Founded | Santa Barbara, California, US August 23, 1948 [1] |
---|---|
Founder | William D. Zimdin, Dezso Karczag [2] |
Type | Charitable Organization [1] |
95-1831116 | |
Legal status | 501(c)(3) organization [1] |
Focus | Disaster preparedness and relief services [3] |
Location |
|
Coordinates | 34°26′14″N119°50′36″W / 34.43734°N 119.8432121°W |
Area served | International [3] |
Key people | Thomas Tighe, president and CEO John Romo, chairman of the board of directors [1] |
Revenue | $2.3B [4] |
Employees | 100 full-time |
Volunteers | 20,000+ individuals, companies, and foundations |
Website | directrelief |
Formerly called | Direct Relief International |
Direct Relief (formerly known as Direct Relief International) is a nonprofit humanitarian organization whose mission is to improve the lives of people in poverty or emergency situations by providing the appropriate medical resources. [5] The charity provides emergency medical assistance and disaster relief in the United States and internationally. [1] It is the largest channel for donations of prescription medications and medical supplies in the U.S. [6]
Direct Relief does not accept government funding but instead relies on private, charitable contributions and donated medicine and supplies. [7] The organization is headed by an independent board of directors and its president and CEO, Thomas Tighe. [8]
In 1945, William Zimdin , an Estonian immigrant to the United States and businessman, began sending thousands of relief parcels to relatives, friends, and former employees in Europe to help with the aftermath of World War II. [2] [9] [10] In 1948, Zimdin formalized his efforts with the establishment of the William Zimdin Foundation. Dezso Karczag, a Hungarian Jewish immigrant, assumed management of the foundation following Zimdin's death in 1951. Karczag changed the organization's name to Direct Relief Foundation in 1957. [11]
In the early 1960s, the foundation refined its mission to serve disadvantaged populations in medically underserved communities around the world. To assist with this effort, Direct Relief became licensed as a wholesale pharmacy in 1962 to be able to provide prescription medicines. [12] During this time, the organization also supported victims of natural disasters in the US and homeless populations in Santa Barbara, California. [13] The foundation assumed the name Direct Relief International in 1982. [14] [9]
In 2004, the Direct Relief provided almost $122 million in medical aid to 54 countries. [15] The same year, the organization assisted Sri Ramakrishna Math and GlaxoSmithKline with designing and implementing a one-year nurse assistant training program in India. The program was launched to empower young women in districts affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami. By 2019, over 1,200 nurses had graduated. [16]
In 2011, Direct Relief Women, a volunteer branch of the nonprofit, was created, and held its first fundraiser for Direct Relief International. [17] All money raised went toward providing safe births around the world. [18] In 2013, Direct Relief International assumed the name Direct Relief. [14]
After raising $3,300 for the American Cancer Society through a partnership with Direct Relief in 2016, Matthew Moffit and Direct Relief produced Zeldathon (playing Legend of Zelda for 36 hours straight) and formed Direct Relief Gaming, which has raised $14.1M since its inception and partnered with organizations such as Humble Bundle and Bungie. [19] [20]
In 2018, Direct Relief provided about $1.2 billion worth of wholesale materials to health centers in over 100 countries. [21] The organization also donated approximately $23.5 million to support the operations of health groups, including hiring more staff and converting buildings to solar energy and battery backup microgrids to better withstand disasters. [21] 2018 was also the year that Direct Relief opened a division in Puerto Rico. [22]
In 2022, Ukraine was the largest recipient country of Direct Relief's assistance. [23]
In July 2024, Direct Relief's president and CEO, Thomas Tighe, announced his retirement. Under his leadership, the nonprofit provided more than $16 billion in aid and more than $350 million in grants to health organizations. [24]
Between 2000 and 2014, the Direct Relief's operating budget averaged roughly $11 million per year. [25] Over the same period, it reported delivering more than $1.6 billion in medical resources and supplies worldwide. [26] Medical supplies come largely through in-kind donations by hundreds of pharmaceutical manufacturers. [27]
The organization manages logistics and distribution through enterprise systems that include SAP, Esri, and in-kind transportation support from FedEx. [3] [25] [28]
In 2019, Direct Relief opened a new Santa Barbara warehouse and distribution headquarters. [29] The new building is 155,000-square-feet, earthquake-safe, and outfitted with state-of-the-art distribution technology for medical supplies. [30] Direct Relief partnered with Tesla to create a microgrid power supply for the building. [31] Solar panels are integrated with battery storage and generators to keep the headquarters running for up to six months in the face of a disaster and to store temperature-sensitive medications like insulin and vaccines. [30]
In 2013, Direct Relief launched a program in partnership with Basic Health International to screen and treat women in Haiti for cervical cancer. [60]
Up to April 2020, the organization had distributed more than 145,000 pounds of medical aid in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. [67] Direct Relief shipped supplies to hospitals and clinics in all 50 US states as well as institutions in 32 countries. [67] [68] The organization also started a new COVID-19 fund to provide community health centers financial support for healthcare workers. [69] 3M donated $10 million to the fund. [70] By June 2020, over 518 health centers had received funding through the COVID-19 fund. [71]
In May 2020, Direct Relief announced that it was partnering with FedEx Cares to ship personal protective equipment to underserved communities around the US. [72] The charity has sent over 350,000 surgical masks, 30,000 face masks, and 10,000 goggles to Mexico. [73]
Direct Relief provides support to local and international wildfire incidents, including masks, vehicles, and funds to advance firefighter technology.
