Discover Direct Relief International
Direct Relief International provides medical assistance to improve the quality of life for people affected by poverty, disaster, and civil unrest at home and around the world. Direct Relief works to support the work of healthcare providers in the USA and in more than 70 countries, equipping them with the medicines, supplies, and equipment so they can care for their patients.
Direct Relief’s assistance programs have always been tailored to be responsive to the partner organizations’ particular circumstances and needs and those of the people they serve. Direct Relief partners typically provide health services to people in rural areas that are poor, lack health infrastructure, and in which severe health challenges exist.
Since 2000, each dollar spent has provided up to $30 (wholesale) of medical material aid specifically requested by in-country health professionals to care for patients.
Direct Relief works in the USA and in 72 countries to get medical aid to low income, uninsured and poverty stricken people every day and during disasters. Through Maternal and Child Health, Disease Prevention and Treatment, Emergency Preparedness programs, Direct Relief gets aid quickly, directly and efficiently.
Direct Relief is one of the most efficient nonprofits in America. 98.8% of it's revenue goes towards services with only slightly over 1% going to fundraising and administration.
Mission Statement
Improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergency situations by mobilizing and providing essential medical resources needed for their care.
History
Since 1948, Direct Relief has worked to help people who confront enormous hardship to recover from disasters and improve the quality of their lives. The tradition of direct and targeted assistance, provided in a manner that respects and involves the people served, has been a hallmark of the organization since its founding.
In 1945, William Zimdin, an Estonian immigrant who had amassed significant wealth in prewar Europe, began sending thousands of relief parcels containing food, clothing, and medicines to relatives, friends, and former employees who were rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of World War II. He established the William Zimdin Foundation on August 23, 1948 as a California-based non-profit corporation.
After Zimdin’s death in 1951, Dezso (Dennis) Karczag, a Hungarian immigrant and Zimdin’s close business associate, assumed management of the organization. In 1957, the organization changed its name to the Direct Relief Foundation, and in 1982, re-named again and became known as Direct Relief International.
Direct Relief provided postwar assistance to enable people to help themselves. In 1950, a revolving loan fund was established to provide refugees with small grants to establish new lives. Repaid funds provided capital for subsequent grantees. While the individual grant program ceased in the early 1960s, the underlying notion remains integral to current programs.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Direct Relief received many requests for assistance related to health issues beyond Europe. The organization’s leadership decided that providing medical assistance to indigenous facilities would achieve the greatest overall impact. Direct Relief’s mission was refined to serve disadvantaged populations living in medically underserved communities throughout the world.
In 1962, Direct Relief became licensed as a wholesale pharmacy to secure prescription medicines for use abroad. This experience in handling pharmaceuticals led to the development of strict internal protocols regarding the suitability of types of products, inventory controls, and the qualifications of trained health professionals on the receiving end of aid shipments. This focus also established strong ties to U.S. healthcare companies, which have long supported our efforts with donations of high-value pharmaceutical and other medical resources allocated through our assistance program.
Since its inception, Direct Relief has provided aid in response to emergencies and to refugee populations. Beginning with postwar refugee assistance in Eastern Europe and Greece, Direct Relief has also provided support for more than 40 years to Tibetan refugees and has consistently responded with targeted medical aid following major emergencies since the 1970 Peru earthquake.
Today, Direct Relief provides appropriate and specifically requested medical resources to community-based institutions and organizations in more than 70 countries, including the United States.
Since 2000, Direct Relief has provided more than $1.4 billion in direct aid through medical material assistance and targeted cash grants serving people in need worldwide.