Catholic Relief Services meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Year, State Incorporated
1943, DC
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Stated Purpose
"to carry out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas; to cherish, preserve and uphold the sacredness and dignity of all human life, foster charity and justice, and embody Catholic social and moral teaching as motivated by the Gospel of Jesus Christ."
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) aims to promote human development by responding to emergencies, fighting disease and poverty, and nurturing peaceful and just societies. The organization also serves Catholics in the United States as they live their faith in solidarity with their brothers and sisters around the world. CRS's programs focus on agriculture, water and sanitation, education, emergency, microfinance, health, and peace and justice.
For the year ended September 30, 2019, Catholic Relief Services's program expenses were:
| Emergency |
$368,302,000 |
| Health and social services |
$281,115,000 |
| Agriculture |
$86,707,000 |
| Education |
$80,641,000 |
| Justice and peacebuilding |
$38,759,000 |
| Water and environment |
$11,108,000 |
| Microfinance |
$6,864,000 |
| Total Program Expenses: |
$873,496,000 |
*2018 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Invitations to fund raising events, Planned giving arrangements, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.)
Catholic Relief Services incurred joint costs of $1,631,000 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs $1,256,000 was allocated to program expenses and $375,000 was allocated to fund raising expenses.
Fundraising costs were 4% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $937,135,000, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)
This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
The following information is based on Catholic Relief Services's audited financial statements - consolidated for the year ended September 30, 2019.
| Source of Funds |
| United States government grants and agreements |
$349,987,000 |
| Donated agricultural, other commodities and ocean freight |
$210,252,000 |
| Other public grants and contributions |
$152,558,000 |
| Private contributions |
$126,055,000 |
| Foundation and other private revenue |
$43,417,000 |
| Bequests |
$35,315,000 |
| Catholic Relief Services Collection |
$11,150,000 |
| Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl |
$8,401,000 |
| Realized and unrealized gain on investments and financial instruments |
$3,126,000 |
| Investment and other income |
$3,073,000 |
| Net change in annuities, trusts and pooled income fund |
($1,254,000) |
| Total Income |
$942,080,000 |
- Programs: 93%
- Administrative: 4%
- Fundraising: 3%
| Total Income |
$942,080,000 |
| Program expenses |
$873,496,000 |
| Fundraising expenses |
$35,122,000 |
| Administrative expenses |
$36,083,000 |
| Other expenses |
$0 |
| Total expenses: |
$944,701,000 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses |
$-2,621,000 |
| Beginning Net Assets |
$184,840,000 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets |
$-18,941,000 |
| Ending Net Assets |
$163,278,000 |
| Total Liabilities |
$345,291,000 |
| Total Assets |
$508,569,000 |
Note 1: According to CRS's audited finanical statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, the organization received in-kind gifts totaling $210,252,000 in the form of commodities and pharmaceuticals ($106,251,000), agricultural commodities ($60,220,000), and ocean freight ($43,781,000).
Note 2: In the above financial section, "other changes in net assets" represents defined benefit plan adjustments.