Mercy Ships 
The information in this column was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 11/1/2021. To update the information in this column, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
Summary
Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to deliver free, world-class healthcare services, medical training, and sustainable development to those with little access to surgical care in the developing world. Founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens, Mercy Ships has provided services valued at more than $1.7 billion and directly benefitting more than 2.8 million people.
The hospital ships, the Africa Mercy and Global Mercy are crewed by volunteers from over 60 nations, with an average of over 1,200 volunteers each year. Professionals including surgeons, dentists, nurses, healthcare trainers, teachers, cooks, seamen, engineers, and agriculturalists donate their time and skills to provide life-changing medical care where it's needed most.
With 16 national offices and an Africa Bureau, Mercy Ships seeks to transform individuals and serve nations.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Mercy Ships
PO Box 2020
15862 Highway 110 N.
Garden Valley, TX 75771-2020
Website: www.mercyships.org
Phone: (903) 939-7000
Email: info@mercyships.org
Organization details
EIN: 953793975
CEO/President: Tom Stogner / Rosa Whitaker
Chairman: Mr. Don Stephens
Board size: 40
Founder: Don and Deyon Stephens
Ruling year: 1978
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1999
Purpose
Mercy Ships represents a compassionate response to a world that has lost hope. A global charity, Mercy Ships utilizes ocean-going hospital ships to bring medical care and community development to the world's poorest peoples. Mercy Ships serves people of all faiths, working in partnership with developing nations to bring about sustainable change. By mobilizing people and resources worldwide, it is possible to make a lasting difference with limited resources. Following the example of Jesus, Mercy Ships workers endeavor to be the face of love in action.
Mercy Ships growing fleet includes the Anastasis, Caribbean Mercy and Africa Mercy. When completely refitted, the Africa Mercy will be the largest non-governmental hospital ship in the world. Dedicated surgeons have performed thousands of life-changing operations. Onboard the ships, they have removed tumors and cataracts, corrected cleft-lip/palates and crossed eyes and done extensive maxillo/facial repairs. In the countries where Mercy Ships visits, these operations are unavailable for most of the population. Mercy Ships provides them free of charge.
In addition to surgeries onboard the ships, Mercy Ships surgeons have worked in partnership with national doctors in local hospitals, performing a wide range of orthopedic procedures.
Mercy Ships also provides community health education, dental and medical clinics, agricultural, construction, well drilling and sanitation projects in communities surrounding the ports visited.
Two permanent centers, one in Sierra Leone and one in Nicaragua, work with people who have been disenfranchised through war and natural disasters. Mercy Ships also facilitates short-term missions for small groups.
Mercy Ships began in 1978 and has since completed projects in more than 95 port areas of the world. While most of its work is now done in Africa and the Caribbean, the organization's long-term goal is to expand its fleet and to increase its servicel around the globe. Mercy Ships International Operations Center is located in the USA with 16 (?) national offices worldwide.
Mission statement
Mercy Ships, a global charity, has operated a growing fleet of hospital ships in developing nations since 1978. Following the example of Jesus, Mercy Ships brings hope and healing to the poor, mobilizing people and resources worldwide.
Statement of faith
Mercy Ships affirms:
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 | | 1019 of 1022 | 85 of 85 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 980 of 1024 | 82 of 85 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 940 of 1024 | 84 of 85 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 963 of 1022 | 80 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% | 19% | 15% | 14% | 13% | 13% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 18% | 15% | 13% | 12% | 12% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 99% | 95% | 94% | 95% | 96% | 97% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 22% | 20% | 18% | 17% | 17% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 1% | 5% | 6% | 5% | 4% | 3% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 85% | 68% | 71% | 75% | 75% | 75% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 95% | 79% | 71% | 71% | 74% | 73% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 79% | 54% | 50% | 54% | 56% | 55% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 5% | 21% | 29% | 29% | 26% | 27% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 12% | 8% | 15% | 15% | 14% | 14% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 7% | 10% | 9% | 7% | 8% | 8% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.62 | 0.30 | 0.34 | 0.35 | 0.39 | 0.38 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.25 | 2.77 | 3.32 | 2.65 | 2.30 | 1.86 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.36 | 0.83 | 1.14 | 0.94 | 0.89 | 0.70 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 8.90 | 9.86 | 9.39 | 9.43 | 12.25 | 17.61 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.10 | 0.10 | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.08 | 0.06 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.15 | 13.06 | 9.39 | 11.44 | 12.33 | 16.16 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 12% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 5% | 5% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 51% | 321% | 280% | 270% | 246% | 253% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Cash | $92,962,599 | $69,384,924 | $47,331,969 | $32,016,599 | $56,154,857 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $17,172,400 | $12,588,055 | $41,772,873 | $48,325,933 | $29,608,348 |
