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Nonprofiteer
← MERCY SHIPS INTERNATIONAL

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by MERCY SHIPS INTERNATIONAL.

Totals

Total revenue
$155,091,550
Total expenses
$145,692,310
Contributions and grants received
$153,707,243
Grants paid
$2,772,232
Program service revenue
$34,404
Investment income
$1,114,725
Other revenue
$235,178
Total assets, end of year
$252,387,216
Total liabilities, end of year
$12,065,384
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$240,321,832
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$108,854,220
Management and general expenses
$17,097,383
Fundraising expenses
$19,740,707
Program service expenses (Part III)
$108,854,220

Program services were 74.7% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1a · Federated campaigns

    $89,307

  • 1b · Membership dues

    $0

  • 1d · Related organizations

    $30,754,978

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $122,862,958

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $7,092,496

  • 2a · Program service revenue: CREW & VOLUNTEER FEES

    total $34,404 · related or exempt $34,404

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $1,114,725 · excluded $1,114,725

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $967 · excluded $967

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $7,200

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $7,200 · personal property $0

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $7,200 · excluded $7,200

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $0 · other assets $0

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $262,988

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $130,006

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $132,982 · related or exempt $132,982

  • 11a · Other revenue: REIMBURSED REVENUE

    total $13,402 · excluded $13,402

  • 11b · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE

    total $80,627 · excluded $80,627

  • 11d · All other revenue

    total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $94,029

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $1,839,535 · program services $1,839,535

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $12,500 · program services $12,500

  • 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

    total $920,197 · program services $920,197

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $2,700,775 · program services $1,580,900 · management and general $543,346 · fundraising $576,529

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $28,239,112 · program services $20,724,064 · management and general $5,000,011 · fundraising $2,515,037

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $691,182 · program services $466,496 · management and general $132,776 · fundraising $91,910

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $2,669,615 · program services $1,998,461 · management and general $451,140 · fundraising $220,014

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $1,816,738 · program services $1,231,777 · management and general $364,002 · fundraising $220,959

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $119,058 · program services $69,242 · management and general $42,081 · fundraising $7,735

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $34,891 · program services $26,168 · management and general $8,723

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $4,907,228 · fundraising $4,907,228

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $21,977,680 · program services $17,785,578 · management and general $1,846,626 · fundraising $2,345,476

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $8,956,757 · program services $7,170,294 · management and general $1,786,463

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $5,817,721 · program services $5,145,564 · management and general $562,492 · fundraising $109,665

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $3,660,166 · program services $3,286,188 · management and general $354,395 · fundraising $19,583

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $2,744,920 · program services $1,675,596 · management and general $332,742 · fundraising $736,582

  • 17 · Travel

    total $5,304,513 · program services $4,779,408 · management and general $162,737 · fundraising $362,368

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $76,490 · program services $46,917 · management and general $2,052 · fundraising $27,521

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $6,587,072 · program services $6,516,725 · management and general $70,347

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $886,090 · program services $883,710 · management and general $2,380

  • 24a · Other expenses: CONTRIBUTED MEDICAL SUPPLIES

    total $6,932,480 · program services $6,810,569 · management and general $121,911

  • 24b · Other expenses: MARINE EXPENSES

    total $17,433,417 · program services $17,293,749 · management and general $139,644 · fundraising $24

  • 24c · Other expenses: POSTAGE & PRINTING

    total $8,992,552 · program services $1,537,641 · management and general $612,084 · fundraising $6,842,827

  • 24d · Other expenses: FOOD & MEDICAL SUPPLIES

    total $3,676,388 · program services $3,613,772 · management and general $61,765 · fundraising $851

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $8,695,233 · program services $3,439,169 · management and general $4,499,666 · fundraising $756,398

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $18,254,108 · end of year $27,457,746

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $42,528,889 · end of year $33,801,503

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $226,442 · end of year $2,652,142

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $9,772,668 · end of year $15,332,552

  • 5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 7 · Other notes and loans receivable

    beginning of year $0

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $9,936,371 · end of year $11,484,898

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $3,459,246 · end of year $3,252,296

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $175,769,551

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $26,586,258

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $157,888,525 · end of year $149,183,293

