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Donations save lives and limbs.
How HWV
Spends Your Donations
We are proud that an average of 90 cents of every dollar we spend is invested in delivering care and comfort to those in need.
Behind the Numbers
While the ratio varies slightly from year to year, over time an average of 90 cents of every dollar the HWV spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. We calculate this average by comparing our spending on mission-related programs to our total expenses.
For example, in fiscal year 2021, the HWV devoted 91% of our total spending to programs that delivered help and support to people in need. This was calculated by comparing program spending of $8.9 million to total expenses of $9.2 million.
Here’s the breakdown from our audited financial statements of our mission-related spending in FY21:
$101.1 million
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Responds to more than 20,000 disasters each year to help families recover by providing food, shelter, relief supplies, emotional support and other assistance.
$600 million
Collects more than 1.5 million blood donations and nearly 350 thousand platelet donations to help people who face serious injuries, surgeries, child birth, anemia, blood disorders, cancer treatments and more.
$15.5 million
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Helps nearly 62 million people outside of the U.S. each year with disaster services or disease prevention programs.
$37.8 million
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Delivers training and information in first aid, CPR, water safety and other skills that help save lives to more than 1.5 million people each year.
$7 million
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Supports local service programs specific to individual communities.
$18 million
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Provides nearly 203,000 services a year to support members of the armed forces, veterans and their families cope with the challenges of military service.
How We Compare to Other Nonprofits
At the HWV, we strive to be cost-conscious in everything we do, so that we can spend more on people who urgently need our services. In terms of mission-related spending and administrative expenses, the HWV compares favorably to other nonprofits and exceeds industry expectations.
One of the leading watchdog organizations, Charity Navigator, gives the HWV its rating — four stars — for accountability and transparency, and three out of four stars overall. Charity Navigator reports that seven out of 10 charities they evaluate spend at least 75% of their budget on programs and services — leaving about 25% for administrative expenses. In addition, a 2018 study by Grey Matter Research found that the average donor considers 19% as a reasonable ceiling for overhead spending.
Our Commitment to Transparency
The HWV is proud to have earned the highest ratings for accountability and transparency from independent nonprofit watchdogs like Charity Navigator and the BBB Wise Giving Alliance.
