Defining and Estimating the Scope of U.S. Faith-Based International Humanitarian Aid Organizations

Abstract

This study illuminates the size, scope, and impact of U.S. faith-based nonprofits in the international affairs sector. Through analysis of IRS microdata, we estimate the prevalence, total revenue, and direct charitable giving to Organizations with Religious Expression (OREs) within the International Affairs subsector (n = 262). Our study provides new language to categorize religiously identified organizations and seeks to demonstrate the distinctive identities and activities of OREs in contrast to organizations with no known religious expression. We find that OREs constitute more than half of the organizations in the sector and estimate that between a third and almost half of all donations to the international affairs subsector go to OREs. In contrast to organizations with no known religious expression, OREs also receive a much greater share of annual revenue from direct support.