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $0

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $0

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    beginning of year $0

  • 14 · Intangible assets

    beginning of year $0

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $4,458,097 · end of year $9,222,786

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $8,787,021 · end of year $10,071,541

  • 18 · Grants payable

    beginning of year $0

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $1,360 · end of year $2,660

  • 20 · Tax-exempt bond liabilities

    beginning of year $0

  • 21 · Escrow or custodial account liability

    beginning of year $1,933,254 · end of year $1,991,183

  • 22 · Loans and payables to officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $0

  • 24 · Unsecured notes and loans payable

    beginning of year $0

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $3,842,303 · end of year $0

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $216,159,319 · end of year $232,010,666

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $15,801,089 · end of year $8,311,166

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

MERCY SHIPS OPERATES HOSPITAL SHIPS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES THROUGH PROFESSIONAL VOLUNTEER MEDICAL AND NON-MEDICAL CREW, PROVIDING FREE SURGICAL CARE TO PATIENTS AND TRAINING AND EDUCATION FOR DOCTORS, NURSES, AND OTHER HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS. MERCY SHIPS ALSO PARTNERS WITH THE COUNTRIES WE SERVE TO HELP CREATE MEDICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FURTHERING OUR REACH OF HOPE AND HEALING.

Activities or mission (Part I)

OPERATES HOSPITAL SHIPS STAFFED BY VOLUNTEER MEDICAL AND NON-MEDICAL CREW TO BRING FREE SURGERIES AND MEDICAL TRAINING TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.

  • MERCY SHIPS FOLLOWS THE 2,000-YEAR-OLD MODEL OF JESUS, BRINGING HOPE AND HEALING TO THE FORGOTTEN POOR. IN 2023, MERCY SHIPS CONTINUED PROVIDING MEDICAL SERVICES AT NO COST, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: - SPECIALTY SURGERIES PERFORMED 3,862 - PATIENTS SCREENED FOR SURGERY 2,354 - HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS TRAINED AND MENTORED 1,520 - TOTAL NUMBER OF PARTICIPANT TRAINING HOURS 205,444 - DENTAL PROCEDURES 13,207 - VOLUNTEER CREW 2278 - CREW NATIONALITIES REPRESENTED 68 - TRAINED IN NUTRITIONAL AGRICULTURE 122

    Expenses $108,854,220 · Grants $2,772,232 · Revenue $167,386

As filed on the 2023 return.

Listed in Part VII

  • Gary Brown

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3 + 2 related

  • Gert Van De Weerdhof

    CEO

    Total calculated
    $375,430
    From this org
    $347,777
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $27,653
    Hours/week
    55

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $296,495
    Bonus
    $51,282
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $18,475
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,178
    Filer's total
    $375,430

  • Peter B Schulze

    CHAIRMAN

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3 + 2 related

  • PhD Ronald L Goode

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3 + 2 related

  • Guy Wade

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3 + 2 related

  • Lois Boyle

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Barney Goodall

    INTERIM CFO START: 10/1/23

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    55 + 0.7 related

  • Fred Grote

    CFO END: 9/30/23

    Total calculated
    $314,474
    From this org
    $290,354
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $24,120
    Hours/week
    55 + 0.7 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $290,354
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $11,724
    Nontaxable benefits
    $12,396
    Filer's total
    $314,474

  • Kerry Peterson

    VP ADVANCEMENT/ASST. SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $213,518
    From this org
    $190,388
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $23,130
    Hours/week
    55

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $190,388
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $11,243
    Nontaxable benefits
    $11,888
    Filer's total
    $213,518

  • Linda Pruett

    EXEC. ASSIST./ ASSIST. SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $69,553
    From this org
    $60,051
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $9,502
    Hours/week
    55

  • Paul Owen

    GENERAL COUNSEL

    Total calculated
    $268,092
    From this org
    $235,505
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $32,587
    Hours/week
    55 + 0.5 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $235,505
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $14,641
    Nontaxable benefits
    $17,946
    Filer's total
    $268,091

  • Dave Shwadlenak

    VP of Information Technology

    Total calculated
    $189,597
    From this org
    $172,758
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $16,839
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $151,437
    Bonus
    $21,321
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,691
    Nontaxable benefits
    $12,148
    Filer's total
    $189,597

