About

The Mission

Direct Relief is a humanitarian aid organization, active in all 50 states and more than 80 countries, with a mission to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies – without regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay. Learn More

Humanitarian Medical Aid

Direct Relief's assistance programs are tailored to the particular circumstances and needs of the world's most vulnerable and at-risk populations. This tradition of direct and targeted assistance, provided in a manner that respects and involves the people served, has been a hallmark of the organization since its founding in 1948 by refugee war immigrants to the U.S. Learn More
Guiding Principles
Focus Areas
History

Recognition

Direct Relief’s work earns wide recognition from independent charity evaluators, including a 100% fundraising efficiency rating from Forbes, the No. 1 spot on Charity Navigator’s list of the “10 Best Charities Everyone’s Heard Of,” and inclusion in Fast Company’s list of “the world’s most innovative nonprofits.”  >>> awards, ratings, and recognition

Finances & Policies

Direct Relief honors the generosity of its donors by following a firm policy of full transparency in all of its operations. The organization routinely reports on how donations are used and makes its financial documents (e.g., tax returns, annual reports, audits), fundraising practices, and compensation policies open to the public.

Active Emergency Responses

Firefighters battle the Carr Fire in Shasta County last week. Direct Relief is offering respiratory masks and other supplies to healthcare facilities in areas across the state impacted by fires. (Photo courtesy of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection)

Wildfires

California Wildfires

Direct Relief is responding to a series of devastating fires burning across its home state of California, providing healthcare agencies and emergency responders in wildfire-affected communities with N-95 masks, medicine and other needed items.

Refugee Crisis

Rohingya Refugee Crisis

An unprecedented humanitarian emergency has been building as hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees have crossed the Myanmar border into neighboring Bangladesh.

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