Michael Brooks
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. It was founded in 1943 by the Bishops of the United States to serve World War II survivors in Europe. The agency provides assistance to millions of people in more than 100 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. CRS is dedicated to preserving the sacredness and dignity of human life, promoting access to high-quality education, providing rapid emergency response, addressing health system weaknesses, and strengthening communities' institutions.
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What You'll Learn
Catholic Relief Services' history and mission
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is a Catholic humanitarian agency that provides assistance to people in need worldwide. The organisation was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States to aid refugees and survivors of World War II in Europe. Over the years, CRS has expanded its reach to more than 100 countries on five continents, serving over 100 million people annually.
The mission of Catholic Relief Services is grounded in Catholic values and social teachings. The organisation strives to promote the sacredness and dignity of human life, foster charity and justice, and embody Catholic social and moral teachings. CRS is dedicated to assisting the impoverished and disadvantaged overseas, regardless of race, religion, or ethnicity. They provide relief in emergencies and work to break the cycle of poverty through community-based, sustainable development initiatives. Their programming focuses on areas such as agriculture, water, community health, education, HIV/AIDS, microfinance, and peacebuilding.
CRS also serves Catholics in the United States, helping them live their faith in solidarity with those in need around the world. One of the oldest ways for U.S. Catholics to support CRS is through the Rice Bowl programme, established in 1977. The programme emphasises prayer, fasting, learning, and giving, with funds collected through the sale of rice bowls used to support development programmes and local poverty alleviation projects.
CRS is committed to careful stewardship of resources and adhering to the intent of donors' gifts. The organisation publishes financial reports and annual reports to ensure transparency and accountability. With approximately 5,000 employees worldwide and a budget of $1.5 billion (as of 2025), CRS is a leading member of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition and Caritas International, a worldwide network of Catholic humanitarian agencies.
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The organization's global reach and impact
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international humanitarian agency that provides assistance to people in need all over the world. It was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States to serve World War II survivors in Europe, particularly refugees. Since then, it has expanded its reach to over 100 countries on five continents, assisting more than 100 million people annually.
CRS is committed to upholding human dignity and promoting the sacredness and dignity of human life from conception to natural death. The organization works to end poverty, hunger, and disease, and to foster charity and justice. It provides relief in emergencies and helps people in the developing world break the cycle of poverty through community-based, sustainable development initiatives.
CRS engages in a variety of programs and activities to achieve its goals. It supports farmers in organizing into groups and building sustainable agro-enterprises. They also promote access to high-quality education, especially for marginalized children. In addition, they provide rapid emergency response, offering vulnerable communities shelter, food, water, and sustainable livelihoods. CRS also addresses issues in community health, HIV/AIDS, microfinance, and peacebuilding.
The organization has a global staff of approximately 5,000 employees and is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, with numerous field offices worldwide. It is a member of Caritas International, a worldwide network of Catholic humanitarian agencies. CRS is also a leading member of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, advocating for increased funding for American diplomatic and development initiatives.
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Funding and donor pledges
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. It was founded in 1943 by the Bishops of the United States to serve World War II survivors in Europe. CRS has since expanded its reach to more than 100 countries, serving over 130 million people in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe.
CRS is funded through donations and partnerships with the private sector. One of the oldest ways for US Catholics to support the organization is through the CRS Rice Bowl, a Lenten program established in 1977 that emphasizes prayer, fasting, learning, and giving. The program collects funds for those in need, with 75% of the funds raised supporting development programs overseas and the remaining 25% used for local poverty and hunger alleviation projects.
CRS also receives funding from private donors, including through donor-advised funds (DAFs) and planned giving. Additionally, they collaborate with corporations and foundations whose missions align with their work. CRS is a member of Caritas International, a worldwide network of Catholic humanitarian agencies, and receives funding from USAID, which accounts for about half of its $1.5 billion budget as of February 2025.
CRS is committed to financial transparency and accountability. They make their financial reports available to donors, the media, and the public, and publish an annual report. CRS also pledges to provide accurate and current information on the use of donated funds, use donations for their intended purposes, acknowledge all donations, and respect the confidentiality of donor information.
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Community-based development initiatives
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. It was founded in 1943 by the Bishops of the United States to serve World War II survivors in Europe. CRS has since expanded its reach to more than 100 countries on five continents, assisting over 100 million people annually. The organisation's mission is grounded in Catholic values, promoting compassion and dignity among the world's most marginalised populations.
CRS engages in community-based, sustainable development initiatives to help people in the developing world break the cycle of poverty. Their community-based development initiatives are centred around the following key areas:
- Agriculture and Food Security: CRS helps farmers organise into groups and build sustainable agro-enterprises. They also provide emergency food assistance to vulnerable communities.
- Water and Sanitation: They focus on improving access to clean water and sanitation facilities in underserved communities.
- Education: CRS promotes access to high-quality education, especially for marginalised children. They also support education initiatives within Catholic parishes, dioceses, and schools in the United States.
- Health: The organisation works to address the root causes of poor health and strengthen weak health systems. They also fight against diseases, including HIV/AIDS, and promote overall community health.
- Economic Development: CRS assists in creating savings and lending groups within poor communities, encouraging financial empowerment and entrepreneurship.
- Peacebuilding and Social Justice: CRS engages in justice and peacebuilding activities by addressing the root causes of exclusion and inequity. They also evaluate their programmes through a social justice lens, considering potential impacts on social and economic relationships within communities.
Through these community-based development initiatives, CRS empowers local communities to lead their own development and fosters long-term positive change.
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Social justice and peacebuilding
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is a faith-based organisation with a mission to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. It was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States to aid refugees and survivors of World War II in Europe. The organisation has since expanded its reach to over 100 countries, serving more than 130 million people annually.
CRS is committed to upholding human dignity and promoting social justice and peacebuilding. The organisation's programming is evaluated using a set of social justice criteria called the Justice Lens, which assesses the potential impact of interventions on social and economic relationships within communities. This includes providing emergency relief, addressing the root causes of exclusion and inequity, and fostering peaceful and just societies.
CRS engages in various activities to promote social justice and peacebuilding. Firstly, they provide rapid emergency response, offering vulnerable communities essential support such as shelter, food, water, and sustainable livelihoods. Secondly, they address health disparities by strengthening weak health systems and improving access to healthcare. Thirdly, they promote access to quality education, especially for marginalised children, as a means of breaking the cycle of poverty. Fourthly, they facilitate community development by helping farmers organise into groups and build sustainable agro-enterprises, as well as assisting poor communities in creating savings and lending groups.
CRS also works to strengthen institutions so that communities can lead their own development. They collaborate with local, national, and international Catholic institutions and structures, as well as other organisations, to address urgent needs and develop long-term solutions. This includes partnering with governments, faith communities, and secular institutions to implement innovative programs in agriculture, health, and emergency response.
Additionally, CRS advocates for social justice and peace on a global scale. They are a leading member of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, which advocates for increased funding for American diplomatic and development initiatives. Through their Rice Bowl program, established in 1977, CRS also educates and engages Americans about global poverty and hunger, with funds collected supporting development programs and local poverty alleviation projects.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States.
Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. The organisation is dedicated to preserving the sacredness and dignity of human life from conception to natural death.
Catholic Relief Services was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States to serve World War II survivors in Europe.
Catholic Relief Services is headquartered in the Posner Building in Baltimore, Maryland, and operates in over 100 countries on five continents.
Catholic Relief Services provides emergency relief and helps people in the developing world break the cycle of poverty through community-based, sustainable development initiatives. This includes providing access to shelter, food, water, education, and healthcare.