In July 2019, the organization released an analysis of which small towns in California could be the hardest hit by a fast-moving wildfire based on the numbers of low-income, immobile, aging, or disabled people in the community. Nine towns were given a "very high" social-vulnerability score. [82]
Direct Relief delivers medical aid to people in high-need areas worldwide by supporting partners that provide child and maternal health services through the full process of pregnancy. The organization provides midwives with the tools needed to provide delivery, antenatal, and postpartum care safely. In 2017, Direct Relief distributed 300 midwife kits to fourteen partners in seven countries in the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa, supporting 15,000 safe births. [84]
Operation Blessing International Relief and Development Corporation (OBI) is an Evangelical Christian organization headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1978, OBI operates in more than 90 countries, focusing on disaster relief, medical aid, clean water, hunger relief, community development, and orphan care programs.
Plenty International is an environmental, humanitarian aid and human rights organization based in Summertown, Tennessee, United States.
The Common Ground Collective is a decentralized network of non-profit organizations offering support to the residents of New Orleans. It was formed in the fall of 2005 in the Algiers neighborhood of the city in the days after Hurricane Katrina resulted in widespread flooding, damage and deaths throughout the city.
Medical Emergency Relief International (MERLIN) is a British international nongovernmental health charity that provides medical experts for global emergencies. Operating in over 40 countries, it focused on medical aid, disease prevention, and healthcare infrastructure rebuilding. In 2013, MERLIN merged with Save the Children, continuing its mission to address global health crises and support vulnerable populations.
The American National Red Cross is a nonprofit humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster preparedness education in the United States. Clara Barton founded the organization in 1881 after initially learning of the Red Cross from the country of Switzerland. Barton resigned in 1904 with Mabel Thorp Boardman taking control soon after. It is the designated US affiliate of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the United States movement to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
Heart to Heart International is a global humanitarian organization based in Lenexa, Kansas with a mission of seeking to improve healthcare access around the world by ensuring quality care is provided equitably in medically under-resourced communities and in disaster situations.
AmeriCares is a global non-profit organization focused on health and development that responds to individuals affected by poverty, disaster, or crisis. The organization addresses poverty, disasters, or crises with medicine, medical supplies and health programs.
International Medical Corps is a global, nonprofit, humanitarian aid organization that provides emergency medical services, healthcare training and capacity building to those affected by disaster, disease or conflict." It seeks to strengthen medical services and infrastructure in the aftermath of crises."
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Zakat Foundation of America is a Chicago-based NGO providing emergency relief, post-disaster rehabilitation, sustainable development, education, healthcare, orphan sponsorship, and seasonal programs such as Ramadan iftars and Udhiya/Qurbani. Zakat Foundation of America is registered under 501(c)(3) as a non-profit charity organization.
Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA), based in Alexandria, Virginia, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) humanitarian agency and member of the Islamic Relief Worldwide group of organizations. IRUSA was founded in California in 1993. In addition to international relief and development initiatives, Islamic Relief USA also sponsors and funds domestic projects ranging from emergency disaster responses to assisting the American homeless population and supporting those who cannot afford basic healthcare.
IsraAID is an Israel-based non-governmental organization that responds to emergencies all over the world with targeted humanitarian help. IsraAID was founded by Shachar Zahavi and Mully Dor. This includes disaster relief, from search and rescue to rebuilding communities and schools, to providing aid packages, medical assistance, and post-psychotrauma care. IsraAID has also been involved in emergency response and international development projects in more than 60 countries, with focuses on Water, Sanitation & Hygiene, public health and medical care education, and mental health and protection.
The response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake included national governments, charitable and for-profit organizations from around the world which began coordinating humanitarian aid designed to help the Haitian people. Some countries arranged to send relief and rescue workers and humanitarian supplies directly to the earthquake damage zones, while others sought to organize national fund raising to provide monetary support for the nonprofit groups working directly in Haiti. OCHA coordinates and tracks this on a daily basis. The information is disseminated through the UN news and information portal, ReliefWeb. As of September 5, 2013, ReliefWeb have reported a total relief funding of $3.5 billion given.
The humanitarian responses by non-governmental organizations to the 2010 Haiti earthquake included many organisations, such as international, religious, and regionally based NGOs, which immediately pledged support in the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Besides a large multi-contingency contribution by national governments, NGOs contributed significantly to both on-the-ground rescue efforts and external solicitation of aid for the rescue efforts.
Matthew 25: Ministries is an international humanitarian aid and disaster relief organization headquartered in Blue Ash, Ohio, US. Matthew 25: Ministries provides humanitarian aid and disaster relief to the poor throughout the US and around the world. Matthew 25 collects excess products from corporations and manufacturers as well as the general public and ships these donations to those in need.
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MAP International is a Christian nonprofit organization based out of Brunswick, Georgia. Their mission is to provide medicines and health supplies to those in need around the world.
Convoy of Hope is an American faith-based nonprofit humanitarian and disaster relief organization that provides food, supplies, and humanitarian services to impoverished or otherwise needy populations throughout the world. The organization also engages in disaster relief work. It was founded in 1994 by Hal, Steve, and Dave Donaldson in Sacramento, California, later moved its headquartered to its current place in Springfield, Missouri, and is associated with the Assemblies of God and its Chi Alpha campus ministries and fellowships.
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International Medical Relief (IMR) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) headquartered in Colorado, United States. Its primary objective is to offer healthcare services to marginalized and underserved populations worldwide. IMR achieves this by enlisting healthcare professionals and volunteer doctors who donates their time and expertise.
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