GIFT OF LIFE INTERNATIONAL INC
Healing Little Hearts Around the World
GIFT OF LIFE INTERNATIONAL INC
EIN: 56-2322626
as of September 2023
as of September 18, 2023
Mission
Our mission is to provide lifesaving cardiac treatment to children in need from developing countries regardless of their gender, creed, or national origin. Our goal is to develop sustainable pediatric cardiac programs by implementing screening, surgical, and training missions which are supported by autonomous Gift of Life programs, Rotary global grants, and generous donors from around the world.
Ruling year
2003
Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Rob Raylman
President
Mr. Robert Donno
Main address
PO Box 650436
Fresh Meadows, NY 11365 USA
EIN
56-2322626
Patient social services
Hospital care
Heart and circulatory system diseases
Family services
Population served
Children and youth
Families
Economically disadvantaged people
NTEE code
Heart and Circulatory System (G43)
Hospitals and Primary Medical Care Facilities (E20)
IRS subsection
501(c)(3) Public Charity
IRS filing requirement
This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Tax forms
Communication
Programs and results
Reports and documents
Download annual reportsWhat we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Countries of Focus
Our Countries of Focus program was developed to provide hope to children with no opportunity for care in their country of birth and allows them to receive the lifesaving cardiac care they need and deserve.
This program currently includes The Dominican Republic, Kosovo, The Philippines, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan.
Programs in these countries do not meet our criteria for consideration as a Core Program. However, they demonstrate a dire need for pediatric cardiac care. This program allows for the transformation of lives for children with heart disease who have no other access to care.
We conduct screening visits as well as surgical and catheterization visits to these countries. Children are prioritized for treatment following an evaluation by our world-class volunteer healthcare professionals.
Core Programs: Jamaica and Bolivia
In 2009, he creation of Core Programs maximized our capacity to treat more children. Within these Core Programs was the mandate to strategically develop sustainable pediatric cardiac programs and regional centers of excellence.
The following criteria was established for the selection of our Core Programs:
1) Supportive and Invested Government
2) Motivated and involved hospital administration
3) Established pediatric cardiac surgery program
4) Existing in-country, non-governmental organization to support the program.
Through training visits, we provide expert skills transfer to local teams and empower doctors and nurses to care for children in their country of birth.
Ensuring that each of our Core Programs have updated state-of-the-art equipment and essential supplies and medications has resulted in better patient care and patient outcomes, and the ability for medical teams in each country to operate independently on a reliable and sustainable basis between training visits.
Signature Initiatives
Gift of Life International believes that to truly heal the heart of a child, we must also help ensure them a healthy future. Our Signature Initiatives have been implemented to help achieve this goal.
Our Nutritional Assistance Program in El Salvador helps to ensure each child treated receives proper nourishment to support recovery and healthy growth. GOLI affiliate, Latidos de Esperanza conducts socio-economic profiles on each family to determine if they fall within the set criteria to be eligible for this program.
GOLI has implemented a Humanized Care Program at Hospital Bloom in El Salvador in support of efforts to help parents, children and staff cope with the stresses of heart surgery. Our goal is to provide optimal and compassionate care, and to create as normal and stable an environment as possible for children within the hospital setting, so that families will leave with an experience of competency and strength.
Saving One Child at a Time
Between 1975 and 2003, the traditional focus of GOL programs was to bring one child at a time from developing countries to the U.S. for cardiac treatment. While we have evolved to focus on the development of our Legacy and Core Programs and Countries of Focus, many of our global Gift of Life programs continue their efforts to help 'One Child at a Time'. These programs sponsor children from various developing countries where cardiac care is not available to them. The children travel with a parent to one of our affiliated hospitals for treatment and are often hosted by Gift of Life program volunteers before returning home with a new lease on life.
Rheumatic Heart Disease Program
Gift of Life International has partnered with the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC and the Uganda Heart Institute to address the crisis of Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD). As a result of the research completed, we have now established prevention, intervention and emotional support infrastructure for the tens of thousands of children at risk for and living with this disease. Rheumatic Heart Disease is an acquired heart valve disease that starts in early childhood with untreated strep throat and currently affects nearly 40 million people, with the highest burden among the world's poor. If detected early, this deadly disease can be prevented with penicillin.
Over 100,000 children have been screened for RHD and more than 1,000 children are being treated with monthly penicillin infections. All children with RHD are enrolled in a National Ugandan RHD Registry and are provided with necessary medical treatment ro help prevent progression of the disease.
Legacy Programs
The Legacy Program status acknowledges that a pediatric cardiac program has succeeded as a Core Program and has full backing of its government and hospital, the team has been fully trained, equipment and facilities have been dedicated for use solely by the program and that they are now regularly and sustainably treating children in their country of birth.
The development of sustainable pediatric cardiac programs in Uganda, El Salvador and Romania has provided Hope to children with heart disease, to their parents and to the healthcare professionals who continue to strive to do what they are trained to do – save the lives of children with heart disease in their country of birth.
Since 2009, over 6,000 in these three Legacy Programs have been treated for their heart ailments and hundreds of healthcare professionals from these emerging countries have been empowered to care for them.
Where we work
External reviews
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of children receiving medical services
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of children served
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Gift of Life International works to provide treatment to children with heart disease from emerging countries. While our traditional focus of helping one child at a time continues to save many children's lives, our strategic focus to develop sustainable pediatric cardiac surgery, catheterization and aftercare programs in select emerging countries has been at the core of our global mission to bring hope to children who suffer from heart disease.
We envision a world in which doctors and nurses are empowered to care for the children of their country with the support of their government and local community. No one organization can develop a sustainable pediatric cardiac program in an emerging country. We are fortunate to have like-minded partners working with us throughout the world to empower local healthcare professionals to care for their own children in a reliable, sustainable manner.
Gift of Life is built upon our Global Network of 84 autonomous Gift of Life affiliates across 80 countries and 5 continents. In connecting the world, we are able to maximize the power of partnership through the mobilization of healthcare volunteers, like-minded organizations, health care facilities, professionals and volunteers. This all translates into more and more children being helped each year. Currently, a child with heart disease is helped through our global network every 99 minutes! There will always be a next child and partnership allows for us to continuously reach children who otherwise would not receive the care they need!
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
In 2009, Gift of Lift International created the strategy to focus on developing sustainable pediatric cardiac surgery, catheterization and aftercare programs in select countries. The following criteria was established for the selection of our Core Programs:
1) Supportive and invested government
2) Motivated and involved hospital administration
3) Established pediatric cardiac surgery program
4) Existing in-country, non-governmental organization to support the program
Our strategies to achieve success in our Core Programs include:
1) Training and Empowerment of local healthcare professionals, enhancing their skill level and enabling them to successfully treat children in their country of birth
2) Acquisition of essential equipment, supplies and medications allowing for surgeries to be completed on a reliable and sustainable basis in each Core Country
3) Aftercare follow-up of each child treated to ensure them a healthy future
4) Continued development of partnerships with local governments, hospital administrations, like-minded partners/NGO's, corporations and local businesses to sustain the logistical and financial needs of the program
Currently, our Core Programs are in Jamaica and Bolivia.
Core Programs that have succeeded and are now treating children with heart disease in their country of birth on a reliable and sustainable basis are moved to Legacy Status. Currently, our programs in Uganda and El Salvador have achieved this status and are our Legacy Programs.
Gift of Life International has also developed strategies to bring hope to children living with heart disease in our Countries of Focus (The Philippines, Kosova, India, The Dominican Republic, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Romania) through our screening and medical missions. These countries do not fall within our criteria to be selected as a Core Program. However, the need is so great that we have developed alternative, country-specific strategies to help as many of these children as possible. Screening missions will work to develop national pediatric cardiac waiting lists so that children are properly diagnosed and placed on a list to be selected for treatment at affiliated Gift of Life hospitals. Medical missions will serve as a method to decrease the long waiting lists of children waiting for their second chance at life. During these missions, strategies will be formed to assemble cohesive local medical teams and gradually implement training programs with the goal of providing hope to the children suffering from heart disease in these countries on a reliable basis in the future.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
GOLI's CEO develops a country-specific strategy for each of our programs around the world. These strategies are developed in partnership with local healthcare professionals, hospital administrators, NGO's and Ministries of Health. These partnerships help to ensure that all in-country partners are supportive of strategies and share a common goal of healing the hearts of children in their country of birth.
Each of our Core Programs has an in-country affiliate which has been established as a premier pediatric cardiac NGO. These affiliates oversee the development of each program on a daily basis and work in tandem with the Gift of Life International CEO to ensure strategies are followed and goals are met. Each NGO is well respected and works together with local government officials, hospital administrators, healthcare professionals, and local businesses to facilitate the logistics of each program and raise funds to help support its sustainability.
Once Core Programs reach Legacy Status, the affiliate continues to oversee the program and raise funds locally to maintain sustainability. All affiliates are provided guidance by GOLI CEO, Rob Raylman.
In our Countries of Focus, local Gift of Life programs work in tandem with the Gift of Life International CEO to coordinate logistics for screening and medical missions. These Gift of Life programs also help to coordinate travel for children traveling from their country to affiliated hospitals for treatment.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Gift of Life International has evolved from treating one child at a time to developing sustainable pediatric cardiac surgery, catheterization and aftercare programs in select countries. Through this evolution, Gift of Life programs worldwide have treated over 47,000 children from 80 countries across 5 continents and are now providing care to nearly 5,000 children each year with heart disease. Every 99 minutes, a child with heart disease is provided help through our global network of caring.
Since we began our focus of developing sustainable pediatric cardiac programs in 2009, two of our four Core Programs have achieved Legacy Status and are now sustainable pediatric cardiac programs and are treating children in their country of birth on a reliable basis. These programs now offer optimal care to children with state-of-the-art equipment and a fully trained and cohesive medical team. Children who previously had no hope of treatment are now being operated at a very young age by doctors and nurses in their own country. The burden on the healthcare system in these Legacy countries has been greatly reduced with the success of these programs.
Gift of Life International is proud of our global network of caring, which is strengthened by partnerships with like-minded organizations, Rotary International, NGO's and medical professionals who share one common goal: Providing hope to as many children with heart disease as possible. Our like-minded partners and expert medical teams now span 5 continents and support our focused efforts to develop sustainable pediatric cardiac programs in our Core Countries as well as providing cardiac care to children around the world.
Our Signature Initiatives set us apart as a leader in caring for children treated and go beyond the walls of the hospital to help ensure a healthy future for each child through nutritional, aftercare and humanized care programs. Each of these programs has been developed and implemented by Gift of Life to help meet the needs of the children treated and their families as they begin their new journey filled with hope for a healthy future.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
Financial documents
Download audited financialsRevenue vs. expenses: breakdown
Liquidity in 2022 info
6.05
Months of cash in 2022 info
4.9
Fringe rate in 2022 info
7%
Funding sources info
Assets & liabilities info
Financial data
GIFT OF LIFE INTERNATIONAL INC
Balance sheetFiscal Year: Jul 01 - Jun 30
The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot survive long, but the types of assets and liabilities must also be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan, and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.
Fiscal Year: Jul 01 - Jun 30
This snapshot of GIFT OF LIFE INTERNATIONAL INC’s financial trends applies Nonprofit Finance Fund® analysis to data hosted by GuideStar. While it highlights the data that matter most, remember that context is key – numbers only tell part of any story.
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Business model indicators
| Profitability info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted surplus (deficit) before depreciation | -$225,012 | -$49,222 | $208,445 | $379,388 | -$56,397 |
| As % of expenses | -24.4% | -5.1% | 18.9% | 25.3% | -2.6% |
| Unrestricted surplus (deficit) after depreciation | -$225,012 | -$49,222 | $208,445 | $379,388 | -$56,397 |
| As % of expenses | -24.4% | -5.1% | 18.9% | 25.3% | -2.6% |
| Revenue composition info | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total revenue (unrestricted & restricted) | $851,640 | $953,206 | $1,426,556 | $1,865,720 | $2,458,289 |
| Total revenue, % change over prior year | -31.7% | 11.9% | 49.7% | 30.8% | 31.8% |
| Program services revenue | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Membership dues | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Investment income | 2.6% | 0.0% | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| Government grants | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2.4% | 0.8% |
| All other grants and contributions | 97.4% | 100.0% | 100.4% | 89.6% | 96.1% |
| Other revenue | 0.0% | 0.0% | -0.9% | 7.7% | 2.9% |
| Expense composition info | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total expenses before depreciation | $923,954 | $962,571 | $1,105,004 | $1,499,555 | $2,136,005 |
| Total expenses, % change over prior year | -9.6% | 4.2% | 14.8% | 35.7% | 42.4% |
| Personnel | 26.1% | 24.3% | 22.3% | 11.5% | 8.9% |
| Professional fees | 2.7% | 3.2% | 17.3% | 14.1% | 14.2% |
| Occupancy | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Interest | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Pass-through | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| All other expenses | 71.2% | 72.2% | 60.2% | 74.4% | 76.9% |
| Full cost components (estimated) info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total expenses (after depreciation) | $923,954 | $962,571 | $1,105,004 | $1,499,555 | $2,136,005 |
| One month of savings | $76,996 | $80,214 | $92,084 | $124,963 | $178,000 |
| Debt principal payment | $0 | $0 | $0 | $24,827 | $20,305 |
| Fixed asset additions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total full costs (estimated) | $1,000,950 | $1,042,785 | $1,197,088 | $1,649,345 | $2,334,310 |
Capital structure indicators
| Liquidity info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Months of cash | 2.2 | 0.8 | 4.8 | 6.5 | 4.9 |
| Months of cash and investments | 4.0 | 3.9 | 7.9 | 9.3 | 7.7 |
| Months of estimated liquid unrestricted net assets | 1.0 | 0.4 | 2.6 | 5.0 | 3.2 |
| Balance sheet composition info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | $170,529 | $67,790 | $445,706 | $808,794 | $870,616 |
| Investments | $138,282 | $243,603 | $283,457 | $355,318 | $504,046 |
| Receivables | $60,324 | $40,185 | $0 | $1,825 | $104,453 |
| Gross land, buildings, equipment (LBE) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Accumulated depreciation (as a % of LBE) | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Liabilities (as a % of assets) | 14.8% | 8.6% | 10.1% | 6.2% | 15.4% |
| Unrestricted net assets | $80,657 | $31,435 | $239,880 | $619,268 | $562,871 |
| Temporarily restricted net assets | $0 | $0 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Permanently restricted net assets | $240,000 | $290,000 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Total restricted net assets | $240,000 | $290,000 | $415,895 | $474,113 | $688,933 |
| Total net assets | $320,657 | $321,435 | $655,775 | $1,093,381 | $1,251,804 |
Key data checks
| Key data checks info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material data errors | No | No | No | No | No |
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Documents
Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Rob Raylman
Rob Raylman has been the CEO of Gift of Life International since February, 2008 and has been instrumental in the growth of the organization and the number of children in developing countries now receiving treatment for their heart ailments. Mr. Raylman designed and implemented the "Our Hearts Are In…" program to develop sustainable pediatric cardiac surgery, catheterization and aftercare programs in select emerging countries (Uganda, El Salvador, Jamaica, Romania and The Philippines). He also coordinates the efforts of 84 Gift of Life programs from 80 countries on 5 continents to help save the lives of as many children as possible who suffer from heart disease. Rob works to increase global awareness of the affects heart disease has on children and their families and creates strategies to help identify, diagnose and treat children from developing countries where access to adequate cardiac care either does not exist or is limited.
President
Robert Donno
Robbie Donno was born in Manhasset, NY. He is a graduate of La Salle Military Academy in Oakdale, Long Island and obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pa. He joined Manhasset Rotary in 1971 and became its President in 1975. That was the year that changed his life. There was a plea for help from Uganda on behalf of 5-year old Grace Agwaru who received her lifesaving surgery. In 2003, Gift of Life International was formed and Robbie was elected its first Chairman. Over 40,000 children from 80 countries have received corrective heart surgery through Gift of Life affiliates throughout the world. Robbie was a principal of Donno Company, Inc, from 1970 to 1997. He was Vice President of Eastern Waste of New York from 1997-1999 and is now a principal at Lemcor, Inc. of Newark, NJ. He has been a leader in the solid waste industry for 50 years. He has received many awards for his leadership in the industry and for his philanthropic endeavors.
Number of employees
Source: IRS Form 990
GIFT OF LIFE INTERNATIONAL INC
Officers, directors, trustees, and key employeesSOURCE: IRS Form 990
Compensation data
There are no highest paid employees recorded for this organization.
GIFT OF LIFE INTERNATIONAL INC
Board of directorsas of 09/08/2023
Board of directors data
Mr. Robert Donno
Gift of Life International
Term: 2021 - 2023
Mr. James LaMantia
Gift of Life International
Term: 2021 - 2023
Carl Campagna
Gift of Life International
Janet DiBenedetto
Gift of Life International
Suzanne Freaney
Gift of Life International - Treasurer
Arnold Quaranta Jr.
Gift of Life International - Secretary
Kathy Hiltner
Gift of Life International
Tarun Mehta
Gift of Life International
Harm Velvis, M.D.
Gift of Life International
Larry Cohen
Gift of Life International
Ruba Karadsheh
Gift of Life International
Albana Krasniqi
Gift of Life International
Armand Lembo
Gift of Life International
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
The organization's co-leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 02/17/2022GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Contractors
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