Lutheran World Relief

What Lutheran World Relief does

Lutheran World Relief (LWR) is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) international aid and development organization founded in 1945 by American Lutherans to assist those displaced by World War II. Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, with 51-100 employees, LWR has grown into a global organization operating programs in more than 40 countries across East Africa, West Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, the Middle East, and the United States. Since 2019, LWR has operated as a subsidiary within the Corus International family alongside IMA World Health, CGA Technologies, Ground Up Investing, and Farmers Market Brands.

LWR's core programmatic offerings are organized into three practice areas: Rural Economies and Agricultural Livelihoods (coffee, cocoa, and smallholder farmer support), Environment (sustainable farming and climate resilience), and Humanitarian Assistance (disaster response and recovery). Its product portfolio consists of volunteer-assembled humanitarian aid products — LWR Mission Quilts and Kits of Care (Baby Care Kits, Personal Care Kits, School Kits, Fabric Kits) — distributed to people affected by poverty and disaster, alongside social enterprise products including LWR Farmers Market Coffee, which is sourced directly from farmer cooperatives and sold to consumers and congregations. Over its 80+ year history, LWR has facilitated the distribution of 28 million quilts and 29 million kits to 136 countries.

LWR's revenue model rests on three pillars: (1) individual donations via one-time gifts, a tiered monthly giving program (Faithful Neighbor at $29, $50, $100, and $250 per month), emergency appeals, legacy/bequest giving, and gift catalog purchases; (2) institutional grants and cooperative agreements from bilateral and multilateral funders (U.S. Department of State, USDA, FCDO, Global Affairs Canada, European Union), foundations (Gates Foundation, Starbucks Foundation), and corporate partners; and (3) product sales through LWR Farmers Market Coffee. The Quilt and Kit program operates on approximately $3.3 million in annual overhead to deliver roughly $20 million of in-kind aid, demonstrating a highly efficient volunteer-driven distribution model.

Name

Lutheran World Relief

Legal name

Lutheran World Relief

Website

https://lwr.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Lutheran World Relief is a 501(c)(3) international aid organization founded in 1945 that supports smallholder farmers, disaster-affected communities, and U.S. Lutheran congregations across more than 40 countries through agricultural livelihoods programs, humanitarian assistance, and a volunteer-powered Quilts and Kits distribution model, operating as a subsidiary of Corus International.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Humanitarian Aid and Development

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Religious Organizations (8131), Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Humanitarian Aid & Relief Ministries (BPAGAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH), Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs (HLAJAKAE), Faith-Based & Mission Service Programs (EDAIAGAI)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• International development programs
• Agricultural livelihoods support
• Disaster relief assistance
• Nonprofit donation 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, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters, including monthly giving program (Faithful Neighbor) with tiers at $29, $50, $100, and $250 per month. Also includes emergency appeal donations, legacy gifts, and donor-advised fund contributions.
2. Institutional Grants and Funding: Funding from government agencies (US Department of State, USDA, Global Affairs Canada), foundations (Gates Foundation, Starbucks Foundation, Margaret something), and multilateral organizations (European Union). The organization has over 55 years of experience managing awards from bilateral and multilateral organizations.
3. Product Sales - Coffee: Sales of LWR Farmers Market Coffee directly to consumers and congregations. Coffee is sourced directly from farmers participating in LWR projects, with farmers receiving a strong up-front price plus profit sharing. Available in 12oz bags for home use or bulk for congregations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lutheran World Relief is a nonprofit humanitarian aid and international development organization that channels donor contributions and institutional grants into three program areas: (1) Rural Economies and Agricultural Livelihoods supporting smallholder farmers; (2) Environment and climate-resilience programming; and (3) Humanitarian Assistance for disaster- and conflict-affected populations. Its sellable offerings include handcrafted LWR Mission Quilts, Kits of Care (Baby Care, Personal Care, School, Fabric Kits), LWR Farmers Market Coffee, and the Gifts of Love charitable gift catalog.

Product overview

Lutheran World Relief is a humanitarian aid and international development organization (501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 13-2574963) founded in 1945. The organization operates a portfolio of charitable products and programs rather than a technology platform. Core offerings include LWR Mission Quilts and Kits of Care (Baby Care Kits, Personal Care Kits, School Kits, Fabric Kits) assembled by volunteers, distributed globally to those in need. Social enterprise products include LWR Farmers Market Coffee sold through Farmers Market Brands LLC in partnership with THRIVE Farmers Coffee. The Gifts of Love Catalog enables donors to purchase specific charitable items. Programs focus on Rural Economies and Agricultural Livelihoods, Environment and climate resilience, and Humanitarian Assistance in disaster response.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LWR Farmers Market Coffee: Coffee sourced directly from farmers participating in Lutheran World Relief projects, offered in medium roast, dark roast, and decaf varieties
• LWR Mission Quilts
• LWR Kits of Care
• Faithful Neighbors
• Gifts of Love Catalog

