WHO WE ARE

Frequently Asked Questions

IRD is also available to answer any inquiries. Please contact our Director of Communications, Rick Santos, at rsantos@ird-dc.org.

 

What Is IRD?

International Relief and Development (IRD) is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to improving lives and building livelihoods among people in the most economically deprived parts of the world.  IRD’s mission is to reduce the suffering of the world’s most vulnerable groups and provide the tools and resources needed to increase their self-sufficiency. 

 IRD works in collaboration with a wide range of organizations, including U.S. and foreign government agencies, bilateral and international donor organizations, international finance organizations, faith-based organizations, advocacy groups, international and local NGOs, corporations and members of U.S. Congress, to implement targeted, cost-effective relief and development programs.

Founded in 1998 by Dr. Arthur B. Keys, Jr., IRD provides nearly $300 million annually in humanitarian assistance. IRD is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

 

Where does IRD work?

IRD works in 25 countries around the world, including Afghanistan, Cambodia, Chad, Indonesia, Iraq, Mozambique, Serbia, Ukraine and the United States. For a complete list of countries where IRD has projects, please see our annual report.

 

How many people work at IRD?

IRD employs more than 2500 people around the world, including almost 150 staff in its headquarters.

 

What are IRD’s areas of expertise?

Within each country, IRD has developed an expertise to fulfill its mission – to reduce the suffering of the world's most vulnerable groups by providing them with the tools and resources needed to become self-sufficient.  These expertise areas include:

  • Conflict Mitigation
  • Democracy & Governance Promotion
  • Community and Coalition Building
  • Economic Revitalization
  • Education
  • Emergency Relief
  • Health Care
  • Infrastructure rebuilding
  • Micro-grant delivery
  • NGO Capacity Building
  • Project Oversight
  • Repatriation and Reintegration
  • Water and Sanitation projects

  

How is IRD organized?

IRD is involved in six core program areas:


For more information, please visit our What We Do section.


  • Does IRD do any other kind of work?
  • Yes. IRD does program oversight for various donors. For example, IRD recently was awarded a five-year, $58 million contract to provide a broad range of services to help design, monitor, guide, and support activities of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded contracts in Afghanistan.



Who funds IRD?

Within the U.S. Government, IRD’s donors include USAID, the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. IRD also receives grants from international organizations including the United Nations Development Program and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. For a full list of donors, please see our annual report.  

 

Does IRD receive in-kind contributions as well as grants and contracts?

Yes. IRD receives commodities, pharmaceuticals and other medical supplies to distribute throughout the world. For a full list of in-kind contributions in 2005, please see our annual report.

 

Does IRD accept contributions from individuals?

Yes, gladly. For example, IRD received several thousand individual contributions to our Tsunami Relief Fund and our Katrina Relief Fund.  All contributions go to humanitarian relief programs. For secure online donations, please visit our donation section, or call our toll-free number 877-844-5644.

 

Does IRD have a mailing list?

Yes, please register online If you would like to subscribe to the IRD Newsletter for updates on IRD activities.

 

How do I apply for a job at IRD?

IRD is a non-governmental organization specializing in international development and humanitarian assistance.  With programs focused in geographic areas of conflict and political turmoil, we seek to employ those individuals whose personal values and drives mirror our own. For more information, please visit our careers section.