Mercy Corps, a Portland-based organization, has been working to fight poverty since 1979. The organization that began as a small group of individuals, led by founder Dan O’Neil, originally raised funds to help Cambodian refugees. It is now ranked as one of the most fiscally responsible aid organizations by Charity Organizer.

Mercy Corps deserves praise for two main reasons. First, just like any other organization, the result matter. Mercy Corps works to find the most efficient and innovative strategies to help struggling communities around the world. Recent projects have included disaster relief efforts in Japan and Haiti after the countries’ devastating earthquakes, working with nine separate microfinance organizations around the world, and focusing on important issues such as food security, economic opportunity and health.

The second reason that Mercy Corps has become so well respected is the organization’s no-holds-barred approach to transparency. Many donors are skeptical about where their money is going when they give. Such skepticism isn’t unreasonable, especially after reading reports of money that are stolen or have gone missing during major aid drives. What is so impressive about the approach that Mercy Corps takes? All of their information is easily found on their website for anybody to review. They reveal their IRS forms, annual financial reports, and future plans right on their website. Mercy Corps is just one more great organization that is working hard in the fight against world poverty.

– Kevin Sullivan

Source: Mercy Corps