Christian Relief Services Charities Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF BREAD AND WATER FOR AFRICA ("BWA") IS TO SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN GRASSROOTS INITIATIVES FOR COMMUNITY SELF-SUFFICIENCY, HEALTH, AND EDUCATION IN AFRICA.
- Income
- $26.6 million
- Spending
- $26.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 99%
- Reserves
- 0.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 11
- Highest pay
- $464,687, president/ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1599% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $25.2 million spent. HEALTH - GENERAL AND REHABILITATIVE:THE 2020 PANDEMIC HAS EXPOSED SIGNIFICANT WEAKNESSES IN AFRICA'S EMERGENCY HEALTH MANAGEMENT, REVEALING VARIOUS DEFICIENCIES WITHIN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. THESE INCLUDE A LACK OF LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT, ESSENTIAL MEDICAL SUPPLIES, AND ADEQUATE MEDICATIONS, AS WELL AS INEQUALITIES IN THE PROVISION OF QUALITY MEDICAL SERVICES. TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES, IN FY25, BWA CONTINUED TO PROVIDE CASH GRANTS FOR THE OPERATIONAL COSTS OF REMOTE VILLAGE HEALTH CENTERS. ADDITIONALLY, WE OFFERED IN-KIND SUPPORT, WHICH INCLUDED MEDICINES, MEDICAL SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT, MOBILITY AIDS, AND MICRONUTRIENT SUPPLEMENTS (PRENATAL VITAMINS).(SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION)IN FY25, THE BWA HEALTHCARE PROGRAM SUCCESSFULLY SERVED MORE THAN 114,000 INDIVIDUALS ACROSS 70 HEALTH FACILITIES, WITH A FOCUS ON ADDRESSING KEY HEALTHCARE CHALLENGES. THE PROGRAM PLACED SIGNIFICANT EMPHASIS ON REDUCING HIGH MATERNAL AND CHILD MORTALITY RATES BY PROVIDING MICRONUTRIENT SUPPLEMENTS (PRENATAL VITAMINS) TO PREGNANT AND BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS. MANY WOMEN IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA FACE DEFICIENCIES IN ESSENTIAL VITAMINS AND MINERALS, SUCH AS IRON, FOLIC ACID, AND CALCIUM, DUE TO LIMITED ACCESS TO NUTRIENT-RICH FOODS. MICRONUTRIENT SUPPLEMENTS (PRENATAL VITAMINS) PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN ADDRESSING THESE DEFICIENCIES, THEREBY LOWERING THE RISK OF COMPLICATIONS SUCH AS ANEMIA, NEURAL TUBE DEFECTS, AND PREECLAMPSIA. BY ADDRESSING MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES AND REDUCING RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH, THESE SUPPLEMENTS ARE VITAL COMPONENTS OF PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGIES AIMED AT LOWERING MATERNAL AND INFANT MORTALITY RATES IN THE REGION.BWA PROVIDED A TOTAL OF $91,814 IN CASH GRANTS, ALONG WITH A GIFT-IN-KIND VALUED AT $24,703,199. THIS INCLUDED DONATIONS OF MEDICINES, MEDICAL SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT, MOBILITY AIDS, MICRONUTRIENT SUPPLEMENTS (SUCH AS PRENATAL VITAMINS), AND PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE). OUR IN-KIND SUPPORT ALIGNS WITH OUR LONG-TERM MISSION TO IMPROVE HEALTH CONDITIONS IN UNDERSERVED REGIONS OF AFRICA. WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT THE HEALTH FACILITIES WE BUILT AND THE HOSPITALS AND HEALTH CENTERS WE SUPPORT OPERATE EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY IN SIERRA LEONE, CAMEROON, KENYA, ETHIOPIA, THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, AND MALAWI.SIERRA LEONE IS HOME TO FOUR NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOS) WITH HEALTHCARE PROJECTS, HEALTH CENTERS, AND HOSPITALS SUPPORTED BY BWA: UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF SIERRA LEONE ("UMCSL"), FAITH HEALING DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION ("FHDO"), SIERRA LEONE MISSION AND DEVELOPMENT ("SMD"), AND RURAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION-SIERRA LEONE ("RYDO-SL"). COMBINED, THESE NGOS PROVIDE CARE TO OVER 65,000 PEOPLE ANNUALLY, WITH A FOCUS ON GENERAL HEALTHCARE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN, LACTATING WOMEN, AND CHILDREN UNDER FIVE. (SIERRA LEONE HAS AMONG THE HIGHEST MATERNAL AND INFANT MORTALITY RATES IN THE WORLD.)FHDO OPERATES THREE HEALTH CENTERS IN KENEMA, FREETOWN, AND BUNUMBU. IN ADDITION TO BASIC HEALTHCARE SERVICES, FHDO OPERATES A FOOD PROGRAM FOR PREGNANT WOMEN AND LACTATING MOTHERS TO IMPROVE THEIR