Catholic Medical Mission Board / CMMB 
Summary
Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB) began more than 70 years ago by a young New York anesthesiologist, Dr Paluel Joseph Flagg, who wanted to see the poor throughout the world have access to basic medical care. The Catholic Medical Mission Board provides medicines and medical supplies, free of charge, to partner organizations overseas. CMMB's partners then distribute these medicines to those who live in substandard conditions and have little or no hope of receiving basic medical care. CMMB also recruits and sends volunteers, provides emergency relief, and supports ongoing health-care projects around the world.
CMMB is a nonprofit organization, and donations to it are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.
Contact information
Mailing address:
10 West 17th Street
New York, NY 10011-5701
Website: www.cmmb.org
Phone: (212) 242-7757
Email: info@cmmb.org
Organization details
EIN: 135602319
CEO/President: Mr. John F. Galbraith
Chairman: Mr. Nicholas D'agostino, Jr.
Board size: 18
Founder: Dr. Paluel Joseph Flagg
Year founded: 1928
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 09/30
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB) began more than 70 years ago by a young New York anesthesiologist, Dr Paluel Joseph Flagg, who wanted to see the poor throughout the world have access to basic medical care.
The Catholic Medical Mission Board provides medicines and medical supplies, free of charge, to partner organizations overseas. CMMB's partners then distribute these medicines to those who live in substandard conditions and have little or no hope of receiving basic medical care. CMMB also recruits and sends volunteers, provides emergency relief, and supports ongoing health-care projects around the world.
CMMB uses the following to describe some of its purposes:
- Provides pharmaceuticals and health-care supplies for distribution
- Coordinates the placement of volunteer professional and para-professional health-care providers
- Supplies emergency/disaster relief for medical emergencies
- Supports short-term health related training of individuals in developing countries
- Provides Integrated Health Care Services for Disease Eradication Programs
- Raises consciousness about basic health-care inequity throughout the world
- Trains local health care professionals
CMMB is a nonprofit organization, and donations to it are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.
Mission statement
Catholic Medical Mission Board uses the following to express its mission:
Founded in 1928 and rooted in the healing ministry of Jesus, Catholic Medical Mission Board works collaboratively to provide quality healthcare programs and services, without discrimination, to people in need around the world.
Statement of faith
This organization has not provided a Statement of Faith. At such time that MinistryWatch receives this information it will be posted.
Transparency grade
D
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Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Relief and Development
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 7 of 593 | 3 of 68 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 55 of 593 | 11 of 68 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 2 of 593 | 1 of 68 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 20 of 593 | 8 of 68 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Median % for all ministries in MW database | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 8% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 93% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 7% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Operating ratios | Median % for all ministries in MW database | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 82% | 98% | 98% | 98% | 98% | 97% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 98% | 135% | 86% | 97% | 104% | 110% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 80% | 132% | 85% | 96% | 101% | 107% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 2% | -35% | 14% | 3% | -4% | -10% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 3% | -258% | 49% | 16% | -16% | -29% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 11% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% |
| Investing ratios | Median measure for all ministries in MW database | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.04 | 8.94 | 2.91 | 5.22 | 4.15 | 3.02 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.73 | 1.15 | 1.02 | 1.04 | 1.05 | 1.04 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.18 | 10.25 | 2.96 | 5.44 | 4.36 | 3.15 |
