About
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the world's largest humanitarian organizations, headquartered in New York City. Established in 1933, when Albert Einstein and a small group of humanitarians formed what would become the International Rescue Committee, the IRC responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping people affected by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and rebuild their lives.
Mission
The IRC works in more than 40 countries and in 30 U.S. cities to help people affected by humanitarian crises to survive, recover and rebuild their lives. Its work emphasizes evidence-based approaches — developed in part through its Airbel Impact Lab — programming centered on women and girls, and policy advocacy on behalf of displaced people.
What they do
The IRC focuses its programs on five key outcome areas:
- Health: restoring health and access to medical care in crisis zones
- Safety: protecting people from harm
- Education: helping children and youth learn
- Economic wellbeing: helping families achieve self-sufficiency
- Power: empowering people to have influence over the decisions that affect them
In the United States and Europe, the IRC also provides resettlement, asylum, and integration services for refugees and other displaced people in communities across 30 U.S. cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Denver, Miami, and Seattle.
History
The IRC traces its origins to 1933, when Albert Einstein and a small group of humanitarians formed what would become the International Rescue Committee to assist people fleeing persecution. Today it operates in more than 40 crisis-affected countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, as well as throughout the United States.
Scale and impact
Impact figures the IRC reports for 2025 include more than 602,500 children and youth in learning programs, 2.5 million people receiving improved water supply services, more than 723,300 people enrolled in nutrition programs, and more than 330,000 people served through resettlement, asylum, and integration programs. The organization reports that 86 percent of its expenses go to program services, 8 percent to management and general, and 6 percent to fundraising.
Financials
According to its IRS Form 990 data on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, in the fiscal year ending September 2025 the IRC reported total revenue of 1,314,041,795 dollars (96.7 percent from contributions), total expenses of 1,276,197,438 dollars, and net assets of 295,976,286 dollars. The IRS granted its 501(c)(3) tax exemption in April 1955.
Governance
David Miliband serves as President and CEO. The organization is overseen by a board and advisors, with senior staff leadership listed on its website.
