UNITED STATES ASSOCIATION FOR UNHCR
UNITED STATES ASSOCIATION FOR UNHCR
EIN: 52-1662800
Programs and results
Reports and documents
Download annual reports Download other documentsWhat we aim to solve
Refugees are people whose lives have been torn apart when violence arrives on their doorstep or when they are persecuted for their religious or political beliefs. More than 50% of all refugees are children. \r\n\r\nRefugees are driven from their homes and communities by factors outside their control. It happens so fast. Quite literally, refugees are people running for their lives.\r\n\r\nVoiceless and without an advocate, most often grabbing only the things they can carry, refugees are the world\u0027s most vulnerable people.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Emergency Relief and Response
USA for UNHCR supports operations on the frontlines of conflict, working with refugees and others displaced people, often in remote and dangerous parts of the world.
In an emergency, UNHCR sends relief supplies and deploys its highly trained staff anywhere in the world, at any given time. Often, UNHCR is managing multiple emergencies at the same time.
Because of the commitment of dedicated USA for UNHCR donors, the UN Refugee Agency is able to deploy within 72 hours of a large-scale emergency, and jumpstart relief and protection assistance.
UNHCR staff is trained to work under intense pressure and in incredibly challenging conditions. Together with our partners, we ensure refugees have what they need to survive – shelter, medical care, food, water, and special protection and care for vulnerable children and women, including prevention and response to sexual violence.
UNHCR works closely with partner organizations—supporting their vital work to supply clean water and nutritious food, set up sanitation programs and ensure refugees have access to emergency and basic health care services.
Cash Assistance Programs
One of the most effective and sustainable ways to help vulnerable refugee families is with regular monthly cash assistance. Traditionally, aid to refugees has been delivered primarily through in-kind support, but today 85% of the world’s displaced people live in cities, not in camps. In 2012, UNHCR launched the pilot cash assistance program, Lifeline, that responded to the unique needs of Syrian refugees living in urban sections of Jordan. Lifeline was a resounding success – and with support from USA for UNHCR donors, more than 137,000 refugees living in Jordan were receiving cash assistance by 2015.
Building on the success of Lifeline, UNHCR expanded cash assistance programs to refugees in the Middle East region – now, more than 150,000 Syrian refugees living in Lebanon are also receiving monthly cash assistance.
Beyond the Middle East, cash assistance programs have expanded to help refugees in Kenya, Yemen, Somalia and Mexico.
Cash assistance programs are secure, efficient and preserve refugees’ dignity by offering them choice.
Cash assistance is a secure. Refugees are thoroughly screened before they are approved to receive cash assistance. In person interviews are conducted to establish eligibility and once approved, cash assistance is delivered through the use of iris scans at ATMs linked to UNHCR’s biometric registration system. Existing banking technology combined with the biometric registration achieves a secure method for delivery that is virtually fraud proof.
Cash assistance is efficient. Distribution costs are a modest 3% and cash is delivered through local ATMs.
Cash assistance preserves dignity. With cash assistance, refugee families have choice and they infuse new money into their host communities. Cash assistance allows refugees to pay rent and ensure the health of their children. No longer do refugees have to choose to pay rent and forgo food, medicine or education for their children. In fact, 91% of families use the cash assistance on rent.
Cash assistance is an effective, efficient and sustainable way to address refugee families’ long-term needs.
Where we work
Awards
Data and Analytics Growth 2019
ANA Genius Awards
External reviews

Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Annual revenue
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of Total Gifts
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
USA for UNHCR aims to protect and empower refugees and provide solutions that create hope, restore dignity and help rebuild lives.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Doubling Our Resources to Triple Our Impact \u2014 We are committed to funding transformational initiatives for millions of refugee families \u2014 leading a movement in the United States on behalf of refugees. USA for UNHCR raises awareness, educates and engages citizens, media and other thought leaders on the many roles Americans can play to improve the lives of refugees at home and overseas. \r\n\r\nExpanding Volunteer Leadership to Drive Innovation \u2014 We are accelerating volunteer\r\nengagement at the highest levels. For example, USA for UNHCR was the partner of choice for top-tier initiatives such as the 2016 Partnership for Refugees, an initiative established to support a Call to Action from the White House for the private sector to make new, measurable and significant commitments with a durable impact on the well-being of refugees. This new wave of private sector leadership delivers the capacity, ingenuity and innovation needed to produce breakthrough solutions for this global issue\u2014from targeted councils to convening entrepreneurs, innovators and design experts. \r\n\r\nBecoming a \u0027Digital First\u0027 Organization and Developing Awareness Raising and Advocacy Tools \u2014 We are dedicated to raising awareness and impact in order to accelerate the pace of change around engagement, policy and technology based-solutions for refugees. Using micro-targeting and other innovative strategies, the Hive, a special projects unit of USA for UNHCR, has identified a community of more than 14 million Americans, untapped influencers from all walks of life who are primed to lend their voices to the global refugee crisis. These new voices can help USA for UNHCR change perceptions of the refugee cause at the community and national level.