NUTRITIONAL LEVELS AND OVERALL HEALTH. UMCSL HAS FOUR MEMBER HOSPITALS AND FIVE HEALTH CENTERS ACROSS SIERRA LEONE WITH THE MISSION OF PROVIDING QUALITY MEDICAL CARE TO ALL PATIENTS AND MINISTERING TO THEIR PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING INPATIENT CARE, SURGERY, OBSTETRIC DELIVERY, AND NEWBORN CARE, THE HOSPITALS OFFER A RANGE OF DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES, INCLUDING LABORATORIES, ULTRASOUND, AND X-RAY FACILITIES. FULL-SERVICE OUTPATIENT CLINICS OPERATE SIX DAYS A WEEK, ALONG WITH A COMPREHENSIVE MALNUTRITION PROGRAM IN THE AREA. THIS YEAR, UMCSL RECEIVED MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND MEDICINE TO SERVE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AT NINE HOSPITALS AND HEALTH CENTERS. SINCE 2020, BWA HAS PARTNERED WITH RYDO-SL TO TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES BY ENHANCING CAPACITIES AND PROMOTING SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. BWA HAS PROVIDED MEDICINES, MEDICAL SUPPLIES, MICRONUTRIENT SUPPLEMENTS (PRENATAL VITAMINS), MOBILITY AIDS, EQUIPMENT, AND CASH GRANTS TO SUPPORT RYDO-SL AND ITS AFFILIATED HOSPITALS AND HEALTH CENTERS.THIS YEAR, BWA FUNDED THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE KAGBAIMA HEALTH CENTER, LOCATED IN THE KAGBAIMA COMMUNITY, TO SERVE TEN NEARBY VILLAGES. THE HEALTH CENTER SERVES MORE THAN 4,851 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY. BWA HAS BEEN PARTNERING WITH SMD SINCE FISCAL YEAR 2023 TO SUPPORT THEIR WORK, PROVIDING IN-KIND ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING MEDICAL SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT, MOBILITY AIDS, AND MICRONUTRIENT SUPPLEMENTS (PRENATAL VITAMINS) IN THE BOMBALI DISTRICT OF NORTHERN SIERRA LEONE. IN FY25, BWA PROVIDED 13,970,645 LBS OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO SMD, WHICH SERVED MORE THAN 3,010 INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVED MEDICAL TREATMENTS AT 9 HEALTHCARE FACILITIES THROUGH THIS PROJECT. IN CAMEROON, BWA HAS BEEN PARTNERING WITH HOPE INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION ("HIF") BASED IN YAOUND AND DOUALA SINCE 2011. ITS OBJECTIVE IS TO PROVIDE HOLISTIC CARE PRIMARILY IN AREAS OF MEDICINE, PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIAL NEEDS, AND EDUCATION. THE HOSPITALS IN YAOUND AND DOUALA MEET THE NEEDS OF MORE THAN 75,000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR AT LITTLE OR NO COST TO THE PATIENTS. ADDITIONALLY, HIF PROVIDES MEDICAL OUTREACH TO VILLAGES IN THE NORTHWEST REGION TWICE YEARLY. IN KERICHO, KENYA, BWA HAS PARTNERED WITH THE KEBENETI DISPENSARY, WHICH SERVES OVER 1,300 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY. THIS YEAR, BWA PROVIDED CASH GRANTS TO SUPPORT THE CLINIC'S OPERATIONS.IN ETHIOPIA, BWA HAS PARTNERED WITH HARAMAYA UNIVERSITY ("HU") AND DEBRE TABOR UNIVERSITY ("DTU"). HU, LOCATED IN THE EASTERN REGION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA, IS AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION COMPRISING MORE THAN TEN COLLEGES THAT OFFER A VARIETY OF DISCIPLINES, INCLUDING A COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AND A COLLEGE OF HEALTH EDUCATION. ADDITIONALLY, HU OPERATES A CAMPUS CLINIC ALONG WITH COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS AND HOSPITALS, PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL AND HEALTH SERVICES TO A POPULATION OF OVER 50,000 RESIDENTS.IN FY23, FOR THE FIRST TIME, BWA COLLABORATED WITH DTU, A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY LOCATED IN THE SOUTH
- $1.1 million spent. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS:A KEY PRINCIPLE OF BWA'S MISSION IS THAT EDUCATION IS THE FUTURE OF AFRICA. SINCE OUR FOUNDING, PRIORITIZING THE EDUCATION OF AFRICA'S YOUNGER GENERATION HAS BEEN ESSENTIAL FOR BWA. THIS YEAR, BWA AWARDED A TOTAL OF $112,895 IN CASH GRANTS TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN KENYA, ZAMBIA, TANZANIA, CHAD, SIERRA LEONE, CAMEROON, AND ZIMBABWE. WE HAVE DEVELOPED PARTNERSHIPS THAT HAVE ENABLED CHILDREN AND YOUTH TO ATTEND SCHOOL IN THESE COUNTRIES FOR OVER A DECADE. IN TOTAL, 839 STUDENTS BENEFITED FROM OUR SCHOOL FEE SUPPORT, CLASSROOM CONSTRUCTION, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THIS