All humanitarian nonprofits face the same basic challenge: how do we do as much good as possible with the resources we have available?
There are always more people in need, and promising projects that depend on stretching a limited budget as far as possible.
Unfortunately, many organizations aren’t up to the task. As they grow, nonprofits can become bloated and inefficient, dedicating an ever larger share of donations towards staffing, fundraising campaigns and other tasks that don’t help those in heed.
Humanity First USA is different. Our organization is almost entirely volunteer run, with approximately 90% of donations going directly to funding disaster relief and development programs around the world.
That enables us to do more for poor communities around the world, from caring for hurricane victims, to building schools and hospitals. Here’s what we’ve accomplished so far.
Serving Humanity — By the Numbers
Humanity First is a group of independent national charities linked by a common vision of serving humanity. From a single UK group formed in 1995, we’ve grown into a worldwide network of over 50 national groups, with thousands of volunteers and donors, spread across 6 continents.
This structure has enabled Humanity First to work effectively anywhere help is required. With volunteers on the ground nearly everywhere, we can locate underserved communities, connect quickly with disaster relief organizations, and get people the help they need. As a result, we’ve been able to make a huge impact, helping 4.5 million people around the world.
Global Education
Humanity First USA runs schools and vocational training programs in underserved communities around the world. Our Knowledge for Life initiative runs a total of 9 primary schools, including 1 each in Guatemala, Haiti and Tanzania, and 6 in Mali. An additional 9 vocational schools teach a huge range of skills from sewing, to IT, to automotive repair. In total, our programs served 6,100 children and young adults in 2017 alone.
Disaster Relief
Disaster relief remains a core part of Humanity First USA’s mission. In 2017 alone, we provided relief for 5 disasters in the US, and 7 global disasters. All told, we provided crucial aid like food, medicine and shelter to 27,100 people in one year.
Water for Life
Safe drinking water is a fundamental right, but to many people across the world, that right is still denied. In many water-stressed regions of Africa, villagers can’t afford to fix pumps when they wear out, leaving them without a nearby source of clean water. In 2017, Humanity First provided over 70 villages with clean water, by rebuilding 75 hand pumps in Burkina Faso and Mali in collaboration with the International Association of Ahmadi Architects & Engineers (IAAAE). In total, we restored sources of clean drinking water to more than 75,000 people.
We also funded 7 new wells in Pakistan, providing a new safe water source for thousands more.
Global Health
Humanity FIrst USA works to ensure all people receive the medical care they need. In 2017, our global health programs Gift of Health and Gift of Sight helped 27,000 people in poor and underserved communities across the globe. Facilities like our Nasir hospital in Guatemala and our around-the-clock health center in Bamako, Mali provide free, high-quality care to communities that previously had no professionally-staffed healthcare available. Our communities also run mobile health centers to treat isolated communities, disaster victims and others who lack medical services.
Food Security
America is the richest country in the world, yet an estimated 1 in 8 Americans is food insecure. We can do better. Humanity FIrst has been working towards a hunger-free America, operating 9 pantries and 2 soup kitchens across the country. In 2017 alone, we served over 80,000 meals in locations from Philadelphia, PA to Portland, OR
Doing the Most Good Around the World
We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished, but there’s still a lot to do. Billions of people worldwide suffer from poverty, hunger and thirst, and lack of healthcare, education and opportunity.
With your help, we can build a more just, prosperous tomorrow for all humanity.