Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Christian Relief Services Charities Inc

EIN 54-1884868 · Alexandria, VA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PURPOSE OF CHRISTIAN RELIEF SERVICES IS TO PROVIDE FUNDING, SERVICES AND CRITICALLY NEEDED GOODS TO HELP PEOPLE IN COMMUNITIES STRIVING TO BREAK THE STRANGLEHOLD OF POVERTY AND TO HELP DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS TO THE NEEDS OF THESE COMMUNITIES.

Income
$46.1 million
Spending
$46.2 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
14
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: 53 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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 25

    10 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (4)
  1. $26.4 million spent. INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS CHRISTIAN RELIEF SERVICES HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO PROMOTING POSITIVE CHANGES IN AFRICA BY SUPPORTING AND STRENGTHENING IMPOVERISHED COMMUNITIES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA. THROUGH ITS AFFILIATE BREAD AND WATER FOR AFRICA, WHICH COLLABORATES WITH LOCAL GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS, THE ORGANIZATION PROMOTES SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND IMPROVEMENTS IN HEALTH, EDUCATION, WATER, SANITATION, HYGIENE, AND FOOD SUSTAINABILITY. (SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION)RELIEF DISTRIBUTIONS - SHIPPED LIFE-SAVING RELIEF ITEMS, INCLUDING MEDICAL SUPPLIES, MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, MOBILITY AIDS, MEDICINES, PERSONAL CARE ITEMS, BOOKS, MICRONUTRIENT SUPPLEMENTATION (PRENATAL VITAMINS), AND SCHOOL DESKS, TO GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS, HOSPITALS, HEALTH CENTERS, AND SCHOOLS IN ETHIOPIA, CAMEROON AND SIERRA LEONE. A TOTAL OF FOURTEEN CONTAINERS CONTAINED 134,701,201 KG OR 134,701 TONS OF LIFESAVING AND RELIEF MATERIALS SHIPPED TO SAVE MORE THAN 76,800 INDIVIDUALS.
  2. $9.4 million spent. AMERICAN INDIAN PROGRAMS - CHRISTIAN RELIEF SERVICES, THROUGH AMERICAN INDIAN YOUTH RUNNING STRONG (RUNNING STRONG) DONATED 17,339 FOOD BOXES, 23,340 SMART SACKS, 9,000 BACKPACKS FILLED WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES, 10,048 WINTER AND ATHLETIC SOCKS, 6,000 DENTAL KITS, 3,000 FEMININE HYGIENE KITS, 2,000 MATERNAL CARE KITS, 12,906 BRAND NEW WINTER COATS AND WINTER KITS (GLOVES, SCARF, HAT), AND 3,399 HOLIDAY TOYS. EACH FOOD BOX WEIGHED 20-30LBS. AND HAD ENOUGH NUTRITIOUS FOOD TO FEED A FAMILY OF FOUR FOR A WEEK. EACH SMART SACK WEIGHED APPROXIMATELY 5 LBS. AND CONTAINED MUCH NEEDED FOOD TO KEEP CHILDREN FED OVER THE WEEKEND WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO FREE AND REDUCED SCHOOL LUNCHES. (SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION)THESE SUPPLIES ARE DISTRIBUTED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF NATIVE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. DURING OUR HOLIDAY DISTRIBUTIONS ON PINE RIDGE AND CHEYENNE RIVER RESERVATIONS IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, 47,997.25 LBS. OF TURKEY AND 3,917.29 LBS. OF HAM WERE DISTRIBUTED TO HELP FEED HUNGRY FAMILIES. RUNNING STRONG HELPS AMERICAN INDIANS, MOSTLY ON RESERVATIONS, WITH FOOD, WATER, WARM CLOTHING, UTILITY ASSISTANCE, BASIC RELIEF, EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR AT-RISK YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES INCLUDING PROGRAMS FOSTERING SELF-RELIANCE.
  3. $6.1 million spent. DOMESTIC PROGRAMS - SUPPORTED EFFORTS PROMOTING SELF-SUFFICIENCY THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON THE APPALACHIAN REGION. THROUGH AMERICANS HELPING AMERICANS, AN AFFILIATE, OFFERS AN ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITIES IN EXTREME POVERTY BY PROMOTING SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAMS. AMERICANS HELPING AMERICANS ALSO SUPPLIED RELIEF ITEMS TO TAKE CARE OF BASIC NEEDS; 4,000 WINTER COATS, 5,700 BLANKETS, 3,000 DENTAL KITS, 3662 EDUCATIONAL SUPPLY BOXES, AND 18,648 FOOD BOXES DELIVERED TO COMMUNITIES IN CENTRAL APPALACHIA WHICH SUPPLEMENTED OUR SPONSORED FOOD PROGRAMS SERVICING AN ADDITIONAL 7,925 INDIVIDUALS.
  4. $82,703 spent. AMERICANS HELPING AMERICANS VETERANS SUPPORTIVE HOUSING (VSH) IS AN INNOVATIVE PERSON-CENTERED PROGRAM IN FAIRFAX COUNTY VA, WHICH HELPS EMPOWER VETERANS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES. OUR CUSTOMIZED AND FOCUSED PROGRAM PROVIDES HOMELESS LOW-INCOME VETERANS WITH AFFORDABLE SINGLE UNIT AND SMALL FAMILY HOUSING OPTIONS. OUR PROGRAM PROVIDES BOTH TRANSITIONAL AND PERMANENT HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES ALONG WITH CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES AIMED AT HELPING VETERANS MAINTAIN HOUSING STABILITY. THIS INCLUDES VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT, EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE, MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH REFERRALS, NUTRITIONAL EDUCATION AND SUPPORT, AND OTHER NECESSARY SUPPORT SERVICE REFERRALS DETERMINED DURING ASSESSMENT AND INTAKE.THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY SUPPORTIVE AGENCIES, VSH HAS RAISED APPROXIMATELY $52,750 TO HELP WITH RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND SECURITY DEPOSITS. THESE PARTNERSHIPS HAVE ALSO HELPED PROVIDE IN-KIND DONATIONS OF FOOD, BEDS, TVS, FURNITURE, AND OTHER HOUSEHOLD SUPPLIES TOTALING APPROXIMATELY $11,938. THIS SUPPORT GIVES OUR VETERANS A HAND-UP AS THEY REBUILD THEIR LIVES.OUR MOST RECENT COLLABORATION WITH COMPUCORE HELPED BY SUPPLYING $3,750 IN RECONDITIONED ALL-IN-ONE DESKTOP COMPUTERS. THIS DONATION WILL ALSO INCLUDE COMPUTER TRAINING FOR VETS WHO NEED A LITTLE HELP WITH TECHNOLOGY. THEY WILL ALSO RECEIVE A FREE LAPTOP COMPUTER TO KEEP UPON COMPLETION OF TRAINING. OUR GOAL AND VISION ARE TO SEE EVERY VETERAN HAVE ACCESS TO A DIGNIFIED HOME AND THE SERVICES THEY NEED TO THRIVE.

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.