Thank you
At a time when more people around the globe are displaced by conflict than ever before, when extreme poverty is becoming more concentrated, and as climate shocks continue to grow, there is an extreme need for humanitarian aid.
In 2024, the International Rescue Committee provided aid to over 36.5 million people across more than 40 countries. That aid included access to clean water for more than 2.3 million people, provided an education for more than 1.1 million children, and facilitated nearly 10 million health consultations. In the U.S. alone, the IRC helped a record 16,692 people resettle in new communities.
None of this would be possible without the IRC’s donors and volunteers. Every gift of time or money helps change lives threatened by some of the world’s most daunting challenges. Every gift makes a difference.
Volunteers, in their own words
Donors are crucial to the IRC’s humanitarian work around the globe. In the U.S., volunteers give their time and expertise to help refugees and immigrants navigate their way through the process of building new lives. Here are some of their stories.
- "My own experience immigrating to the U.S. 19 years ago inspired me to volunteer with the IRC. I’m glad I can provide some support—however small—to newcomers facing similar challenges.” Alla, IRC volunteer in Northern California.
- "I am a long-time financial contributor to IRC, especially to IRC in Atlanta. Helping people who have been upended by conflicts or disasters to rebuild their lives is critical for the affected people, for the U.S. and for the world. It feeds my soul to be part of their journey." Sue, IRC volunteer in Atlanta.
- "Not only does the IRC look out for people who have been displaced, but they also bring back their dignity. We must treat refugees like equals. The IRC isn't in charge. On the contrary, they try to give people back their own sense of humanity. It’s important to restore the dignity of humans that have been forcibly dragged into circumstances they did not control." Khadija, IRC volunteer in Kansas.
- "I believe refugees have a right to dignity and respect for their cultures, traditions, and lives before their displacement. I don’t believe this right always exists in the U.S., and I want to work towards changing the status quo." Mary, IRC volunteer in Dallas.
Donors: Making meaningful change
Meet some of the humanitarian aid donors who help the IRC provide critical support around the world—and see how we make the most of every dollar.
Dr. Isle Melamid
Dr. Ilse Melamid, a dedicated philanthropist and Holocaust survivor, has been a steadfast supporter of the IRC since 2012. In 2024, she made a generous $150,000 gift to the Innovation Fund, which provides our frontline innovators with the flexible funding needed to develop and test transformative solutions to urgent humanitarian problems.
IKEA Foundation
The IKEA Foundation has partnered with the IRC since 2016. Its Re:BUiLD program, which supports refugee livelihoods in East Africa, has reached more than 20,000 people in Uganda and Kenya with job training and entrepreneurship support since 2021.
Riziki, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, enrolled in the Re:BUILD program in Kampala, Uganda. After completing a tailoring course and receiving a business grant, she opened a small tailoring studio that now helps her support her family.
Photo: Joseph Sosi for the IRC
The Pfizer Foundation
The IRC’s relationship with its longest-standing corporate partner dates back to 1956, when the Pfizer Foundation supported the IRC’s work with people affected by the Hungarian Revolution. Since then, it has grown into a multifaceted partnership that has provided 20 countries with health programs, emergency response, research and innovation, skilled volunteerism and more.
The Pfizer Foundation supported the IRC’s REACH project, in partnership with GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, which has delivered over 19 million vaccine doses to zero and under-immunized children in the hardest-to-reach areas in East Africa through a localized approach that works with, not around, conflict dynamics.
Victoria Martinez
At the age of 18, Victoria Martinez and her family left Cuba to escape Fidel Castro’s rule. She now volunteers to help orientate refugee families when they arrive in Florida. Victoria chose to name the IRC in her estate plans and became a member of the IRC’s Changemakers Legacy Society. “One cannot start a new life without support,” Victoria said. “If you want to make a difference in the lives of others, the IRC is the place to make that difference.”
Rescue Collective: A community of IRC donors
The IRC’s Rescue Collective is a community of everyday donors and action-takers within the International Rescue Committee, who support refugees and displaced families. We spoke with Rescue Collective partners, leaders and changemakers to find out why they support the IRC:
- "It is hard not to see the world as a rather bleak place these days. Your work always helps—it is heartwarming to know that people like you all exist in this tough world." Samira, Rescue Collective Partner since 2003.
- "What first inspired me to give to the IRC was the way IRC responds to international crises quickly and efficiently." Sarah, Rescue Collective Partner since 2022.
- "Now is the time to support organizations like the IRC. The crises around the world are too serious to wait." Babbie, Rescue Collective Partner since 1994.
Join us in making a difference
The IRC is on the ground in more than 40 crisis affected countries, and operates across the U.S. and Europe. You can help us provide humanitarian aid where it’s needed most.
By making a monthly gift, you can become a Rescue Collective Partner and help ensure IRC teams are prepared to take action within 72 hours of an emergency, delivering shelter, food and medicine to children and families. Or choose another way to donate: Start a fundraising campaign, give a tax-free gift from your IRA, and more.
Volunteer
Donate your time to help immigrants and refugees thrive in your own community. Learn more and find volunteer opportunities near you.
More from the IRC
The International Rescue Committee has over 90 years of experience helping people affected by crisis in more than 40 countries to survive, recover and rebuild their lives. We also help refugees and displaced people resettle and integrate into new communities in the U.S. and across Europe.
Our ratings: We consistently earn top marks from charity watchdog groups for our efficient use of donor contributions and the effectiveness of our work.
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Stay informed: Learn more about the world’s most pressing crises and what the IRC is doing to help.
