Where Does $100 to Doctors Without Borders Go (2022)?

Doctors Without Borders (DWB) or “Médicins Sans Frontiers” in French, is an international humanitarian medical organization – tax-exempt and non-profit – of French origin that provides emergency and medical care around the world.  The US office is one of 24 worldwide offices (called sections) and 17 branch offices in 21 countries governed by 14 voting members (directors), 13 of whom are independent, of the governing body (board of directors).

So, if you made a donation to the US office of DWB, how was the money used?  The organization’s website will tell you that 83% is spent on programs or the social mission, while 16% is spent on fundraising and 1% on general administration.  The Form 990 (2022) tells a slightly different story:

• In 2022, 75% of revenue was given via grants to 8 non-profits in Europe (appears to be a related organization – Medicine Sans Frontiers) that in turn used the funds to provide medical care throughout the world, while 19% was spent on fundraising, management and general administrative expenses leaving 6% added to the general fund;
• In 2021, 75% of revenue was allocated to grants, 17% was used for fundraising, management and general administrative expenses, and 8% was left unspent and added to the general fund).

Based in New York, NY, DWB reported total revenue of $689 million in 2022 (compared to $649 in 2021 and $558 million in 2020) with the largest sources of revenue reported to be contributions, gifts, and grants ($675 million including $32 million of non-cash contributions described as publicly traded securities on the Form 990, Schedule M).

Expenses totaled $647 million (94% of revenue)  – not including $3 million in depreciation – and can be categorized as follows:

• $514 million (75% of revenue):  Grants (primarily foreign)
• $ 42 million (6% of revenue):  Office-Related Expenses
• $ 37 million (5% of revenue):  Compensation
• $ 32 million (5% of revenue):  Fees for Services
• $ 21 million (3% of revenue):  Consultation and Program Development
• $  1 million (less than 1% of revenue):  Other Expenses (i.e. interest, travel, dues, subscriptions)

Using the above information, every $100 in revenue was spent as follows:

$100:  Revenue

-$ 75:  Grants

 $ 25:  Revenue Remaining

-$  6:  Office-Related Expenses

-$  5:  Compensation

-$  5:  Fees for Services

-$  3:  Consultation and Program Development

-$ 19: Subtotal Organization Expenses

 $  6:  Unspent Revenue:  To General Fund

As illustrated above, DWB used $133 million out of the $689 million in revenue, or $19 out of every $100 for organization and fundraising expenses.  $514 million or 75% of revenue was used for overseas grants.  The $42 million in unspent revenue or $6 out of every $100 in revenue was allocated to the general fund.  At year-end, DWB had $343 million in net assets in the US.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2022), click here.