Mercy Ships
Operates hospital ships staffed by volunteer medical and non-medical crew to bring free surgeries and medical training to developing countries.
Mercy Ships International
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Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to bring hope and healing through free surgery and medical training in regions where resources are scarce.
Verified certifications
Confirmed against the issuing authority - not self-reported.
Mission
Operates hospital ships staffed by volunteer medical and non-medical crew to bring free surgeries and medical training to developing countries.
Focus areas & reach
· What they work on and whereHow it stacks up against peers
· vs. 8 similar international in United StatesConcerns
· None foundWhere every $1 goes
· FY2024 · IRS 990 (FY2024)GiveRadar Analysis
Original analysis from GiveRadar's dataset of comparable organizations
From what GiveRadar has verified so far, Mercy Ships has a complete profile, cross-referenced across 4 independent sources including the IRS.
- By reported annual revenue, it is larger than 99% of the 12,755 international charities in the United States with financial records on GiveRadar. See the filings
- GiveRadar has cross-referenced this organization across 4 independent sources, led by the IRS - more than 81% of comparable charities. See the sources
- Its integrity score of 77 places it in the top 10% of the 25,023 international charities in the United States GiveRadar tracks, because GiveRadar has verified its financial disclosures and its governance. View this cohort
- government registration
- financial records (5 filed years)
- disclosed leadership
- a website
- a donation page
- third-party accreditation
- a contact email
- an owner-submitted profile claim
Analysis based on GiveRadar's benchmark dataset of 2026-07-03. It describes what GiveRadar has verified, not a judgment of the organization itself.
Common questions
· Auto-generated from filings + methodologyMercy Ships is a registered international nonprofit based in Lindale, TX, United States. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It was founded in 2008 and has been operating for 18 years. Its EIN is 262414132. According to GiveRadar's records, it holds active tax-deductible status on the IRS Publication 78 list, which means donations are tax-deductible and the organization is in good standing with the IRS. GiveRadar's Integrity Assessment for the organization is 77/100, which reflects how much public information is available, not whether the charity is legitimate. The organization reports $287M in annual revenue. 122 officers and directors are publicly disclosed. No red flags have been detected.
Mercy Ships's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 262414132. This is the organization's IRS tax identification number; you can use it to verify tax-exempt status and to look up its Form 990 filings with the IRS.
Mercy Ships has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 77/100. This score combines five components: Registration (20 pts), Financial Transparency (30 pts), Governance (20 pts), Contact Availability (10 pts), and Data Recency (20 pts), with negative adjustments for any red flags. A score of 77 ('Strong transparency') reflects well-documented governance, recent financials, named leadership, and working contact details. The charity allocates 75% of expenses to programs, which contributes positively to its score. For comparison, the average integrity assessment for international charities in United States is 90/100.
Mercy Ships is located in Lindale, TX, United States. The organization was established in 2008 and has been active for 18 years.
Based on official tax filings, Mercy Ships has $287M in annual revenue. It allocates 75% of expenses to programs and services. This is in line with the average of 75% for international charities in United States. Its revenue is significantly above the peer average of $5M. Create a free GiveRadar account to view the complete financial breakdown with year-over-year trends.
Mercy Ships is classified as an International organization, registered in United States. It operates as a Publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2)). By size, it is categorized as a major organization. It has $287M in annual revenue. The organization has 122 disclosed officers and directors.
No red flags have been detected for Mercy Ships. GiveRadar automatically screens charities for concerning patterns including high executive compensation, low program spending, and missing financial filings. Based on available official data, no issues have been identified.
According to GiveRadar's records, Mercy Ships holds active tax-deductible status on the IRS Publication 78 list, which means donations are tax-deductible and the organization is in good standing with the IRS. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It reports that 75% of expenses go to programs (the peer average is 75%). You can donate directly through their official donation page linked on their GiveRadar profile. GiveRadar provides data for research and does not endorse any organization. A GiveRadar Integrity Assessment reflects how much public data is available, not whether an organization is safe to donate to, so it is always smart to do your own research before giving.
Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to bring hope and healing through free surgery and medical training in regions where resources are scarce. Mercy Ships is classified as an international organization registered in United States. The organization was founded in 2008.
Among international charities registered in United States: It allocates 75% of expenses to programs, in line with the peer average of 75%. Its annual revenue of $287M is well above the peer average of $5M.
