Blog 1 - Doctors Without Borders (MSF) - Vannessa Sutter

According to Charity Intelligence Canada Doctors Without Borders was founded in 1991, Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières Canada (MSF) is a disaster response charity with expertise in medical aid that works in 60 countries. MSF provides medical aid to people following natural disasters and wars.  MSF’s charter states that it helps people regardless of race, religion or political views.

The Doctors Without Borders charity intelligence rating currently sits at four stars, with a donor accountability rating of a B-plus. These ratings are based on a combination of factors including: the charity’s public reporting efforts and the results achieved by the organization.

After reviewing the CRA database, the following statistical financial information has been provided for the reporting period ending in, December 31, 2016:

• Receipted Donations: $47,640,770
• Non-receipted Donations: $3,839,132
• Gifts from other Charities: $4,311,403
• Government Funding: $3,550,000
• All other revenues: $7,511,936
• Total Revenue: $66,853,241

The Medecins Sans Frontiers/Doctors Without Borders website explains that the organization spends 86 per cent of the money raised by the charity on medical projects, and only two per cent of proceeds are spent on administrative staff.

The Doctors Without Borders financial statement includes information on the organizations: statement of financial position, statement of operations, statement of changes in net assets, statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statement.

According to the Canada Revenue Agency the breakdown of incoming finances allocation for Doctors Without Borders is as follows: 71 per cent of resources come from receipted donations; six per cent of resources from non-receipted donations; six per cent of resources come in the form of gifts from other charities; five per cent of resources is donated on behalf of government funding; and the remaining funding, equalling 11 per cent per cent is stated vaguely to come from other resources. The total annual revenue for the charity in 2016 was, $66,853,241.

The resources received by the Doctors Without Borders charity were spent on the following expenses: 83 per cent of resources, $55,475,799 was spent on the organizations charitable program initiatives; 3 per cent of resources, $2,070,173 were spent on management and administration; 14 per cent of resources were allocated to fundraising efforts, equalling $9,151,620; and less than one per cent of resources were spent on political activities equalling $86,006. The total expense allocation in this report is: $66,783,598. 241

In my opinion, the Doctors Without Borders charity has acceptable levels of overhead. As identified above in the previous research the organization has shown that a majority of their resources go towards the charities medical initiatives. As with most businesses, certain efforts are required to increase engagement and potentially increase incoming resources – in this instance, Doctors Without Borders allocates some of their resources towards stakeholder engagement, events or fundraising activities. I find this number acceptable and personally, I think it is necessary in order for the organization to continue increasing public support.

I believe another important factor to consider is the organizations success rate or alternatively the rate of progress in relation to the charitable initiatives. While I agree that it is important to review funding and see where resources are being spent to ensure that faithful business operations are taking place – it is also consequentially important to consider the grand difference the charity is making in the world. It is important to consider the Doctors Without Borders annual contributions to helping individuals and societies and to recognize the value added by this organization.