\r\n\r\nCreating a Voice for Refugees \u2014 We advocate and campaign for better services, practices, policies and enhanced community understanding around the refugee crisis by increasing our brand recognition, strengthening our profile as a thought leader on refugee issues and engaging with influencers, partners and grassroots networks to help tell the refugee story. We work to make the U.S. a more welcoming place by educating Americans about the refugee crisis, leading a movement to build awareness, acceptance and support for refugees and amplifying the experiences of refugees worldwide.\r\n\r\nScaling Up Support for UNHCR Programs and Funding Transformational Initiatives \u2014 Innovation is a core value for USA for UNHCR. We are committed to engaging the best minds and most dynamic entrepreneurs to help develop creative, scalable, life-changing solutions to the challenges facing refugees. At the same time, we want to shine a light on important issues facing refugees.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
USA for UNHCR\u0027s staff of 45 includes employees with decades of experience in fundraising, humanitarian and refugee issues, partnerships, digital marketing, communications and service delivery. Each department at USA for UNHCR has a unique set of capabilities that contributes to our success in reaching our goals. \r\n\r\n--Communications. Our team of media experts seeks to increase awareness around the refugee crisis by boosting our brand recognition, strengthening our profile as a thought leader on refugee issues and engaging with media and influencers to help tell the refugee story. Through storytelling, we educate and engage Americans to build acceptance and support for refugees worldwide.\r\n\r\n--Community Engagement. Our team develops and strengthens relationships and strategies that propel action among individuals and organizations in the U.S. through the following strategies: community advocate networks, engagement programs and strategic partnerships. We work to ensure that community interest in helping refugees is best utilized whether it be raising awareness or funds. Continuously building a network of community organizers, we actively recruit and nurture relationships with Americans that become advocates for USA for UNHCR in communities and on campuses. \r\n\r\n--Digital. We are a digital-first organization and incorporate digital activities into all aspects of our work, including fundraising, display advertising, search engine and content marketing, email marketing and lead generation. We aim to make USA for UNHCR the most natural and accessible choice for Americans hoping to support refugees around the world.\r\n\r\n--Individual Giving. Our staff focuses on developing and implementing fundraising strategies to attract and retain donors as well as generate new support for the global refugee cause. These include emails, television advertisements, country or issue specific appeals and newsletters, in-person meetings, and teleconferences and opportunities to attend missions to see UNHCR\u0027s work in action. \r\n\r\n--Partnerships. We develop strategic relationships with U.S. corporations and foundations to create multi-faceted, long-term and mutually beneficial partnerships that generate to assist in raising awareness and publicity for the refugee issue. These partners are committed to raising awareness, providing assistance on the ground, utilizing their own expertise and exploring innovative solutions to create better lives for refugees.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
From 2013 to 2017, USA for UNHCR\u0027s financial support to UNHCR more than tripled. \n\nIn 2017, USA for UNHCR donors helped the UN Refugee Agency protect and assist millions of people forced to flee their homes\u2014responding with lifesaving support, safeguarding basic rights and helping people build better futures. From sheltering families displaced inside Syria to helping people forced to flee violence in Myanmar, UNHCR worked in 128 countries around the world to protect and care for millions of people.\n\nUSA for UNHCR continues to expand programming to increase awareness, acceptance and support for refugees in the United States.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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Who are the people you serve with your mission?
Refugees, Internally Displaced People, Stateless and Resettled Refugees in the United States.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection
Financials
Financial documents
Download audited financialsRevenue vs. expenses: breakdown
Liquidity in 2021 info
0.34
Months of cash in 2021 info
2.1
Fringe rate in 2021 info
22%
Funding sources info
Assets & liabilities info
UNITED STATES ASSOCIATION FOR UNHCR
Revenue & expensesFiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31
SOURCE: IRS Form 990
UNITED STATES ASSOCIATION FOR UNHCR
Balance sheetFiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31
SOURCE: IRS Form 990
The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot survive long, but the types of assets and liabilities must also be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan, and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.
Fiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31
SOURCE: IRS Form 990
This snapshot of UNITED STATES ASSOCIATION FOR UNHCR’s financial trends applies Nonprofit Finance Fund® analysis to data hosted by GuideStar. While it highlights the data that matter most, remember that context is key – numbers only tell part of any story.
