Catholic Relief Services 
The information on this page was last updated 2/7/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
We work with organizations around the world to help poor and vulnerable people overcome emergencies, earn a living through agriculture and access affordable health care.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Catholic Relief Services
228 West Lexington St.
Baltimore, MD 21201-3443
Website: www.crs.org
Phone: 877-435-7277
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 135563422
CEO/President: Sean Callahan
Chairman: Most Rev. Nelson J. Perez
Board size: 25
Founder: Catholic Bishops of the United States
Ruling year: 1946
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 09/30
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) was founded to assist the poor and disadvantaged outside the country. The purpose and programs of CRS is based in the Gospel of Jesus Christ; to that end, CRS is committed to the alleviation of human suffering, the development of people and the fostering of charity and justice in the world. CRS provides direct aid to the poor, and involves people in their own development, helping them to realize their potential. CRS educates the people of the United States to fulfill their moral responsibilities towards others around the world.
Mission statement
Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We are motivated by the Gospel of Jesus Christ 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 we act to:
- Promote human development by responding to major emergencies, fighting disease and poverty, and nurturing peaceful and just societies; and,
- Serve Catholics in the United States as they live their faith in solidarity with their brothers and sisters around the world.
Statement of faith
Rather than a "Statement of Faith," CRS provides its "Guiding Principles," which follow.
As the official international Catholic relief and development agency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Relief Services draws upon a rich tradition of Scripture and Catholic social teaching, which serve as the foundation for CRS' Guiding Principles. Acting as a guide to what a just world might look like, these Principles are shared across religious and cultural boundaries and articulate values that are common among people who seek to promote and work towards true justice and lasting peace.
Created in the image of God, all human life is sacred and possesses a dignity that comes directly from our creation and not from any action of our own.
Every person has basic rights and responsibilities that flow from our human dignity and that belong to us as human beings regardless of any social or political structures. The rights are numerous and include those things that make life truly human. Corresponding to our rights are duties and responsibilities to respect the rights of others and to work for the common good of all.
All of us are social by nature and are called to live in community with others -- our full human potential isn't realized in solitude, but in community with others. How we organize our families, societies and communities directly affects human dignity and our ability to achieve our full human potential.
In order for all of us to have an opportunity to grow and develop fully, a certain social fabric must exist within society. This is the common good. Numerous social conditions -- economic, political, material and cultural -- impact our ability to realize our human dignity and reach our full potential.
A higher level of government -- or organization -- should not perform any function or duty that can be handled more effectively at a lower level by people who are closer to the problem and have a better understanding of the issue.
We are all part of one human family -- whatever our national, racial, religious, economic or ideological differences -- and in an increasingly interconnected world, loving our neighbor has global dimensions.
In every economic, political and social decision, a weighted concern must be given to the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable. When we do this we strengthen the entire community, because the powerlessness of any member wounds the rest of society.
