World Relief 
Summary
World Relief ("WR") endeavors to addresses the physical and spiritual needs of those it serves. WR teaches people to become self-reliant and has three primary outreaches. First, when earthquakes, hurricanes, drought, or war cause widespread suffering, WR provides quick, effective Emergency Relief. Second, through the Good Neighbor Network, church partners care for refugees of war and persecution in more than 25 U.S. cities. Third, WR helps equip parents with the skills to earn a consistent income and to keep their children healthy. This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. It is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
Contact information
Mailing address:
7 E. Baltimore St.
Baltimore, MD 21202-1602
Website: www.worldrelief.org
Phone: (443) 451-1900
Email: worldrelief@wr.org
Organization details
EIN: 236393344
CEO/President: Mr. Stephan Bauman
Chairman: Rev. Scott Arbeiter
Board size: 19
Founder: National Association of Evangelicals
Year founded: 1944
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 09/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1980
Purpose
Our calling at World Relief is to STAND/for the Vulnerable. Every second of every day children are orphaned by disease, women are widowed by conflicts, families are devastated by natural disasters and refugees are relocated to new countries. These are the heartbreaking stories of the vulnerable.
We believe God has equipped the church - the most diverse social network on the planet - to be at the center of these stories, leveraging time, energy and resources to join the vulnerable in their time of need.
We practice principles of transformational development to empower local churches in the United States and around the world so they can serve the vulnerable in their communities. With initiatives in education, health, child development, agriculture, food security, anti-trafficking, immigrant services, micro-enterprise, disaster response and refugee resettlement, we work holistically with the local church to stand for the sick, the widow, the orphan, the alien, the displaced, the devastated, the marginalized, and the disenfranchised.
In our own backyard and around the globe, we stand with individuals and communities through the process of healing, reconciliations, transformation and empowerment.
Whatever it takes, and wherever it takes us, we are faithful to our call.
This organization is non-profit. All contributions to this organization are fully tax deductible to the percent allowed by law. World Relief is registered with ECFA.
Mission statement
Empowering the local Church to serve the most vulnerable.
Statement of faith
1. We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
2. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
3. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
4. We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
5. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
6. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
7. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Relief and Development
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 323 of 660 | 36 of 68 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 412 of 662 | 44 of 68 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 393 of 662 | 40 of 68 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 184 of 660 | 26 of 68 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 7% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 6% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 8% | 8% | 6% | 6% | 6% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 98% | 90% | 91% | 91% | 91% | 90% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 7% | 7% | 6% | 6% | 5% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 2% | 10% | 9% | 9% | 9% | 10% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 85% | 83% | 82% | 83% | 84% | 84% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 100% | 103% | 103% | 99% | 100% | 102% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 85% | 86% | 84% | 82% | 84% | 86% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 0% | -3% | -3% | 1% | 0% | -2% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 0% | -14% | -12% | 6% | 1% | -6% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 7% | 10% | 11% | 10% | 10% | 10% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.79 | 2.72 | 2.70 | 2.52 | 2.48 | 2.37 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.32 | 1.45 | 1.40 | 1.89 | 1.98 | 1.55 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.86 | 3.94 | 3.78 | 4.76 | 4.91 | 3.68 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 5.99 | 3.17 | 3.82 | 2.57 | 2.45 | 2.96 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.16 | 0.32 | 0.26 | 0.39 | 0.41 | 0.34 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 2.87 | 2.09 | 2.34 | 1.54 | 1.45 | 2.16 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 13% | 36% | 33% | 38% | 40% | 41% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 10% | 12% | 16% | 17% | 15% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 41% | 24% | 25% | 25% | 24% | 25% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Cash | $9,261,761 | $10,346,915 | $8,594,680 | $7,216,274 | $7,113,719 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $5,790,544 | $6,940,078 | $7,132,699 | $7,083,306 | $6,047,936 |
