Direct Relief was rated the fifth largest charity in the United States in 2022, according to Forbes Magazine’s newly released annual list of the 100 largest U.S. charities, by private donations. The humanitarian medical aid group received $2.2 billion in private contributions in its 2022 fiscal year, up more than 15% from $1.9 billion in 2021.
Forbes awarded Direct Relief a score of 100% for both charitable commitment (how much of a charity’s total expenses go directly to the charitable purpose) and 100% on fundraising efficiency (the percent of private donations remaining after deducting fundraising costs).
Top 5 Charities 2022 – Forbes
| OVERALL RANK | CHARITY NAME | PRIVATE DONATIONS | FUNDRAISING EFFICIENCY | CHARITABLE COMMITMENT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Feeding America | $4.06 B | 99% | 99% |
| 2 | United Way Worldwide | $2.77 B | 88% | 85% |
| 3 | St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital | $2.42 B | 85% | 69% |
| 4 | Salvation Army | $2.34 B | 90% | 82% |
| 5 | Direct Relief | $2.21 B | 100% | 100% |
Top 5 California Charities 2022 – Forbes
Headquartered in California, Direct Relief is the largest of the five California charities included in the 2022 Forbes ranking.
| CALIFORNIA RANK | OVERALL RANK | CHARITY NAME | PRIVATE DONATIONS | FUNDRAISING EFFICIENCY | CHARITABLE COMMITMENT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Direct Relief | $2.21 B | 100% | 100% |
| 2 | 42 | Entertainment Industry Foundation | $436 M | 99% | 98% |
| 3 | 64 | City of Hope | $292 M | 85% | 81% |
| 4 | 65 | Cedars-Sinai Health System | $290 M | 96% | 89% |
| 5 | 78 | Educational Media Foundation | $238 M | 96% | 79% |
Top 5 International Charities – Forbes
Direct Relief, one of the world’s largest channels for humanitarian medical assistance to underserved communities and victims of disasters, also ranks as the largest charity in the “International Needs” category, according to Forbes.
| INTERNATIONAL RANK | OVERALL RANK | CHARITY NAME | CATEGORY | PRIVATE DONATIONS | FUNDRAISING EFFICIENCY | CHARITABLE COMMITMENT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Direct Relief | International | $2.21 B | 100% | 100% |
| 2 | 6 | Americares | International | $1.22 B | 99% | 98% |
| 3 | 7 | Good 360 | International | $1.68 B | 100% | 100% |
| 4 | 10 | Habitat for Humanity | International | $1.27 B | 88% | 83% |
| 5 | 12 | Compassion International | International | $1.14 B | 89% | 82% |
Direct Relief Activities – 2022
In its fiscal year 2022, Direct Relief provided more than $2 billion in medical aid and $58.2 million in financial assistance to healthcare providers and other local organizations in 98 countries and 52 US states and territories.
Ukraine was the largest recipient country of Direct Relief’s assistance in 2022, receiving 1,099 tons of medicine and medical supplies from Direct Relief, valued at $640 million, at the request of the Ukrainian Ministry of Health and other healthcare providers after Russia invaded the country in February. This includes extensive supplies for treating traumatic injuries and a broad range of medications ranging from cancer therapies, insulin, and antidotes for chemical attacks to those needed for chronic health conditions.
In addition, through the generosity of donors worldwide, Direct Relief provided $29.4 million in cash assistance for programs benefiting Ukrainians and Ukrainian refugees.
Direct Relief’s other recent activities include:
- Awarded $22.7 Million to 71 US healthcare and other nonprofit organizations through Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity
- Delivered 12.5 tons of emergency medical essentials to fight a cholera outbreak in Haiti, including IV fluids, oral rehydration salts, antibiotics and water purification tablets. Direct Relief also is actively responding to cholera outbreaks across the globe in Lebanon, Syria, and Malawi.
- Donated 273,312 doses of the lifesaving drug naloxone, which counteracts opioid overdoses, to public and private healthcare providers in 45 US states
- Distributed medicines to treat Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes to 536 healthcare facilities in 438 US cities in 2022
- Responded to Hurricanes Fiona and Ian with more than $4.5 million in medical aid to 127 healthcare providers throughout the US and Caribbean
2022 Charity Ratings
In addition to its top ranking from Forbes, Direct Relief earned a four-star rating for the 12th consecutive year from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator.
Direct Relief received a 100% rating in Charity Navigator’s Accountability & Finance category, which “provides an assessment of a charity’s financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies,” Charity Navigator says.
Direct Relief also received an A+ rating from Charity Watch, the highest score given by the independent charity watchdog.
Direct Relief is supported only by private, charitable contributions, accepting no government funding. The vast majority of the value of donations received and aid distributed is in the form of medicine and medical supplies donated by their manufacturers (in-kind contributions). Direct Relief values donated medicine and supplies at wholesale value; see https://www.directrelief.org/about/finance/cash-and-in-kind-contributions/ for more information.
To learn more, please read the Direct Relief 2022 Impact Report.