Products and services

• LWR Mission Quilts Handcrafted quilts assembled by U.S. Lutheran congregation volunteers since 1945 and distributed globally to provide warmth, bedding, and comfort to people affected by poverty, disaster, and conflict. Over 28 million quilts have been distributed to 136 countries.
• Baby Care Kits Assembled kits containing basic baby care supplies that help newborns get a healthy start, distributed to families in crisis or poverty situations.
• Personal Care Kits Self-care and hygiene kits providing essential grooming supplies and germ-fighting tools to individuals displaced by disaster or living in poverty.
• School Kits Educational supply kits equipping children with essential learning materials so they can continue their education during crises and displacement.
• Fabric Kits Craft supply kits providing materials and skills training that lead to marketable vocations, helping individuals generate income and achieve self-sufficiency.
• LWR Farmers Market Coffee Direct-trade coffee sourced from farmers in LWR projects, available in balanced medium roast, classic dark roast, and smooth decaf varieties. Farmers receive up-front pricing and share in profit margins as partners rather than only as suppliers; available in 12oz bags or bulk, including subscription options.
• Gifts of Love Catalog Online catalog offering charitable gift items — such as livestock, farming supplies, and emergency supplies — that donors can purchase to fund specific needs in LWR program areas.

Quantifiable outcome

• 28 million quilts and 29 million kits distributed to 136 countries over 80+ years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, flagship and core.

• Cari-Med Group LimitedsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 May 2026Partnership announced in May 2026 to address post-hurricane health care needs in Jamaica, deploying mobile clinics to hard-hit communities following Hurricane Melissa.
• Starbucks FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver a decade-long partnership (since 2015) supporting coffee communities across Colombia and Indonesia. Partnership focuses on uplifting women, supporting families, and strengthening coffee-growing communities.
• Corus InternationalflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization since 2019. LWR joined the Corus International family, an ensemble of global leaders united in ending poverty, suffering and injustice. Includes IMA World Health, CGA Technologies, Ground Up Investing, and Farmers Market Brands.
• IMA World HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister organization and global public health leader within the Corus International family. Often functions as a partner on integrated programming.
• CGA TechnologiessupportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnology for development company within the Corus International family that provides technical solutions for development programs.
• THRIVE Farmers CoffeecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoffee roaster partner producing LWR Farmers Market Coffee, sharing passion for helping farmers lift themselves out of poverty and become self-sufficient.
• ACT AlliancesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal coalition of churches and church-related organizations engaged in humanitarian and development work.
• TechnoServesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization that works with enterprising people in the developing world to create competitive farms, businesses, and industries.
• ThriventsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerThrivent Action Teams allow supporters to fundraise, volunteer, or hold educational events for LWR. Thrivent provides seed money and kits for approved team activities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Heifer International: A nonprofit focused on ending hunger and poverty through sustainable agriculture and livestock distribution to smallholder farmers, closely overlapping LWR's rural economies mission and Gifts-of-Love catalog approach.
• International Rescue Committee: A leading humanitarian organization responding to the world's worst crises, with deep presence in many of the same fragile states (Syria, Yemen, DRC) where LWR operates.
• Catholic Relief Services: The U.S. Catholic Church's international humanitarian agency, operating in 100+ countries with agricultural livelihoods, emergency response, and faith-based donor engagement directly comparable to LWR's model.
• Mercy Corps: A global humanitarian and development NGO with overlapping geographic footprint (DRC, Sudan, Latin America) and similar agricultural livelihoods plus emergency response programming, though secular in identity.
• Islamic Relief USA: A faith-based humanitarian organization with parallel donor engagement model (zakat-inspired giving), agricultural programs, and emergency response comparable to LWR's faith-rooted approach.
• World Relief: An evangelical Christian humanitarian organization focused on refugee resettlement, disaster response, and economic development — overlapping LWR on faith-based identity and humanitarian programming.
• American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee: A faith-based humanitarian organization with donor-supported international development programs targeting vulnerable Jewish and non-Jewish communities — comparable faith-rooted international aid model.
• Church World Service: A multi-denominational faith-based humanitarian organization delivering emergency relief and sustainable development, with a comparable congregational engagement and material aid distribution model.

Broad incumbents

• World Vision U.S. A much larger evangelical humanitarian organization operating globally with sponsorship, emergency response, and long-term development — significantly broader scale but overlapping programmatic focus.

Emerging players

• TechnoServe: An explicitly named LWR partner, TechnoServe works with enterprising farmers in the developing world on competitive farms, businesses, and industries — directly comparable on the coffee and cocoa value-chain work LWR does in Latin America and Africa.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/LutheranWorldRelief
• Facebookfacebook.com/luthworldrelief
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lutheran-world-relief
• Instagraminstagram.com/luthworldrelief
• Xx.com/luthworldrelief

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lutheran World Relief