International Orthodox Christian Charities

What International Orthodox Christian Charities does

International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) is a US-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) humanitarian aid and development organization founded in 1992 in Baltimore, Maryland. It operates as the official humanitarian agency of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America and delivers programs across five sectors: Emergency Preparedness and Response, Water/Sanitation/Hygiene (WASH), Sustainable Livelihoods, Food Security and Agriculture, and Health. Since founding, IOCC has deployed more than $887 million in relief and development programs across more than 60 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas, reaching nearly 1 million people in 2025 alone. The organization maintains its international headquarters in Baltimore and 10 field offices.

IOCC's go-to-market model is community-led and partner-mediated: the organization works at the invitation of the Orthodox Church in each country it serves, partnering with established local entities such as Ethiopian EOC-DICAC, Greek Apostoli, Romanian Federation Filantropia, Georgian Lazarus, and the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch. Distribution to beneficiaries is executed through direct field operations, while donations are sourced from private individuals, Orthodox parishes, institutional grants (including UN agencies and US government foreign assistance), corporate gifts-in-kind, planned/legacy giving, and the IOCC Foundation. IOCC reports that 90% of expended resources go directly to programs, with less than 10% to administration and fundraising, and that every dollar donated leverages $5 in additional support.

The organization does not operate proprietary technology platforms; its technical capacity resides in program design and field implementation. Additional offerings include US-based volunteer programs (Home Build Teams, Emergency Action Teams, Orthodox Frontliners, Orthodox Homefront), digital psychosocial tools (Care Calls, Care Compass), and an emergency kit assembly program. IOCC holds Charity Navigator and Guidestar/Candid Platinum Seals of Transparency, is a member of ACT Alliance, InterAction, and VOAD, and is audited annually by RSM.

Name

International Orthodox Christian Charities

Legal name

International Orthodox Christian Charities, Inc.

Website

https://iocc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) is a 501(c)(3) founded in 1992 that delivers emergency relief and development programs across five humanitarian sectors in 60+ countries, working through Orthodox Church partnerships and serving refugees, disaster survivors, and underprivileged communities worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs (HLAJAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Emergency Shelter, Camp Coordination & Camp Management (CCCM) (BPADADAB), Refugee Camp Coordination & Management (CCCM) (BPADAHAC)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• Emergency relief programs
• Disaster response programs
• Water sanitation hygiene
• Food security programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Private Individual Donations: IOCC receives donations from private individuals, parishes, and Church-affiliated groups. Every dollar given helps secure $5 in support from various sources.
2. Institutional Grants: IOCC receives grants from foundations and institutional donors such as UN agencies. Registered with USAID and eligible to receive US government foreign assistance funds.
3. Gifts In Kind: IOCC accepts and distributes bulk shipments of products including shoes, books, medicines, and medical supplies from corporate and organizational donors.
4. IOCC Foundation: The IOCC Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) founded in 2004, supports humanitarian work through innovative philanthropic programs and strategic initiatives.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

IOCC is a humanitarian aid and development organization that delivers relief assistance and sustainable development programs across five sectors—Emergency Preparedness & Response, Water/Sanitation/Hygiene (WASH), Sustainable Livelihoods, Food Security & Agriculture, and Health—in more than 60 countries. In the United States, IOCC runs volunteer-based recovery programs (Home Build Teams, Emergency Action Teams, Orthodox Frontliners, Orthodox Homefront) and provides digital psychosocial care tools (Care Calls, Care Compass) for people in crisis.

