Lutheran World Relief
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Our family, beginning with my grandparents were regular donors to Lutheran World Relief. Over the years, we have sent cash gifts, but most recently, gifts from the LWR catalogue to remember special occasions inour lives. Many 50th anniversary recipients have had pigs, chicks or goats given in their honor. At christmas, we educate an AIDS orphan for each of our children and grandchildren. What a joy to give as Christ has given to us - reaching out, selflessly, and in true joy! God has blessed this organization with the ability to operate on bare bones so that 91 cents of each dollar is used for ministry! Have you written them into your charitable gifting plan? We have!
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Was your donation impactful?
Definitely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Definitely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
I am proud to be a donor and volunteer for Lutheran World Relief. They are an organization that truly embodies their core values in all aspects of the organization. I have seen first hand how the work that they do is life changing, and they work extremely hard to continually increase their effectiveness each and every day, week, month, and year.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
advocacy victories in Uganda!
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
keep up the great work
LWR is a godsend for many. Keep up the good work!
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I have not needed their support.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
I keep expanding their services.
LWR "walks the talk" of accompaniment, working *with* global neighbors and partners to end poverty, injustice and human suffering.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I was privileged to be on a mountaintop in Peru and witness the results of this work firsthand (http://bit.ly/PeruLWT).
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Expand the mission to include across the U.S. as well as around the world.
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How does this organization compare with others in the same sector?
Very Well
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
Will you recommend this organization to others?
Definitely
What is unique about this organization?
LWR powerfully mobilizes the power of faith-based, community, government and NGO networks.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
Lutheran World Relief is a wonderful organization that really helps proclaim the Evangelical Lutheran Church's motto "God's work, our hands." They are among the first relief groups into troubled areas when disaster strikes and they stay long after the new media moves on to the next "big story." Their administrative costs are kept extremely low so that more funding can do into direct aid to the people who need it most. I can't travel to Haiti, for example, but I can collect items for health kits, school kits, sewing kits, etc. and donate money, knowing that it is going to a most worthy cause and will be put to good use, directing helping those who need it.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I have not directly experienced the results of this organization but I believe the stories, interview, articles I read about them.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Secure more funding for their work and more people to collect and donate items for their kits.
I have provided supplies for and helped assemble health kits and serve as co-advisor of our 3rd-6th grade church youth group that raises money for health kit supplies by recycling aluminum cans and printer cartridges and cell phones. They are enthusiastic kit assemblers, for they understand just how important basic items such as soap, a hand towel and wash cloth, a toothbrush and other kit items that we take for granted are to people who don't have them. A recent headline noted that a bar of soap could literally save a life during the cholera epidemic in the tent cities of Haiti. LWR provides not only health kits, but school kits, sewing kits, layettes, quilts and blankets, soap, malaria nets, and whatever is needed wherever it is needed. The organization consistently receives the highest rating from non-profit watchdog groups for having the most efficient delivery system while having the smallest administrative and fund raising budget. They also provide support for other non-profits by helping get people and supplies to where they are needed. Simply put, they are the best at what they do. They provide not only materials, but education and support for communities to provide a source of clean drinking water, improve farming practices, and teach health and hygiene. I cannot think of a more deserving organization than LWR to be the recipient of funds. They are simply the best at what they do, and their impact is global.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
the satisfaction I feel when I read accounts and see photos of the people who have been personally touched by being recipients of the support LWR has given them. A simple school kit can mean the difference between a family being able to afford to send a child to school; a health kit provides dignity and at least the potential to avoid common and often fatal disease; a quilt can provide warmth or even shelter.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
give them a much larger operating budget! I see no reason to change anything about something that works so well that it is used as an example of how a non-profit should be run.
There are a lot of faith-informed organizations out there that seem more committed to providing flashy relief and winning converts than actually investing themselves into the populations they serve. From what I've seen, Lutheran World Relief is dedicated to long-term development, not merely showing up to places that are in the news then abandoning them once the media attention has passed. The staff members I have met are people with real heart and concern; it's always great to know organizations like this exist. They also provide very meaningful and useful information on the work they're doing in the countries; their blog is a pleasure to read.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
reading about the work they've done, talking to staff members, and talking to people in development who have observed LWR's work.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
give them more money so they can expand their services.
We donate to Lutheran World Relief both as individuals and through our congregation. They are professional, caring and effective. We can give with confidence, knowing that Lutheran World Relief is a good steward of our dollars.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Reading articles by LWR and reading about the effectiveness of LWR in the media.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
add more PR. But then that costs money. And LWR is more interested in providing services than good PR.
LWR is known as one of the more effective disaster relief agencies. They have several core strengths: - professional staff and mission-focus - long-standing relationships in deployed communities and with other agencies - partnership with local churches and civic structures - commitment to work after the initial response In areas where they are not the "boots on the ground," they do a good job geting money and resources to effective local partners.
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The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
extremely professional, well-organized, non-nonsense, and mission-focused. Their care is best expressed in they way they often seek to "unmet needs" - cracks between other relief efforts.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About once a year
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
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