| Liquidity ratios | Median measure for all ministries in MW database | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 8.84 | 11.53 | 47.66 | 34.04 | 29.53 | 40.59 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.11 | 0.09 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.02 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.72 | 1.07 | 3.96 | 2.14 | 2.66 | 3.72 |
| Solvency ratios | Median % for all ministries in MW database | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 11% | 10% | 3% | 5% | 6% | 5% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 77% | 10% | 33% | 18% | 23% | 32% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Cash | $5,283,805 | $5,520,433 | $6,279,795 | $6,029,374 | $13,424,561 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $29,784,725 | $183,551,277 | $76,987,948 | $59,971,262 | $73,399,045 |
| Short-term investments | $22,733,974 | $25,581,405 | $24,537,615 | $22,599,491 | $14,485,233 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $57,802,504 | $214,653,115 | $107,805,358 | $88,600,127 | $101,308,839 |
| Long-term investments | $3,762,578 | $3,807,470 | $4,103,567 | $3,478,403 | $3,370,937 |
| Fixed assets | $306,596 | $400,490 | $371,552 | $332,709 | $375,013 |
| Other long-term assets | $4,401,469 | $45,347 | $157,572 | $694,949 | $733,842 |
| Total long-term assets | $8,470,643 | $4,253,307 | $4,632,691 | $4,506,061 | $4,479,792 |
| Total assets | $66,273,147 | $218,906,422 | $112,438,049 | $93,106,188 | $105,788,631 |
| Liabilities | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $3,214,343 | $3,743,655 | $2,244,381 | $2,047,046 | $1,829,551 |
| Other current liabilities | $1,798,999 | $759,820 | $922,476 | $953,689 | $666,070 |
| Total current liabilities | $5,013,342 | $4,503,475 | $3,166,857 | $3,000,735 | $2,495,621 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $1,842,093 | $1,790,723 | $2,110,924 | $2,340,894 | $2,550,534 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $1,842,093 | $1,790,723 | $2,110,924 | $2,340,894 | $2,550,534 |
| Total liabilities | $6,855,435 | $6,294,198 | $5,277,781 | $5,341,629 | $5,046,155 |
| Net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Unrestricted | $50,947,551 | $207,700,040 | $102,194,433 | $82,964,957 | $96,905,099 |
| Temporarily restricted | $8,470,161 | $4,912,184 | $4,965,835 | $4,799,602 | $3,837,377 |
| Permanently restricted | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assets | $59,417,712 | $212,612,224 | $107,160,268 | $87,764,559 | $100,742,476 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Total contributions | $439,128,719 | $740,065,473 | $603,790,866 | $371,767,335 | $289,901,389 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $18,511 | $16,812 | $98,609 | $93,833 | $119,960 |
| Other revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total other revenue | $18,511 | $16,812 | $98,609 | $93,833 | $119,960 |
| Total revenue | $439,147,230 | $740,082,285 | $603,889,475 | $371,861,168 | $290,021,349 |
| Expenses | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Program services | $581,790,801 | $625,653,193 | $576,992,047 | $376,649,955 | $309,117,237 |
| Management and general | $4,677,654 | $4,939,522 | $4,781,778 | $5,072,087 | $4,935,698 |
| Fundraising | $5,967,104 | $5,481,853 | $5,144,186 | $4,426,568 | $5,088,107 |
| Total expenses | $592,435,559 | $636,074,568 | $586,918,011 | $386,148,610 | $319,141,042 |
| Change in net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($153,288,329) | $104,007,717 | $16,971,464 | ($14,287,442) | ($29,119,693) |
| Other changes in net assets | $93,817 | $1,444,239 | $2,424,245 | $1,309,525 | $25,845,763 |
| Total change in net assets | ($153,194,512) | $105,451,956 | $19,395,709 | ($12,977,917) | ($3,273,930) |
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
History
In 1913, Dr Paluel Joseph Flagg, a young anesthesiology resident at New York City's St. Vincent's Hospital, visited Haiti and was struck by the poverty and illness he encountered among those who suffered from Hansen's disease (leprosy).
Upon returning to New York City, Dr. Flagg became an active spokesperson for "the destitute" around the world. He recruited missionaries for medical work among the sick and the poor in developing countries. His goal was not only to send volunteers, but to also provide the critical resources they would need -- medicines and medical supplies.
Dr. Flagg's dream inspired others. In 1928, the Catholic Medical Mission Board was formally established with Rev. Edward F. Garesche, SJ as the first director. Within three years, Fr. Garesche was able to purchase two New York City brownstones, which functioned as a combination office/warehouse for the new international operation.
Shortly after CMMB was incorporated, a severe hurricane devastated Puerto Rico. Dr. Flagg and his colleagues at St. Vincent's Hospital recruited a team of volunteer doctors and nurses. With support from CMMB, they immediately sailed to Puerto Rico.