Product overview

IOCC is a humanitarian aid and development organization, not a software product company. Its offerings consist of five core humanitarian sectors (Emergency Preparedness & Response, Water/Sanitation/Hygiene, Sustainable Livelihoods, Food Security & Agriculture, and Health) delivered through field programs in 60+ countries. In the United States, IOCC offers volunteer programs including Home Build Teams, Emergency Action Teams, Orthodox Frontliners, and Orthodox Homefront parishes. The organization also provides digital care tools (Care Calls, Care Compass) and accepts donated emergency supply kits. All programs operate through partnerships with Orthodox churches, UN agencies, and local organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Preparedness & Response Addresses the immediate needs of communities affected by natural disasters, human-caused calamities, and conflict, while building resilience to mitigate effects of future humanitarian emergencies for vulnerable populations worldwide.
• Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Improves access to clean, safe water and minimizes public health threats in vulnerable communities, including water infrastructure, sanitation facilities, and hygiene education to improve WASH conditions worldwide.
• Sustainable Livelihoods Offers education, training, and resources that assist people in developing skills leading to meaningful careers and create long-term change in their communities, supporting economic opportunities for vulnerable populations.
• Food Security & Agriculture Provides rural families with training, equipment, and mentorship to improve their nutrition, raise their standard of living, and grow agricultural productivity and income.
• Health Protects the well-being of communities through prevention, intervention, and education services, while connecting people in difficult situations with the care they need, including medical supplies distribution.
• US Home Build Teams Coordinates volunteer teams to rebuild homes following natural disasters in the United States for disaster-affected households and families.
• Emergency Action Teams Helps homeowners clear debris and muck out homes after flooding or other damage in preparation for rebuilding in the United States.
• Orthodox Frontliners Trained Orthodox clergy and laity who provide emotional and spiritual care to disaster survivors in the United States following major events.
• Orthodox Homefront Network of Orthodox parishes trained to respond to disasters, serving as distribution centers or shelters in times of need across the United States.
• IOCC Care Calls Program providing emotional support and connection to people in crisis situations through outreach calls and care services.
• IOCC Care Compass Digital tools for emotional and spiritual care that users can access in various situations to navigate toward resilience.
• Emergency Kit Program Program accepting assembled kits (hygiene kits, school kits, clean-up buckets) from supporters for shipment to people in need worldwide.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90 percent of resources go to direct program services
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Danish Refugee Council (DRC)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2023To get help quickly to displaced people in Turkey following the 2023 earthquakes, IOCC partnered with DRC, an established international humanitarian organization active in Turkey since 2013. Rapid response grants supported e-vouchers for food and basic needs.
• St. Nektarios Education Fund (SNEF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023For more than 15 years, IOCC and SNEF have partnered in Uganda, providing educational assistance and opportunity through Orthodox Church-run schools.
• Apostoli (Archdiocese of Athens, Church of Greece)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Since 2012, IOCC has worked closely with Apostoli, the philanthropic organization of the Archdiocese of Athens, responding to Greece's financial crisis with over $60 million in monetary and in-kind support.
• Uganda Orthodox Church (UOC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009IOCC has worked in Uganda since 2009, partnering with the Uganda Orthodox Church. The partnership focuses on long-term development, especially education, investing in rural communities.
• Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch (GOPA-DERD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002IOCC has been implementing programs in Syria since 2002, working closely with GOPA-DERD (Department of Ecumenical Relations and Development). This partnership enables delivery of emergency relief, water infrastructure, medical supplies, shelter, and livelihood programs.
• Ethiopian Orthodox Church Development and Inter-Church Aid Commission (EOC-DICAC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001IOCC began working in Ethiopia in 2001, partnering closely with EOC-DICAC to access and mobilize communities throughout the country for humanitarian and development assistance.
• Lebanese Organizations and Orthodox ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001Since 2001, IOCC has responded to humanitarian needs in Lebanon across sectors from nutrition and education to water networks, strengthening Lebanese communities and assisting Syrian refugees.
• Federation Filantropia (Romanian Orthodox Church)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000IOCC has worked in Romania since 2000, collaborating with the Romanian Orthodox Church and Federation Filantropia. Romania has been central to IOCC's Ukraine response since 2022.
• Lazarus (Patriarchate of Georgia)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994IOCC's humanitarian presence in Georgia dates from 1994, working in cooperation with Lazarus, the humanitarian arm of the Patriarchate of Georgia. Projects assist those displaced by conflict and promote sustainable development.
• Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1992IOCC is the official humanitarian aid and development agency of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops. The Board of Directors is comprised of elected Orthodox Christian clergy and laity who work with the blessings of the Assembly. This relationship provides IOCC with access to Orthodox Church networks worldwide.
• ACT AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIOCC is a member of ACT Alliance, a global coalition of churches and church-related organizations engaged in humanitarian and development work across 140+ countries.
• InterActioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIOCC is a member of InterAction, a coalition of US-based nongovernmental organizations that provide humanitarian assistance programs overseas.
• Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIOCC participates in VOAD, a national network of faith-based and community-based emergency response organizations.
• RSM (formerly McGladrey)minorOthersIOCC maintains external independent audits annually of the entire organization, including field offices, by RSM.
• University of MarylandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIOCC collaborated with University of Maryland to support training for students, agricultural teachers, and farmers in modern agriculture best practices in Uganda.
• ACT Alliance MembersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIOCC works in cooperation with ACT Alliance members, including Finn Church Aid in Haiti, for coordinated international relief efforts.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Catholic Relief Services: The official US Catholic international humanitarian agency, operating in 100+ countries with a multi-sector program model and faith-based distribution network. Closely comparable to IOCC as a faith-based humanitarian NGO leveraging institutional church partnerships for beneficiary access.
• World Vision US: Large Christian humanitarian organization operating child sponsorship, emergency relief, and development programs in nearly 100 countries. Directly comparable in faith-based identity, multi-sector program portfolio, and donor-funded revenue model.
• Church World Service: Faith-based humanitarian agency founded by Protestant and Orthodox denominations, focused on refugee resettlement, emergency response, and sustainable development. Directly comparable in faith-affiliated humanitarian model and ACT Alliance network membership.
• Samaritan's Purse: Evangelical Christian humanitarian organization providing emergency relief, medical care, and disaster recovery worldwide. Comparable in faith-based identity, donor-funded model, and rapid disaster response capabilities.
• Islamic Relief USA: Faith-based humanitarian organization serving vulnerable communities globally through emergency relief, WASH, and sustainable development programs. Comparable in faith-based identity, multi-sector portfolio, and US-headquartered international operations.
• American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee: Jewish humanitarian organization providing relief, rescue, and development in 70+ countries. Comparable in faith-affiliated identity, multi-decade institutional history, and global multi-sector humanitarian program model.
• Lutheran World Relief: Faith-based humanitarian organization focused on sustainable development, disaster response, and advocacy in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Comparable as a smaller-scale denominational NGO in the same faith-based humanitarian category.

Broad incumbents

• Mercy Corps: Large secular humanitarian organization operating in 40+ countries with emergency response, food security, and economic development programs. Comparable in multi-sector portfolio and global emergency response focus, but operates at significantly larger scale and without faith-affiliated identity.
• International Rescue Committee: Major humanitarian organization providing emergency relief, refugee assistance, and post-conflict development in crisis-affected countries. Highly comparable in refugee assistance focus and conflict-zone operations, but operates at substantially larger scale.
• Habitat for Humanity International: Faith-based nonprofit focused on housing and disaster recovery in the US and internationally, with a strong volunteer program model. Comparable in faith-based identity, US-based volunteer engagement, and disaster response in Orthodox-affiliated regions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IOCCRelief
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChevcXuzBOFhIAfzJpfQf5w
• Facebookfacebook.com/IOCCRelief
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iocc
• Instagraminstagram.com/ioccrelief

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Orthodox Christian Charities