MAP International meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
GOVERNMENT ACTION
In December 2020, MAP International signed a settlement agreement with the Attorney General of the State of California. The agreement followed previous actions including a Cease and Desist Order from the State that found that MAP improperly used United States market prices to value donated pharmaceuticals and direct mail solicitations were deceptive and created a likelihood of confusion or misunderstanding. MAP appealed the Cease and Desist Order, arguing that its valuation method followed Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). An Administrative Law Judge found in his final decision that MAP's valuation method was following GAAP, but also found that a statement made by MAP in its appeals that referenced the percentage of MAP's donated "resources" included both monetary and in-kind donations, which could, even if true, cause confusion for donors. MAP was ordered to cease and desist from including 99% or similar statements in solicitations to California donors (or percentages of combined cash and non-cash donations used for programs). MAP indicated that it disagrees with this conclusion, but in 2017, MAP had already stopped using these statements in fundraising appeals.
In April, 2020 MAP filed a petition seeking to reverse the judge's decision regarding its appeals. This resulted in the settlement with the California Attorney General, which, upon settlement, considered MAP fully compliant and allowed them to fully engage in solicitation in California. MAP agreed to avoid using the previously identified language that referenced “99% of MAP's donated resources go directly to programs…” or something similar, and paid a fine of $80,600 to the Attorney General.
In finding that MAP International meets BBB WGA's Standard 15, which calls for appeals to be accurate and non-misleading, we considered the fact that MAP International ceased the use of this language as of 2017 as reported in the settlement agreement. Should the organization resume using this or similar language, it may impact our findings in the future.
MAP International (MAP) is a Christian relief and development organization that aims to promote the health of people living in the world's poorest communities. The organization reports that it works with partners for the provision of essential medicines, prevention and eradication of disease, promotion of community health development, and disaster relief. MAP reports it provides medicines and medical supplies to hospitals, clinics, and short-term medical missions in poor communities in approximately 86 countries. These health care provisions included: antibiotics, anti-malaria drugs, wound care supplies, de-worming medicines, over the counter pain relievers, allergy and respiratory medicines, sutures and other medical supplies and pharmaceutics. MAP reports that it served over 20 million people in 2020.
For the year ended September 30, 2020, MAP International's program expenses were:
| Essential medicine distribution |
$667,586,275 |
| Community health development |
$33,727,405 |
| Disaster and disease management |
$13,445,230 |
| Total Program Expenses: |
$714,758,910 |
*2019 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements, Cause- related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.)
Fundraising costs were <1% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $585,910,314, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)
This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
The following information is based on MAP International's audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2020.
| Source of Funds |
| In-kind contributions |
$577,233,702 |
| Contributions |
$8,676,612 |
| Service fees |
$2,383,865 |
| Investment income |
$40,941 |
| Other revenue |
$5,521 |
| Total Income |
$588,340,641 |
- Programs: 100%
- Fundraising: Less than 1%
- Administrative: Less than 1%
| Total Income |
$588,340,641 |
| Program expenses |
$714,758,910 |
| Fundraising expenses |
$2,703,838 |
| Administrative expenses |
$574,752 |
| Other expenses |
$0 |
| Total expenses: |
$718,037,500 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses |
$-129,696,859 |
| Beginning Net Assets |
$227,282,848 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets |
$0 |
| Ending Net Assets |
$97,585,989 |
| Total Liabilities |
$1,016,124 |
| Total Assets |
$98,602,113 |
Note: According to MAP's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020, the organization received in-kind donations totaling $577,233,702 in the form of medicine and medical supplies.