Catholic Relief Services

The information on this page was last updated 6/5/2024. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]


Summary

Catholic Relief Services eases suffering and provides assistance to people in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.

We are the official overseas relief and development agency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and a member of Caritas Internationalis.


Contact information

Mailing address:
Catholic Relief Services
P.O. Box 5200
Harlan, IA 51593-0700

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.
As part of the universal mission of the Catholic Church, we work with local, national and international Catholic institutions and structures, as well as other organizations, to assist people on the basis of need, not creed, race or nationality.

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

This organization does not file a Form 990.

Show donor confidence score details

Transparency grade

C

To understand our transparency grade, click here.


Financial efficiency ratings

Sector: Relief and Development

This ministry has not been rated.


Financial ratios

Financial ratios for this ministry have not been calculated.


Financials

Financials for this ministry have not been collected.


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 6/5/2024. 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/


Program accomplishments


Needs