| Short-term investments | $5,213,605 | $5,123,359 | $5,014,378 | $12,308,955 | $12,180,443 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $189,596 |
| Total current assets | $115,348,604 | $87,096,338 | $94,119,220 | $92,651,487 | $98,133,244 |
| Long-term investments | $76,614,087 | $59,350,987 | $52,436,452 | $30,637,369 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $108,739,118 | $107,381,672 | $103,288,589 | $89,809,161 | $84,747,667 |
| Other long-term assets | $18,562,098 | $35,640,361 | $0 | $204,431 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $203,915,303 | $202,373,020 | $155,725,041 | $120,650,961 | $84,747,667 |
| Total assets | $319,263,907 | $289,469,358 | $249,844,261 | $213,302,448 | $182,880,911 |
| Liabilities | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $10,544,844 | $8,064,380 | $8,792,847 | $6,391,666 | $4,530,423 |
| Other current liabilities | $1,150,408 | $1,212,645 | $1,190,774 | $1,174,014 | $1,043,583 |
| Total current liabilities | $11,695,252 | $9,277,025 | $9,983,621 | $7,565,680 | $5,574,006 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $542,012 | $1,832,373 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $2,125,543 | $2,200,896 | $1,932,377 | $1,622,728 | $1,510,548 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $2,125,543 | $2,200,896 | $1,932,377 | $2,164,740 | $3,342,921 |
| Total liabilities | $13,820,795 | $11,477,921 | $11,915,998 | $9,730,420 | $8,916,927 |
| Net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Without donor restrictions | $192,519,678 | $152,893,244 | $133,450,470 | $111,554,852 | $99,610,243 |
| With donor restrictions | $112,923,434 | $125,098,193 | $104,477,793 | $92,017,176 | $74,353,741 |
| Net assets | $305,443,112 | $277,991,437 | $237,928,263 | $203,572,028 | $173,963,984 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Total contributions | $113,743,930 | $132,494,279 | $117,470,243 | $107,332,404 | $91,101,805 |
| Program service revenue | $4,046,170 | $6,396,207 | $5,727,286 | $1,727,438 | $2,113,681 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $1,902,264 | ($228,110) | ($1,337,992) | $886,444 | ($1,156,509) |
| Other revenue | $354,119 | $1,596,723 | $1,725,001 | $1,789,286 | $1,807,784 |
| Total other revenue | $6,302,553 | $7,764,820 | $6,114,295 | $4,403,168 | $2,764,956 |
| Total revenue | $120,046,483 | $140,259,099 | $123,584,538 | $111,735,572 | $93,866,761 |
| Expenses | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Program services | $64,396,551 | $70,392,262 | $66,264,371 | $62,227,252 | $51,804,877 |
| Management and general | $9,671,469 | $8,673,004 | $6,045,513 | $6,760,813 | $5,298,657 |
| Fundraising | $21,158,118 | $20,376,612 | $15,946,825 | $13,831,041 | $11,641,655 |
| Total expenses | $95,226,138 | $99,441,878 | $88,256,709 | $82,819,106 | $68,745,189 |
| Change in net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $24,820,345 | $40,817,221 | $35,327,829 | $28,916,466 | $25,121,572 |
| Other changes in net assets | $2,631,330 | ($754,047) | ($971,594) | $691,578 | $1,528,472 |
| Total change in net assets | $27,451,675 | $40,063,174 | $34,356,235 | $29,608,044 | $26,650,044 |
Compensation
Compensation data for this ministry has not been collected.
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 11/1/2021. To update the information below, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
History
Mercy Ships began with the vision that ships might carry medical personnel and relief cargo to help the poor. Don and Deyon Stephens, along with a group of other young people, purchased the former passenger liner Victoria for $1 million in 1978. After four years of refit, the vessel sailed as the newly christened Anastasis, the first Mercy Ship. From the beginning, Don Stephens has served as Founder/CEO of Mercy Ships. Mercy Ships has provided free surgeries, dental care, medical supplies, development training, clothing, construction materials, food and seeds and a message of hope to more than seventy port districts worldwide.
Program accomplishments
Mercy Ship's surgeons have performed more than 12,000 surgeries on and off board. These include: cleft lips and palates repairs, cataract removal and lens implants, straightening crossed eyes, removal of large tumors and reconstruction of facial features distorted by accidents and disease.
In addition, over 220,000 people have been treated in village medical clinics and more than 110,000 dental treatments have been performed.
Primary health care has been taught to village leaders who have in turn trained thousands of others. Crew members have built schools, hospitals, churches and homes. They have taught agricultural techniques and demonstrated construction and maintenance of latrines as well as installing and teaching maintenance of water wells to provide clean water to entire villages. Additionally, tens of millions of dollars of medical equipment, hospital supplies and medicines have been distributed to the poor and needy.
Needs
Mercy Ships presents its needs as follows: