In 2011, U.K.-based Medical Emergency Relief International received £68.9 million from its donors to fund its global operations which span 17 countries and employ about 4,000 staff.
But what they got from them was not enough.
With little money raised from private sources and other partnerships, Merlin overspent that year to make sure projects earmarked by traditional donors were kept running. The charity took cash out of its depleting reserves to cover the deficit.