There is inherent integrity to all of creation and it requires careful stewardship of all our resources, ensuring that we use and distribute them justly and equitably -- as well as planning for future generations.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Relief and Development
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 171 of 1077 | 20 of 82 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 294 of 1078 | 26 of 82 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 157 of 1078 | 19 of 82 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 434 of 1077 | 36 of 82 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 3% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 3% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 99% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 3% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 1% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 86% | 92% | 92% | 93% | 94% | 94% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 92% | 99% | 100% | 102% | 100% | 106% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 77% | 91% | 93% | 96% | 94% | 100% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 8% | 1% | 0% | -2% | 0% | -6% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 22% | 6% | -3% | -12% | -1% | -32% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 6% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.43 | 1.64 | 1.86 | 2.00 | 1.74 | 1.96 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.23 | 1.08 | 1.10 | 1.10 | 1.10 | 1.12 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.94 | 1.77 | 2.04 | 2.21 | 1.91 | 2.19 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 11.32 | 2.01 | 1.67 | 1.70 | 1.62 | 1.68 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.09 | 0.50 | 0.60 | 0.59 | 0.62 | 0.60 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.11 | 3.40 | 2.37 | 2.24 | 2.40 | 2.21 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 9% | 67% | 68% | 63% | 67% | 66% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 4% | 5% | 5% | 4% | 5% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 64% | 20% | 17% | 18% | 19% | 17% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Cash | $74,045,000 | $64,610,000 | $58,337,000 | $114,333,000 | $61,038,000 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $256,648,000 | $210,447,000 | $202,810,000 | $196,849,000 | $176,129,000 |
| Short-term investments | $127,968,000 | $132,227,000 | $140,101,000 | $144,113,000 | $151,556,000 |
| Other current assets | $55,973,000 | $56,935,000 | $57,177,000 | $56,544,000 | $54,387,000 |
| Total current assets | $514,634,000 | $464,219,000 | $458,425,000 | $511,839,000 | $443,110,000 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $40,425,000 | $44,350,000 | $47,555,000 | $51,297,000 | $52,214,000 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $40,425,000 | $44,350,000 | $47,555,000 | $51,297,000 | $52,214,000 |
| Total assets | $555,059,000 | $508,569,000 | $505,980,000 | $563,136,000 | $495,324,000 |
| Liabilities | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $128,420,000 | $95,004,000 | $97,079,000 | $88,422,000 | $84,623,000 |
| Other current liabilities | $127,537,000 | $182,443,000 | $172,514,000 | $227,069,000 | $179,801,000 |
| Total current liabilities | $255,957,000 | $277,447,000 | $269,593,000 | $315,491,000 | $264,424,000 |
| Debt | $22,248,000 | $23,260,000 | $24,223,000 | $25,139,000 | $26,012,000 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $93,005,000 | $44,584,000 | $27,324,000 | $34,658,000 | $38,021,000 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $115,253,000 | $67,844,000 | $51,547,000 | $59,797,000 | $64,033,000 |
| Total liabilities | $371,210,000 | $345,291,000 | $321,140,000 | $375,288,000 | $328,457,000 |
| Net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Without donor restrictions | $98,527,000 | $83,654,000 | $108,530,000 | $97,533,000 | $74,786,000 |
| With donor restrictions | $85,322,000 | $79,624,000 | $76,310,000 | $90,315,000 | $92,081,000 |
| Net assets | $183,849,000 | $163,278,000 | $184,840,000 | $187,848,000 | $166,867,000 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Total contributions | $921,908,000 | $937,135,000 | $987,855,000 | $977,345,000 | $915,708,000 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $1,684,000 | $3,073,000 | $1,500,000 | $1,248,000 | $2,050,000 |
| Other revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total other revenue | $1,684,000 | $3,073,000 | $1,500,000 | $1,248,000 | $2,050,000 |
| Total revenue | $923,592,000 | $940,208,000 | $989,355,000 | $978,593,000 | $917,758,000 |
| Expenses | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Program services | $836,442,000 | $873,496,000 | $944,947,000 | $918,124,000 | $915,047,000 |
| Management and general | $43,708,000 | $36,083,000 | $33,516,000 | $31,070,000 | $25,603,000 |
| Fundraising | $32,911,000 | $35,122,000 | $32,375,000 | $30,589,000 | $30,328,000 |
| Total expenses | $913,061,000 | $944,701,000 | $1,010,838,000 | $979,783,000 | $970,978,000 |
| Change in net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $10,531,000 | ($4,493,000) | ($21,483,000) | ($1,190,000) | ($53,220,000) |
| Other changes in net assets | $10,040,000 | ($17,069,000) | $18,475,000 | $22,171,000 | $5,786,000 |
| Total change in net assets | $20,571,000 | ($21,562,000) | ($3,008,000) | $20,981,000 | ($47,434,000) |
Compensation
Compensation data for this ministry has not been collected.
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 2/7/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Catholic Relief Services was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States to serve World War II survivors in Europe. Since then, we have expanded in size to reach more than 130 million people in more than 100 countries on five continents.
https://impact.crs.org/timeline/