The Deed team sat down with the IRC to talk about their important mission, and how companies can help drive more impact.
At Deed, we are inspired by organizations that leverage our platform to create lasting change. We had the opportunity to interview Savannah Paolillo, Manager of Employee Engagement and Workplace Giving at the International Rescue Committee, to learn more about their mission and how they are partnering with the Deed platform to reach new audiences and amplify their impact.
The International Rescue Committee focuses on helping those who are affected by conflict and disaster. Their work focuses on not only immediate disaster relief, but long-term support so communities have the resources they need to “survive, recover and gain control of their future.” The International Rescue Committee has been providing resources to more than 40 countries, helping millions of people every year.
In this interview, Deed was able to dive into how the International Rescue Committee has expanded and evolved since they were founded in 1933. Paolillo gave us an inside look at how corporate social responsibility (CSR) leaders and employees can learn about the IRC’s important work, and help them take their impact further on Deed. (This interview has been edited for clarity.)
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) was created in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein to help people fleeing violence and persecution in Europe find safety in the United States. He and a small group of humanitarians formed what would become the International Rescue Committee.
The IRC delivers lasting impact by providing health care, helping children learn, and empowering individuals and communities to become self-reliant, always with a focus on the unique needs of women and girls. Our work spans more than 40 crisis-affected countries, and we provide resettlement, asylum, and integration services in communities across the United States and Europe. The IRC continues to deploy bold action and transformative solutions to respond to the worst crises around the world.
We are committed to innovation, reaching the toughest places, and delivering a lasting impact for those we serve. As we challenge ourselves and the humanitarian sector to never settle for the status quo—to find new and better solutions to help people survive, recover and rebuild their lives—we focus on three areas:
1. Helping people in all crisis contexts.
We provide solutions to help people whether caught in the midst of conflict or disaster, displaced, or being resettled into new homes.
2. Innovating & scaling solutions based on rigorous research.
We do more impact evaluations than any other organization in our sector. We share our research and tools so that others in our sector can develop better solutions, too.
3. Helping to break the cycle of crisis in crisis-prone areas.
We deliver impactful solutions that address immediate needs and help build individual and community resilience. We bring learnings from emergency work into long-term development and vice versa.
The IRC now works in over 40 countries and in cities across the United States and Europe and our work has expanded to include five areas of focus: health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and economic empowerment. The IRC continues to have a lasting impact on the lives of people affected by conflict and disaster. With a record 120 million people displaced worldwide, the need for humanitarian aid has never been more urgent. Each year, the IRC reaches millions of people impacted by crises. In 2023, The IRC and its partners reached over 34.5 million people in crisis-affected countries, 227,779 children supported through IRC safe spaces and other protection programs, 1,589,208 children and youth enrolled in learning programs and 721,357 people treated for malnutrition.
1. Economic Empowerment.
During and after crises, people can face heartbreaking, short-term decisions to survive—such as pulling children out of school to work. The IRC sets people up for a bright future.
2. Health.
We help ensure those who are experiencing or recovering from conflict and disaster can reduce their risk of falling ill and receive treatment when they do get sick.
3. Education and Skills. Approximately 224 million school-aged children and adolescents are crisis-affected, of these, around 72 million are out of school. Many others receive a poor-quality education. The IRC creates learning opportunities for the next generation of doers.
Deed helps the IRC manage and coordinate volunteer efforts efficiently. We love being able to create community-driven projects and fundraising initiatives that align with the IRC's mission of empowering communities affected by crises. Lastly, the reporting features for donations have always been helpful and easy to navigate.
At this time of critical need, we seek support from like-minded individuals and organizations to partner with us to address today’s complex refugee crisis. Giving through your workplace demonstrates company values and your commitment to humanitarian relief and development. Corporate matching gifts programs incentivize giving and increase your impact. Your support can help the IRC reach and serve families in crisis worldwide. When an emergency strikes—whether war, political instability or natural disaster—the IRC immediately gets to work helping families survive, recover and rebuild their lives.
Here are ways you can support the people served by the IRC right now:
1. Stay Informed.
Get the latest news, photos and videos spotlighting the world's worst humanitarian crises and the International Rescue Committee's work helping people devastated by conflict and disaster.
2. Matching Gifts.
Double the impact of your gift by requesting a matching gift from your employer on Deed.
3. Amplify.
Demonstrate your commitment to standing in solidarity with refugees and other displaced communities by amplifying the IRC's voice on social media. Follow us and engage with our content on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, and LinkedIn.
4. Advocate.
Join the thousands of IRC supporters who have called their U.S. representatives, written letters, shared our campaigns, or otherwise mobilized to advocate for change in their communities.
5. Volunteer.
Volunteers play a critical role in helping refugees and immigrants thrive in the United States. In addition to opportunities coordinated through your employer, explore the current opportunities for associates on Deed.
You can learn more about the causes supported by the IRC by visiting their website here.
Deed’s conversation with the International Rescue Committee was a powerful reminder of the incredible work being done to support those around the globe, but also a reminder of the continued support needed. By partnering with Deed, the International Rescue Committee has been able to fundraise and receive donations from the Deed community as well as volunteers.
If you are inspired by the International Rescue Committee’s work, there are many ways to get involved. We urge you to visit the Deed profile for the International Rescue Committee to volunteer, donate or help spread the word about their efforts. To learn more about how your company can support the IRC and over 2 million vetted nonprofits all over the world, book a demo today.