  • Don Stephens

    FOUNDER

    Total calculated
    $300,000
    From this org
    $300,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $300,000
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $300,000

  • Ebenezer Puplampu

    CPO

    Total calculated
    $212,820
    From this org
    $180,292
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $32,528
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $180,292
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $9,214
    Nontaxable benefits
    $23,314
    Filer's total
    $212,820

  • Jitze Kramer

    VP OF GLOBAL BRANDING

    Total calculated
    $219,527
    From this org
    $184,628
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $34,899
    Hours/week
    55

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $184,628
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $11,543
    Nontaxable benefits
    $23,355
    Filer's total
    $219,526

  • Mark Shrime

    International Chief Medical Officer

    Total calculated
    $250,263
    From this org
    $234,926
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $15,337
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $234,926
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $14,100
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,237
    Filer's total
    $250,263

  • Robert Corley

    COO

    Total calculated
    $287,503
    From this org
    $248,251
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $39,252
    Hours/week
    55

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $248,251
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $15,575
    Nontaxable benefits
    $23,677
    Filer's total
    $287,503

  • Amy Nyquist

    DIR. OF DVLPMT PHILANTHROPY

    Total calculated
    $166,703
    From this org
    $139,655
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $27,048
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $139,655
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,523
    Nontaxable benefits
    $22,525
    Filer's total
    $166,703

  • Cecilia Villa

    SENIOR DIRECTOR - DEVELOPMENT

    Total calculated
    $162,459
    From this org
    $148,525
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,934
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $148,525
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,540
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,394
    Filer's total
    $162,459

  • Grady Nichols

    IT OPERATIONS DIR.

    Total calculated
    $144,127
    From this org
    $137,818
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $6,309
    Hours/week
    45

  • Jennifer Bullington

    SEN. PROGRAMS DESIGN DIR.

    Total calculated
    $160,601
    From this org
    $141,251
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $19,350
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $141,251
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,453
    Nontaxable benefits
    $14,897
    Filer's total
    $160,601

  • Jonathan Dyson

    Director of IT Strategy and Governance

    Total calculated
    $170,610
    From this org
    $147,310
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $23,300
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $133,095
    Bonus
    $14,215
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,258
    Nontaxable benefits
    $19,042
    Filer's total
    $170,610

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 1a · First-class or charter travel
  • 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
  • 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Written employment contract
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

Schedule J, Part I, Line 1a First-class or charter travel
MERCY SHIPS ONLY PAYS FOR MINISTRY-RELATED TRAVEL. MERCY SHIP'S POLICY NORMALLY PAYS FOR ECONOMY TRAVEL, BUT IF HEALTH CONDITIONS REQUIRE UPGRADED ACCOMODATION THEN MERCY SHIPS WILL EVALUATE ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. CURRENTLY THE FOUNDER HAS A MEDICAL CONDITION THAT REQUIRES UPGRADED TRAVEL. ALL OTHER EXECUTIVES FLY ECONOMY CLASS. THIS IS NOT INCLUDED AS TAXABLE COMPENSATION.
Schedule J, Part I, Line 7 Non-fixed payments
BONUSES PAID WERE DISCRETIONARY. BONUSES WERE DETERMINED BY APPROVED CONTRACTS FROM THE BOARD COMPENSATION COMMITTEE, RECRUITER/MERCY SHIPS HR CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, AND AGREEMENTS WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATION OFFICER.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Taxable family on this return

Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.

Disregarded entities

Part I: entities that legally are the filer and file no return of their own.

  • MERCY SHIPS COMMUNITY OF FAITH LLC

    SUPPORT · TX · income $5,478,500 · assets $10,751

    Directly controlled by MERCY SHIPS

Related corporations and trusts

Part IV: related organizations taxable as a corporation or trust.

  • AFRICA MERCY MALTA LIMITED

    C Corporation · SHIP OWNERSHIP · MT

    Directly controlled by NA

  • GLOBAL MERCY SHIPPING LIMITED

    C Corporation · SHIP OWNERSHIP · MH

    Directly controlled by NA

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
8 August 2024
IRS schema version
2023v5.1
Source object
202412219349301521

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