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Church World Service
Church World Service reported $279.9 million in revenue and $274.1 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $86.06 went to program services, $11.92 to management and general costs and $2.02 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 98.6% of the total. Government grants made up 88.1%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $444,041 (CEO & PRESIDENT). 108 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 278% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $274MFor context, the median across 469 covered international, foreign affairs & national security charities: $89.04 programs, $8.28 management, $2.68 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $280MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 86.1% | 86.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 11.9% | 8.0% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.0% | 2.6% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.02 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 98.6% | 96.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 88.1% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 1.0% | 0.0% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $444,041 | $341,362 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.16% | 1.06% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 108 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 1.8 | 7.5 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 14 of 15 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseServices to displaced persons - the cws commitment to refugees and other displaced persons is a prophetic expression of our calling in faith to welcome strangers, to give voice to the uprooted, to provide durable solutions, and to challenge those responsible for suffering and displacement. Cws works with a network of churches, organizations, and individuals that assist uprooted persons that have had to flee their countries due to persecution, armed conflict, etc. Together, we seek to provide forcibly displaced populations support to address critical unmet needs as durable solutions are…
Emergency response - cws joins together with others to support people and communities in humanitarian crises around the world. Cws helps the faith community play its special role in disaster mitigation, preparedness, and response. In responding to emergencies and working during prolonged periods of need, cws works to ensure the world's most vulnerable people become self-sufficient. The goal is to achieve durable solutions that build or restore peace, justice and dignity.activities include: emergency assistance to address the immediate needs of the most vulnerable survivors of natural and…
Global relief and development - cws works in partnership with local organizations, churches, individuals, organizations, and others around the world to bring about sustainable change. By working together to support development and food security, cws seeks to work with marginalized communities experiencing chronic hunger and poverty and to achieve durable solutions that build peace and justice. The focus of the work is on the most vulnerable persons and communities to develop socially, economically and environmentally sustainable communities and achieve a higher quality of life. The following…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO & PRESIDENT Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $401,375 | $0 | $42,666 | $444,041 |
| SVP OF PROGRAM Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $242,204 | $0 | $28,619 | $270,823 |
| CFO/COO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $226,300 | $0 | $43,553 | $269,853 |
| REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE, AFRICA Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $201,176 | $0 | $39,644 | $240,820 |
| RSC AFRICA DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $194,783 | $0 | $39,190 | $233,973 |
| CHIEF OF STAFF Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $195,565 | $0 | $32,461 | $228,026 |
| SENIOR DIRECTOR, HR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $188,996 | $0 | $30,644 | $219,640 |
108 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Church World Service (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $689K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b15 · 14 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 51,669
- Volunteers Part I, line 62,800
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| COHEN & CO Project management/systems & technology | $686,244 |
| ALLEGIANCE FUNDRAISING LLC Fundraising | $467,690 |
| STONERIDGE SOFTWARE LLC Erp system & technology | $337,658 |
| EXPONENT PARTNERS Information technology | $305,870 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 11 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
53 private foundations reported grants to Church World Service totaling $1.0M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Church World Service's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Church World Service, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Church World Service spent in FY2025, $86.06 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Matthew 25 MinistriesCincinnati, OH · revenue $279M · programs 99.3% · 2024
- Global ImpactWashington, DC · revenue $290M · programs 97.0% · FY2025
- Kingsway CharitiesBristol, TN · revenue $266M · programs 99.9% · 2024
- Institute of International EducationNew York, NY · revenue $306M · programs 87.7% · FY2025
- American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of ScienceNew York, NY · revenue $263M · programs 79.9% · FY2025
All international, foreign affairs & national security charities · Largest charities in Indiana
Questions people ask
How much of Church World Service's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Church World Service reported that 86.1% of its $274.1 million in expenses went to program services, 11.9% to management and general and 2.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Church World Service pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Church World Service reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $444,041, for the role of CEO & PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Church World Service get its money?
Of $279.9 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 98.6% came from contributions and grants (including 88.1% from government grants) and 1.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Church World Service a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 13-4080201 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202641079349301519 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202500909349301400 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023 (amended), object 202422569349300802 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202233199349321398 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202123199349329152 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202003189349306720 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 13-4080201: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.