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Catholic Relief Services

CharityWatch report issued
July 2022

Top-Rated Charity
A+
CharityWatch Grade
Our independent grade based
on a number of factors.
 
91%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$8
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

Contact Information

Catholic Relief Services
228 West Lexington Street
Baltimore , MD 21201

Other Names

CRS

Tax Status

501(c)3

Website

www.crs.org

Stated Mission

The official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the U.S.; provides assistance to the poor overseas without regard to race, religion or nationality by responding to emergencies and fighting poverty.

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Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 09/30/2021

Program Percentage: 91%

The percentage of Catholic Relief Services's cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).

$811,000,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $8

How many dollars Catholic Relief Services spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$411,000,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Government Funding

50% to 100%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
Catholic Relief Services--U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Consolidated Audited Financial Statements Multiple
Catholic Relief Services USCCB IRS Form 990 (Pro Forma) 13-5563422
Entity: Catholic Relief Services--U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Document Type: Consolidated Audited Financial Statements
Tax ID: Multiple
Entity: Catholic Relief Services USCCB
Document Type: IRS Form 990 (Pro Forma)
Tax ID: 13-5563422

Governance & Transparency

CharityWatch evaluates certain criteria related to a charity's Governance and Transparency. Donors may want to consider a charity's willingness to be open and transparent with CharityWatch to be a good litmus test for determining its commitment to public accountability.
This charity is Top-Rated
What does it mean to be Top-Rated?
 
Catholic Relief Services
meets governance benchmarks.
 
Catholic Relief Services
meets transparency benchmarks.
Transparency
Provides Financial Information
Audit Accessibility
Governance: Policies
Reports regularly & consistently monitoring & enforcing compliance with a written Conflict of Interest Policy
Reports required, annual disclosure by officers, directors, and key staff of interests that could give rise to conflicts
Reports having a written Whistleblower Policy
Reports having a written Document Retention and Destruction Policy
Governance: Financials
Reports providing copy of tax form to all board members prior to filing it with IRS
Reports that financial statements were audited by an independent accountant
Governance: Board of Directors
Reports at least 5 voting board members
51% or more of voting board members reported as independent
Reports documenting minutes of board and board committee meetings
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy Opt-Out Policy  

  Name Title Compensation
1 Sean Callahan President $596,551
2 Annemarie Reilly Executive VP, Strategy, Tech & Communications $356,388
3 Schuyler Thorup Executive VP, Overseas Operations $352,028
1
Name: Sean Callahan
Title: President
Compensation: $596,551
2
Name: Annemarie Reilly
Title: Executive VP, Strategy, Tech & Communications
Compensation: $356,388
3
Name: Schuyler Thorup
Title: Executive VP, Overseas Operations
Compensation: $352,028

CharityWatch Analysts perform an in-depth analysis of charities' audited financial statements and IRS tax filings, and often review other documents such as state filings, annual reports, and fundraising contracts during their evaluations. Below are select notes that CharityWatch believes may be of interest to donors.

According to the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) consolidated audit of September 30, 2021 (Note 11, Donated Agriculture, Other Commodities and Ocean Freight), CRS received "Total donated agriculture, other commodities and ocean freight" in fiscal 2021 on which it placed a value of approximately $335,872,000.

[Note: CharityWatch generally excludes the value of in-kind (non-cash) donations of goods and services from its calculations of Program % and Cost to Raise $100. More information on how grades are calculated and the treatment of in-kind donations can be found on the Our Process page.]

According to the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) consolidated audit of September 30, 2021 (Note 17, Commitments and Contingencies):

"CRS entered into a six-year service agreement with a software vendor in 2017, for a minimum financial commitment of $7.2 million over that period. In 2019, CRS extended the contract through 2026 for a minimum financial commitment of $18.6 million. Termination rights under the agreement are only for a breach upon 30 days' notice. As of September 30, 2021, the remaining minimum commitment is $15.7 million.

"CRS receives significant financial and non-financial assistance from the U.S. government. Entitlement to such resources is generally conditioned upon compliance with terms and conditions of the related agreements and applicable federal regulations. The use of such resources is subject to audit by governmental agencies, and CRS is contingently liable to refund amounts received in excess of allowable expenditures. As of September 30, 2021 and 2020, CRS has recorded a liability for its estimate of questioned costs that may have to be refunded to the government.

"During the year ended September 30, 2018, CRS identified a probable loss of assets relating to a distribution activity in a single overseas operating location. CRS is fully complying with the funder's requests for information. As the matter is still pending resolution, CRS has estimated a contingent liability for the probable loss using information obtained from the investigation as to the nature of how the loss occurred relative to the volume of the overall activity. CRS's estimate of this contingent liability is $10 million and is included as an accrual in the [audited] consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2021 and 2020. The actual loss (reimbursement to funder), if any, may vary from the estimate and that variance could be material."

According to the Catholic Relief Services consolidated audit of September 30, 2021 (Note 3, Concentration of Credit Risk):

"Cash and cash equivalents and segregated investments include demand deposits that are maintained at various financial institutions in the United States and foreign countries. The total deposits at institutions in the United States exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insurance limits. Deposits held at institutions outside of the United States are not subject to insurance. At September 30, 2021 and 2020, $110,996,000 and $73,787,000, respectively, of deposits were in excess of FDIC insurance including $53,105,000 and $43,470,000, respectively, held in numerous financial institutions outside of the United States.

"CRS invests in a professionally managed portfolio that contains shares of U.S. Treasury and Agency securities, equity securities, corporate and other private debt securities and investment pools. These investments are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, market and credit. Due to the level of risk associated with such investments and the level of uncertainty related to changes in the value of such investments, it is possible that changes in risks in the near-term would materially affect investment balances and the amounts reported in the [audited] consolidated financial statements."

According to the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) audit of September 30, 2021 (Note 20, Subsequent Events):

"In November 2021, a donor requested CRS suspend a portion of grant funded program activities in a country program due to political developments. In December 2021, CRS returned $43.5M of unspent funds related to this conditional grant. This conditional grant funding was included in advances received for programs as of September 30, 2021.

"In December 2021, CRS identified a probable loss of inventory relating to looting activities in a single overseas operating location. CRS's estimate of this loss is $11.5 million. CRS is fully complying with the funder's request for gathering and communicating information."