| Short-term investments | $1,009,825 | $694,328 | $663,537 | $182,751 | $224,494 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $200,000 | $0 | $0 | $4,445,292 |
| Total current assets | $16,062,130 | $18,181,321 | $16,390,916 | $14,482,331 | $17,831,441 |
| Long-term investments | $643,586 | $667,976 | $7,353,244 | $7,321,465 | $5,681,726 |
| Fixed assets | $4,036,623 | $4,210,921 | $4,403,228 | $4,485,559 | $4,143,872 |
| Other long-term assets | $2,521,917 | $2,439,141 | $2,857,070 | $2,432,915 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $7,202,126 | $7,318,038 | $14,613,542 | $14,239,939 | $9,825,598 |
| Total assets | $23,264,256 | $25,499,359 | $31,004,458 | $28,722,270 | $27,657,039 |
| Liabilities | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $3,921,359 | $4,702,054 | $5,905,702 | $5,261,472 | $5,783,986 |
| Other current liabilities | $1,145,547 | $52,824 | $480,282 | $646,818 | $231,496 |
| Total current liabilities | $5,066,906 | $4,754,878 | $6,385,984 | $5,908,290 | $6,015,482 |
| Debt | $2,411,738 | $3,063,243 | $4,863,753 | $4,901,689 | $4,012,256 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $882,319 | $678,552 | $614,678 | $715,130 | $1,202,192 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $3,294,057 | $3,741,795 | $5,478,431 | $5,616,819 | $5,214,448 |
| Total liabilities | $8,360,963 | $8,496,673 | $11,864,415 | $11,525,109 | $11,229,930 |
| Net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Unrestricted | $11,531,592 | $12,091,348 | $14,751,539 | $14,271,761 | $13,211,236 |
| Temporarily restricted | $3,371,701 | $4,911,338 | $4,388,504 | $2,925,400 | $3,215,873 |
| Permanently restricted | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assets | $14,903,293 | $17,002,686 | $19,140,043 | $17,197,161 | $16,427,109 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Total contributions | $55,017,381 | $60,835,420 | $72,403,022 | $65,207,803 | $57,859,140 |
| Program service revenue | $1,321,479 | $990,013 | $988,818 | $870,919 | $1,867,893 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other revenue | $4,821,347 | $4,937,159 | $5,802,478 | $5,231,367 | $4,909,155 |
| Total other revenue | $6,142,826 | $5,927,172 | $6,791,296 | $6,102,286 | $6,777,048 |
| Total revenue | $61,160,207 | $66,762,592 | $79,194,318 | $71,310,089 | $64,636,188 |
| Expenses | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Program services | $52,435,785 | $56,336,079 | $65,095,631 | $59,963,359 | $55,336,813 |
| Management and general | $6,197,125 | $7,384,363 | $8,066,719 | $7,059,183 | $6,730,223 |
| Fundraising | $4,617,574 | $5,065,556 | $4,895,120 | $4,146,330 | $3,566,997 |
| Total expenses | $63,250,484 | $68,785,998 | $78,057,470 | $71,168,872 | $65,634,033 |
| Change in net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($2,090,277) | ($2,023,406) | $1,136,848 | $141,217 | ($997,845) |
| Other changes in net assets | ($9,116) | ($113,951) | $806,034 | $628,835 | $11,898 |
| Total change in net assets | ($2,099,393) | ($2,137,357) | $1,942,882 | $770,052 | ($985,947) |
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
History
A conviction that evangelicals should provide for both the physical and spiritual needs of World War II victims drove the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) to establish the War Relief Commission in 1944. Christians across America banded together to send food and clothing to Europe, enabling churches overseas to reach out to needy people in their communities. These efforts laid the foundation for World Relief's mission--to work with the church in alleviating human suffering worldwide in the name of Christ. In 1950, a new name was chosen -- World Relief -- reflecting an energetic assembly of evangelicals anxious to provide "food for the body and food for the soul" throughout the world.
Program accomplishments
Needs
As with most relief organizations, World Relief is not endowed. Continual funding remains needed to assure continuity of on-going programs and expansion to new areas.
There are a variety of ways to volunteer and join World Relief in helping people who are in need. There are many opportunities throughout the United States as well as internationally. Please visit the World Relief website at www.wr.org for details.