New York, NY, November 3, 2016 — The International Rescue Committee (IRC) today announced a $15 million grant over five years from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) to support its emergency response efforts and organizational infrastructure systems. This is the largest foundation award the IRC has ever received for its infrastructure programs.
This historic gift will transform the IRC’s organizational infrastructure systems, and provide the critical resources needed to sustain the organization’s lifesaving emergency response work globally, including supporting continued refugee relief efforts in Greece.
“This is a landmark donation consistent with IRC's ambition to be the operational and thought leader of the humanitarian sector. The generosity of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation will not only enable the IRC to respond quickly when emergency strikes, but will also provide the foundational support necessary to sustain our response when the world’s attention has moved on to the next crisis,” said David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee. “This increased commitment from SNF, which builds on the Foundation’s longtime support of the IRC, will help us achieve even more during this time of unprecedented humanitarian need.”
“The IRC’s response to the global refugee crisis not only in our home country of Greece but throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa has been remarkable,” said Andreas Dracopoulos, Co-President and Director of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. “All of us at the Foundation, we are proud to make this commitment and look forward to seeing the impact this gift will undoubtedly have on the lives of the world’s most vulnerable people.”
The $15 million grant will be invested equally in the IRC’s emergency assistance programs and organizational infrastructure development, disbursed as $3 million installments annually for five years.