10-15 years. Entire communities, orphanages and medical institutions have been transformed by this long-term commitment. We also distribute humanitarian aid through 150 partners around the world to sustain long-term community development projects that help the most needy people. Major efforts in Central Asia and West Africa have explicit long-term community development objectives.
Thank you for the opportunity to clarify Northwest Medical Teams' philosophy and operations on these three important points. Anyone with questions is welcome to contact us via email or telephone.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 7/20/2022. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Our story began in November 1979. Ron Post sat in his easy chair watching the nightly news. He watched scene after scene of suffering flash across the screen. The news was showing thousands of Cambodians trying to escape the Khmer Rouge by fleeing to Thailand.
Ron watched as aid workers picked up a young girl's body from a rice field. He looked across the room at his teenage daughter and thought, "What if she lived in Cambodia? Would anyone care about her?"
Suddenly, a thought came to him as clearly as if someone had written it on a piece of paper. The idea was to recruit a medical team to help refugees.
Ron, a businessman without any medical experience, didn't know how he was going to make it happen. Doubts filled his mind.
Ron prayed for answers and doors began to open. He boldly took steps to put a team together. In two weeks' time, a group of 28 volunteers were on their way to Thailand.
That was the beginning of Northwest Medical Teams - now known as Medical Teams International.
Since 1979, we've provided life-saving medical care for people in crisis, including survivors of the Rwandan genocide, the South Asia tsunami in 2004, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
In 1989, we launched a Mobile Dental Program, providing free dental care to people in need right in our neighborhoods.
With our history and experience, we've grown into our role as experts in disaster response - disasters that are both natural and manmade. Right now, we're responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and the largest refugee crisis the world has ever known.
Our staff and volunteers care for the hurting in frontline clinics, refugee camps and remote villages. In places where mothers and babies are dying. Where outbreaks threaten to overtake entire communities. Where local health systems are overwhelmed or non-existent.
We are a highly-regarded humanitarian relief agency - known internationally and locally for our expertise in refugee health care, disaster relief and mobile dental programs.