Yes, donations to Mercy Ships are generally tax-deductible in the United States. Its EIN is 262414132, which you can use for tax filing purposes. Donors can typically deduct contributions on their federal income tax return if they itemize deductions. Consult a tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.
Filing history
5 years on file from IRS 990 (FY2024): revenue, expenses, program spending, assets, and liabilities by fiscal year.
See 5 years of revenue, expense breakdowns, and balance sheet.
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Tax-deductibility for donors
Donations may be tax-deductible for residents of United States under local rules. Confirm with the charity directly.
MERCY SHIPS is registered in United States. Donations from the Netherlands to charities outside the EU/EEA are generally not tax-deductible for Dutch donors unless the charity is listed on the Dutch ANBI register with foreign-recognized status.
Always confirm tax treatment with the charity directly or your tax advisor before donating.
Staff & volunteers
From filings and published profiles
Leadership
From FY2024 filing
Officers & trustees (25)
Source: Public filings
25 officers and trustees on file - free with a GiveRadar account.
Latest news
From global news sources
10 articles found
From news sources and the organization. Shown for transparency; news never affects the integrity score.
Mercy Ships completes three years of life-transforming impact in Sierra Leone - Marine Business News
Mercy Ships completes three years of life-transforming impact in Sierra Leone - joynews.co.za
As football fever takes hold, Mercy Ships transforms one 6-year-old’s life — SMI DIGITAL - shipmanagementinternational.com
Sight Restored in Madagascar for the First Patient of the Next Mercy Ships Field Service - Africa24 TV
cruisePAL partners with Mercy Ships for hospital vessel operations - Seatrade Cruise News
A three day journey by canoe to receive life-saving treatment from Mercy Ships - www.christiantoday.com
On International Nurses Day, Mercy Ships Nurses Are Honored for Mentoring African Nurses - Business Wire
Mercy Ships’ Yachting Day Gala Returns to Cannes - Megayacht News
Wilson Connectivity Partners with Mercy Ships to Bring Seamless Cellular Connectivity to Hospital Ship Fleet - GlobeNewswire
Nursing alumni provide lifesaving care as Mercy Ships volunteers - Liberty University
Activity timeline
Filings and press mentions, merged
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Sign up to write a reviewCause areas in United States
How many charities work in each area, with this charity's area highlighted.
Most common causes in United States
Causes charities work on most.
Sources and verification
- Registration and legal identity
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Tax Exempt Organization Search
- Financial filings
- IRS Form 990 filings - Fiscal year 2024 most recent on file.
- Officers and trustees
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Tax Exempt Organization Search - 122 disclosed in the public registry.
- News and media coverage
- GDELT Project + Google News
- Supplementary verification
- Charity Navigator
Data freshness
What we know and don't know
Exactly which public data we hold on this charity. Our score reflects transparency, not impact.
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Financial data · FY2024 on record
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Named leadership · 122 officers on file
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Executive pay · Disclosed
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Government registration · Registered with an official registry
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Mission statement · Published
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Official website · On record
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Headquarters address · On file
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Direct contact · Email or phone published
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Tax-deductibility · Verified
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Founding date · 2008
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Programs & activitiesNo named programs listed by the charity
Methodology
GiveRadar builds each profile primarily from official government charity registries, supplemented where available by third-party nonprofit databases and news archives, and combines it into a single 0-100 integrity assessment. The exact sources for this charity are listed above. We don't take a cut of any donation, ever.
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Quick facts about Mercy Ships
- What is Mercy Ships?
- Mercy Ships is a international publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2)) based in Lindale, United States. Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to bring hope and healing through free surgery and medical training in regions where resources are scarce.
- When was Mercy Ships founded?
- Mercy Ships was founded in 2008.
- Who leads Mercy Ships?
- Nick Adame serves as CFO.
- Where is Mercy Ships located?
- Headquartered in Lindale, TX, United States.
- What is Mercy Ships's annual budget?
- Annual revenue for fiscal year 2024 is approximately $100M-$1B. 75% of expenses go to program services.
- Is Mercy Ships trustworthy?
- Mercy Ships has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 77 out of 100 (Strong transparency). The score reflects public-data transparency: registration, financial disclosure, governance, contact details, and how recently data was refreshed. It does not measure program impact.
- What is Mercy Ships's registration number?
- IRS EIN: 262414132. Registration: 26-2414132 (United States).
- What is Mercy Ships's website?
- http://www.mercyships.org