Direct Relief
Direct Relief is a nonprofit, apolitical, nonsectarian medical relief organization headquartered in Santa Barbara, California. Founded in 1948 and granted tax-exempt status in November 1949, the organization operates as a 501(c)(3) public charity. Direct Relief is active in all 50 U.S. states and more than 80 countries, providing humanitarian assistance without regard to race, ethnicity, political or religious affiliation, gender, or ability to pay.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.2B
+1.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$30.5M
-32.4% YoY
Grant Count
118
-26.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$258K
-7.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Direct Relief's mission is to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergency situations.
Primary focus areas include:
- Disasters and emergency management
- Basic and emergency aid
- Health
- Climate change
- Dental health
- Community health
- School health
- Wellness and healthy living
The organization serves diverse populations including substance abusers, pregnant people, people with diseases and illnesses, ethnic and racial groups, and economically disadvantaged people.
Grantmaking
Direct Relief provides grant funding across multiple focus areas. Recent grant activity includes:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Direct Relief operates globally, maintaining active programs in:
- All 50 U.S. states
- More than 80 countries internationally
- Specific regional emphasis noted in California, Texas, and Florida
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending June 2025:
- Total Assets: $1.29 billion
- Total Revenue: $2.4 billion
- Total Expenses: $2.31 billion
- Total Liabilities: $44 million
- Total Giving: $2.002 billion
Staffing:
- Approximately 142-143 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,186,035,572 | $1,170,526,870 | $958,254,246 |
| Revenue | $2,383,379,388 | $2,266,763,483 | $2,218,136,536 |
| Expenses | $2,365,599,490 | $2,071,171,227 | $2,253,265,073 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $11,234,987 | $6,317,844 | $310,742 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- CEO: Amy Weaver
- COO and President: Byron Scott
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARK LINEHAN | CHAIR | 10 | — |
| THOMAS STURGESS | TREASURER/COMMITTEE CHAIR | 5 | — |
| SIRI MARSHALL | SECRETARY/COMMITTEE CHAIR | 5 | — |
| HARRY MCMAHON ASST TREASTHRU | 01/24)/V. CHAIR(AS OF 01/24)/COMM CH. | 5 | — |
| ANNALISA PIZZARELLO | ASST SECRETARY/COMMITTEE CHAIR | 5 | — |
| MARY DWYER PHD | COMMITTEE CHAIR | 5 | — |
| PAMELA GANN | COMMITTEE CHAIR | 5 | — |
| JAMES MCGONIGLE | COMMITTEE CHAIR | 5 | — |
| MARK SCHWARTZ | COMMITTEE CHAIR | 5 | — |
| JAMES SELBERT | COMMITTEE CHAIR | 5 | — |
| ELIZABETH TORO MD MPH | COMMITTEE CHAIR | 5 | — |
| STAYCE D HARRIS | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| MARLA SALMON SCD RN FAAN | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| LAURIE SIEGEL | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| THOMAS TIGHE | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 40 | $567,776 |
| DAWN LONG | SENIOR VP, COO (THRU 09/23) | 40 | $350,619 |
| JONATHAN STEINER | VP OF FINANCE, CFO | 40 | $326,299 |
| BYRON SCOTT MD - VICE CHAIR | (THRU 01/24)/PRES./COO (AS OF 01/24) | 40 | — |
| HEATHER BENNETT | CHIEF OF STAFF | 40 | $297,069 |
| DONALD ROANE - VP | CORPORATION ENGAGEMENT & STRATEGY | 40 | $257,982 |
| ADAN GROUMAN | DIRECTOR, IT | 40 | $249,538 |
| DOUG FROELICH | DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS | 40 | $220,964 |
| ZAHRA NAHAR-MOORE - DIRECTOR | LEGAL & REGULATORY AFFAIRS | 40 | $226,389 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Direct Relief's Fund for Health Equity reached organizations in all 50 U.S. states with more than $67 million in support
Direct Relief's Fund for Health Equity Reaches Organizations in All ...Awarded $250,000 grant to advance AI-driven humanitarian health forecasting
Direct Relief Awarded $250,000 Grant to Advance AI-Driven ...Announced $10 million in grant funding to boost resilient power for health facilities in tribal communities
Direct Relief Announces $10 Million in Grant Funding to Boost Resilient PowerSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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