YEAR.SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION)IN MANY REGIONS OF AFRICA, ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES IS OFTEN SEVERELY LIMITED. BY PROVIDING SCHOOL DESKS, WE CAN SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION, IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES, BOOST ATTENDANCE, AND HELP STUDENTS ACHIEVE OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC RESULTS. THAT'S WHY BWA IS DEDICATED TO DELIVERING SCHOOL DESKS TO SCHOOLS THAT NEED PROPER FURNITURE. IN FY25, WE PROUDLY SUPPLIED SIX 40-FOOT CONTAINERS FILLED WITH 1,687 DESKS (CHAIRS AND TABLES) TO RURAL SCHOOLS IN ETHIOPIA AND SIERRA LEONE. THIS INITIATIVE REFLECTS OUR COMMITMENT TO MAKING A TANGIBLE DIFFERENCE, WITH THE TOTAL FAIR MARKET VALUE OF $220,440.IN ETHIOPIA, BWA COLLABORATED WITH THE HU TO PROVIDE COMBINED SCHOOL DESKS FOR 729 STUDENTS IN THE EASTERN HARARGE REGION. IN SIERRA LEONE, BWA SUPPLIED COMBINED DESKS TO FHDO SCHOOLS AND RYDO PARTNER SCHOOLS, BENEFITING 958 STUDENTS. ADDITIONALLY, BWA PARTNERED WITH THE AMHARA DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION IN ETHIOPIA TO DELIVER TWO 40-FOOT CONTAINERS FILLED WITH 35,047 BOOKS. THESE DONATIONS WILL BENEFIT OVER 30,000 STUDENTS IN THE WOLLO AND BAHIR DAR REGIONS. THE TOTAL FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THESE CONTRIBUTIONS IS $756,000.IN KERICHO, KENYA, BWA IS THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THREE ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS AT KEBENETI SECONDARY SCHOOL! THIS EXCITING DEVELOPMENT WILL SUPPORT THE FLOURISHING LOCAL COMMUNITY AND DIRECTLY BENEFIT 120 EAGER STUDENTS, ENSURING THEY HAVE A WELCOMING AND SPACIOUS ENVIRONMENT FOR THEIR EDUCATION.
- $218,109 spent. WATER, SANITATION, AND HYGIENE (WASH) PROGRAM:SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1997, BWA HAS BEEN ON A REMARKABLE JOURNEY, TRANSFORMING LIVES ACROSS SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA THROUGH IMPACTFUL WATER, SANITATION, AND HYGIENE (WASH) INITIATIVES. BY SAFEGUARDING NATURAL SPRINGS, DRILLING NEW WELLS, REHABILITATING DAMAGED ONES, AND CONSTRUCTING SCHOOL LATRINES, BWA IS PROVIDING THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES AND STUDENTS WITH ACCESS TO SAFE WATER AND SANITATIONA VITAL RESOURCE FOR THRIVING COMMUNITIES. THIS YEAR, BWA AWARDED $210,062 FOR THE WASH PROGRAM IN EIGHT COUNTRIES.(SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION)PROTECTING SPRING WATER ENSURES THAT RELIABLE, CLEAN SOURCES ARE AVAILABLE WHILE NEW AND RESTORED WELLS BRING WATER CLOSER TO VILLAGES. THIS NOT ONLY MINIMIZES THE RISK OF DISEASE BUT ALSO SAVES PRECIOUS TIME FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN, ALLOWING THEM TO FOCUS ON EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SCHOOL LATRINES PROMOTES HYGIENE, REDUCES ABSENTEEISMESPECIALLY AMONG GIRLSAND FOSTERS DIGNITY WITHIN EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS.THESE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS HAVE LED TO A SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN WATERBORNE DISEASES, INCREASED SCHOOL PARTICIPATION, AND ENHANCED OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONAL AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. WITH STRONG EMPHASIS ON COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND TRAINING, BWA ENSURES THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THESE INITIATIVES, EMPOWERING RESIDENTS TO TAKE OWNERSHIP AND MAINTAIN THEIR FACILITIES.THIS YEAR HAS BEEN EXCEPTIONAL, WITH BWA COMPLETING 84 PROJECTS THAT HAVE POSITIVELY IMPACTED MORE THAN 70,300 INDIVIDUALS. NOTEWORTHY ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDE PROTECTING 15 SPRING WATER SOURCES IN UGANDA, REPAIRING 19 WELLS IN ETHIOPIA, CONSTRUCTING 14 NEW WELLS AND TWO SCHOOL LATRINES IN MALAWI, AND ADDRESSING SIMILAR NEEDS IN SEVERAL OTHER COUNTRIES. BWA'S INTEGRATED WASH APPROACH CONTINUES TO SPREAD HEALTH, HOPE, AND OPPORTUNITY TO SOME OF THE MOST UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN THE REGION, AND THE FUTURE HOLDS EVEN MORE PROMISE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.
Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1985.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.