About
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States to serve World War II survivors in Europe, CRS has since expanded to reach more than 200 million people in more than 100 countries on five continents. Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, CRS serves people based solely on need, regardless of race, religion or ethnicity.
Mission
Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. For over 80 years, its mission has been to assist impoverished and disadvantaged people overseas, working in the spirit of Catholic social teaching to promote the sacredness of human life and the dignity of the human person. Within the United States, CRS engages Catholics to live their faith in solidarity with the poor and suffering people of the world.
What they do
CRS uses a holistic approach called integral human development to promote transformative and sustainable change. Its program areas include:
- Agriculture and livelihoods: investment in agriculture as a route to sustainable livelihoods.
- Education: improving children's future opportunities.
- Emergencies: saving lives with immediate aid and long-term recovery.
- Health and social services: solutions that save lives and strengthen health and social service systems.
- Justice and peacebuilding: cultivating just and peaceful societies across all program sectors.
- Microfinance: savings-led microfinancing programs that enable communities to develop financial security.
- Local leadership: supporting community-driven development and lasting solutions.
- Water security: expanding access to clean water as a foundation of community health.
CRS also influences U.S. and multilateral policy through advocacy and runs domestic engagement programs such as CRS Rice Bowl and its chapters and clubs network.
History
CRS was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States to serve World War II survivors in Europe, beginning with service to migrants and refugees. Today it serves the world's most vulnerable people across more than 100 countries. As part of Caritas Internationalis, CRS collaborates with a global network of Catholic charities.
Scale and impact
According to CRS, the agency reaches more than 200 million people in more than 100 countries on five continents. CRS states that 93% of its expenditures go directly to programs, with 7% going to fundraising, awareness, management and general expenses (2024 operating expenses).
Governance
CRS is the official overseas relief and development agency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. It is governed by a board of directors comprising clergy, most of them bishops elected by the USCCB, as well as religious and Catholic lay men and women. CRS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 13-5563422); the IRS recognizes it as a religious organization, so it does not file a standard Form 990, but as a recipient of more than $750,000 in annual federal grant money it files federal audits, available on ProPublica.
