Canadian Lutheran World Relief is a 4-star rated charity with Good demonstrated impact. The charity has best practices in financial transparency and a below average results reporting grade.

Founded in 1946, Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) is a Lutheran international aid charity that aims to eliminate poverty and hunger. CLWR has four main programs: Humanitarian Response, Food Security and Livelihoods, Education and Skills, and Refugee Resettlement. The charity does not disclose how much it spent on each program.

Canadian Lutheran World Relief is one of the 15 partner charities that make up Canadian Foodgrains Bank. In F2021, the charity received $1.1m from Canadian Foodgrains Bank to run its international aid programs.

Through the charity’s Humanitarian Response program, CLWR provides emergency support to communities affected by natural disasters and conflict. The charity prioritizes support for women and girls. In F2021, the charity created 92 permanent spaces for women in Palestine. Additionally, the charity constructed or repaired 150 latrines in Uganda in F2021.

Food Security and Livelihoods is the charity’s partner program with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Canadian Lutheran World Relief works with small-scale farmers to improve their food production and increase their incomes through agricultural training. The charity reports that in F2021, it helped 1,300 families in Ethiopia access food and income from their farms.

Through CLWR’s Education and Skills program, the charity provides education and skill training for people who face barriers in accessing education and work. In F2021, the charity reports that it helped 112 Palestinian women with disabilities receive accessible technical or vocational training. Additionally, Canadian Lutheran World Relief supported and trained 1,625 people in Uganda so that they could start businesses.

Canadian Lutheran World Relief also operates a Refugee Resettlement program in collaboration with the Government of Canada. CLWR works with churches in Canada to help families with refugee resettlement. In F2021, the charity helped 51 refugees arrive to Canada from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, and Syria.

Canadian Lutheran World Relief received $5.9m in donations in F2021. The charity also received $4.8m in government funding (44% of revenues) during the year. Administrative costs are 2% of revenues (excluding investment income), and fundraising costs are 16% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 17%. For every dollar donated to the charity, 83 cents go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

CLWR has $6.1m in funding reserves. Its funding reserves can cover just under nine months of annual program costs.

Charity Intelligence has sent this update to Canadian Lutheran World Relief for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming

Updated on July 25, 2022 by Ann Lei.