During the Depression, fund-raising required imagination, grit, and perseverance. CMMB was supported by volunteer clubs throughout the country who collected drugs and medical supplies from doctors' offices, pharmacies, hospitals, and even home medicine cabinets. These clubs rolled homemade bandages and stitched hospital gowns from old clothes and muslin.
In 1949, the world-renowned Bishop Fulton J. Sheen joined CMMB's Board of Directors. Bishop Sheen not only inspired many health-care professionals to volunteer their services -- he also convinced major pharmaceutical companies that their surplus medicines could be put to good use. Donations arrived at CMMB's New York City headquarters on West 17th Street, where they were repacked and shipped to affiliate facilities in developing countries. Through the years, these in-kind donations have risen steadily: from $3.5 million in 1960, for example, to more than $45 million in 1998.
As services expanded, CMMB's 19th century brownstone facilities became inadequate. In 1962, CMMB Director, Rev. Anthony LaBau, SJ, demolished the old headquarters and built new offices on the site.
The following year, CMMB acquired a much-needed warehouse in nearby Long Island City. Over the years, this large warehouse has become a state-of-the-art facility with a computerized inventory management system and climate control.
During the 70s and 80s, medical assistance to overseas missions increased. In addition to its shipments of donated medicines and medical supplies, CMMB established and provided funds for medical mission development programs.
In 1989, CMMB's dedication to help eradicate Hansen's disease (leprosy) merited the prestigious Damian-Dutton Award. This honor was especially significant because CMMB's origin was inspired by Dr Flagg's dream of helping those afflicted with the disease.
Today, CMMB is a multimillion dollar humanitarian relief agency challenged to provide more medicines, recruit and place more volunteers, support more special projects, train more local health practitioners, and respond to major international emergencies with responsible health-care assistance.
Program accomplishments
- AIDSRelief: This program was launched in March of 2204. It has begun to provide antiretroviral therapies in CMMB-supported clinics in Kenya, South Africa and Haiti. In Kenya, existing CMMB HIV/AIDS programs have already provided antiretroviral therapy to 1,468 patients.
- Born To Live: This program provides antenatal care, HIV counseling and testing services, short course antiretroviral treatment, antibiotic therapy, and follow-up care for mothers and their infants. It is currently active in Kenya, South Africa, Swaziland, Nigeria, Zambia, Haiti and Papua New Guinea. In 2004, over 6,300 women were served at 26 active CMMB-supported antenatal clinics. From January 2002 through December 2003, women mane 19,575 new visits to CMMB-supported clinics.
- Choose To Care: This program was launched in 2000, and currently comprises 71 projects in five countries: South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland and Lesotho. 40,403 patients received home-based care; 30 home-based care sites are now part of antiretroviral treatment programs. 8,982 orphans received care and more than 140 community-based organizations have been supported through the program.
- Back to Haiti: This is a major public health initiative that provides healthcare and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs mainly for women and children. The Salesian Sisters' day care and school-based programs have provided routine physical and sick exams; essential meals; life skills and home care training of students, teachers and parents; and biannual de-worming campaigns.
- Accion por la Salud Familiar (Action for Family Health): This program is run in five countries: Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. In 2004, physical examinations and treatment were given to 61,074 children. IMCI training (clinical, neonatal, community, essential drug and HIV/AIDS prevention) has been provided to 1,271 healthcare workers.
- Global Initiatives:
- Medical Volunteer Program: In 2004, CMMB sent 194 medical volunteers to 26 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.
- Medicines and Medical Supplies: In 2004, CMMB made 558 shipments of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies valued at more than $128 million to 48 countries.
- Emergency Relief: In 2004, emergency relief was provided to residents affected by the earthquake in Bam, Iran, and to those affected by the famine, natural disasters, and health emergencies in the Dominican Republic, Haiti and North Korea.
Needs
Catholic Medical Mission Board uses the following to express its Ministry Needs:
When you make a donation to Catholic Medical Mission Board, you will receive the incomparable gift of knowing you've brought hope and healing where it is desperately needed.
See the ministry's website for more information.