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Business model indicators
Profitability info | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unrestricted surplus (deficit) before depreciation | -$1,384,619 | $29,808 | $1,513,062 | $2,954,010 | -$6,570,789 |
As % of expenses | -2.4% | 0.0% | 2.7% | 3.1% | -4.7% |
Unrestricted surplus (deficit) after depreciation | -$1,408,100 | -$17,748 | $1,410,325 | $2,863,923 | -$6,757,816 |
As % of expenses | -2.4% | 0.0% | 2.5% | 3.0% | -4.9% |
Revenue composition info | |||||
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Total revenue (unrestricted & restricted) | $57,235,856 | $63,321,729 | $55,315,718 | $96,855,671 | $134,327,754 |
Total revenue, % change over prior year | 12.1% | 10.6% | -12.6% | 75.1% | 38.7% |
Program services revenue | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Membership dues | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Investment income | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Government grants | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.8% |
All other grants and contributions | 99.9% | 99.9% | 99.6% | 100.0% | 99.2% |
Other revenue | 0.0% | -0.1% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Expense composition info | |||||
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Total expenses before depreciation | $57,518,343 | $62,685,647 | $57,094,814 | $94,634,312 | $139,110,363 |
Total expenses, % change over prior year | 26.0% | 9.0% | -8.9% | 65.7% | 47.0% |
Personnel | 8.9% | 9.5% | 12.5% | 8.5% | 6.3% |
Professional fees | 3.4% | 4.3% | 1.3% | 4.3% | 9.6% |
Occupancy | 0.9% | 1.2% | 1.4% | 0.9% | 0.6% |
Interest | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Pass-through | 58.3% | 60.2% | 57.1% | 70.0% | 75.0% |
All other expenses | 28.4% | 24.8% | 27.7% | 16.4% | 8.6% |
Full cost components (estimated) info | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
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Total expenses (after depreciation) | $57,541,824 | $62,733,203 | $57,197,551 | $94,724,399 | $139,297,390 |
One month of savings | $4,793,195 | $5,223,804 | $4,757,901 | $7,886,193 | $11,592,530 |
Debt principal payment | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,082,100 |
Fixed asset additions | $50,253 | $232,800 | $0 | $0 | $896,000 |
Total full costs (estimated) | $62,385,272 | $68,189,807 | $61,955,452 | $102,610,592 | $152,868,020 |
Capital structure indicators
Liquidity info | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Months of cash | 4.2 | 3.3 | 3.6 | 2.0 | 2.1 |
Months of cash and investments | 4.2 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 2.0 | 2.1 |
Months of estimated liquid unrestricted net assets | 2.2 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 1.9 | 0.6 |
Balance sheet composition info | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
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Cash | $19,968,211 | $17,496,209 | $17,178,929 | $15,985,363 | $23,995,651 |
Investments | $19,361 | $24,752 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Receivables | $5,137,561 | $6,823,416 | $3,847,052 | $4,107,478 | $5,300,957 |
Gross land, buildings, equipment (LBE) | $259,794 | $413,984 | $325,274 | $325,273 | $1,221,273 |
Accumulated depreciation (as a % of LBE) | 75.7% | 40.0% | 52.9% | 80.6% | 36.8% |
Liabilities (as a % of assets) | 38.7% | 46.8% | 46.9% | 44.2% | 85.4% |
Unrestricted net assets | $10,563,360 | $10,545,612 | $11,955,937 | $14,819,860 | $8,062,044 |
Temporarily restricted net assets | $5,501,437 | $6,108,412 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Permanently restricted net assets | $0 | $0 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Total restricted net assets | $5,501,437 | $6,108,412 | $2,816,254 | $2,083,603 | $3,871,783 |
Total net assets | $16,064,797 | $16,654,024 | $14,772,191 | $16,903,463 | $11,933,827 |
Key data checks
Key data checks info | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Material data errors | No | No | No | No | No |
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Documents
Principal Officer
Ms. Suzanne Ehlers
Prior to joining USA for UNHCR, Suzanne Ehlers served as CEO of Malala Fund, where she worked closely with co-founders Malala and Ziauddin Yousafzai to create a world where all girls can attain an education. Before joining Malala Fund, Ehlers was President and CEO of PAI, a global advocacy leader in protecting and promoting the reproductive health and rights of women and girls. Ehlers has held numerous board and advisory positions and, early in her career, served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the C.A.R. She holds a bachelor's degree in Government from Cornell University.
Number of employees
Source: IRS Form 990
UNITED STATES ASSOCIATION FOR UNHCR
Officers, directors, trustees, and key employeesSOURCE: IRS Form 990
Compensation data
UNITED STATES ASSOCIATION FOR UNHCR
Highest paid employeesSOURCE: IRS Form 990
Compensation data
UNITED STATES ASSOCIATION FOR UNHCR
Board of directorsas of 03/17/2023
Board of directors data
Mr. Mark Wallace
William Ball
Caterpillar Inc
Mark Wallace
UPS
Kelly Blevins
Georgetown University
Biar Atem
Las Vegas Sands Corporation
Yasmin Causer
Aishah Hasnie
Fox News Media
Rachael Jarosh
Mark Lopes
Partnership for Central America
Matthew Marolda
Jane Meseck
Eric Sprunk
Virginia Tenpenny
Starbucks
Elizabeth Turner
SV Angel
Liberty Vittert
Harvard University, Washington University
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
No data
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 03/31/2021GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Contractors
Fiscal year endingProfessional fundraisers
Fiscal year endingSOURCE: IRS Form 990 Schedule G