Resurge International

What it reported doing in 2024

Resurge international ("resurge or the organization") is a nonprofit public benefit corporation dedicated to increasing access to life-changing reconstructive surgical care in low-income countries. By training, funding, and scaling local surgical teams, resurge helps children and adults receive life-changing procedures that would otherwise remain out of reach. More than five billion people worldwide lack access to safe, timely, and affordable surgical care, and an estimated 16.9 million people die each year from surgically treatable conditions. Behind these statistics are children unable to attend school because of untreated cleft conditions, parents unable to work after burns or traumatic injuries, and individuals living with pain, stigma, and isolation simply because they cannot access basic surgical care. Resurge works across 17 countries in latin america, africa, and asia, partnering with hospitals, universities, governments, and leading medical institutions including cosecsa and canecsa to train the next generation of reconstructive surgical teams. Since 1969, resurge has provided approximately 200,000 reconstructive surgeries and built lasting surgical capacity in communities with the greatest need. Resurge evolved from primarily funding surgical mission trips to investing in the training of local reconstructive surgical teams shifting from a model of episodic care to one focused on sustainable, long-term impact. By equipping surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and medical educators with advanced skills they can use and teach for decades, resurge has dramatically expanded its reach, creating a multiplier effect that brings life-changing care to far more patients and communities over time. During the fiscal year ended june 30, 2025, resurge programs directly impacted more than 31,000 patients, including approximately 1,700 surgeries performed by resurge surgical outreach partners local surgeons trained directly through resurge's hands-on surgical education programs. Resurge also trained more than 8,700 medical professionals through in-person and virtual instruction during the year. These programs not only restore function and appearance, but also help patients return to school, work, and family life reducing suffering, strengthening communities, and helping break cycles of poverty. Resurge supports 20 permanent medical partner programs across 13 countries and provides surgical care at no cost to patients. Its work is made possible in large part through the dedication of volunteer medical professionals, who contributed nearly 4,500 hours of service during fiscal year 2025. The organization also advances specialized initiatives that address critical gaps in surgical care and education, including the resurge international program in africa (ripa) and the pioneering women reconstructive surgeons (pwrs) program. Resurge maintains no political or religious affiliations.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 65.7%; rating input score 66
• Program expense ratio: 62.3%; rating input score 62
• Fundraising efficiency: $4.24 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 14; 14th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 95%; rating input score 95; 25th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: 2 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 25
  • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
  • Requires narrative reports: Fail
  • Conducts field audits: Fail
  • May suspend future funding: Fail
  • Requires financial reports: Pass
  • Conducts site visits: Fail
  • Requires grant agreements: Fail
  • May require repayment: Fail
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 95%; rating input score 95; 25th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 78
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Fail
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -2.8%; rating input score 25; 25th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.4; rating input score 49; 49th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.17; rating input score 48; 48th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 20.6%; rating input score 12; 12th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -1.1% per year; rating input score 0; 10th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 1.1% per year; rating input score 100; 16th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 8.6% per year; rating input score 100; 53rd percentile among comparable filings