Harvest Hope Campaign

The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee started 2011 with a difficult and urgent challenge. Thank you for helping us face it.

On December 22, 2010, we were informed that, after 20 years of partnership with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), our most recent proposal for a contribution agreement that would support our community development work was turned down.  In the past, CIDA provided CRWRC with $1.1 million of crucial support each year.  CRWRC adjusted our budgets but still had an $825,000 gap that needed to be filled in order to continue vital community programs.

But the real impact of this decision by CIDA was not about money. CIDA's contributions over the last few decades have helped CRWRC lay the ground work for amazing growth in communities around the world. It has supported our expansion into new areas, our training of local leaders, and the introduction of life-changing programs to improve agriculture, literacy, health, and family income.  We brought our needs to you and asked you to help us "harvest hope" by raising the needed $825,000 by June 30, 2011.

We are pleased to report that we have met our goal.  As of June 30, 2011 the Harvest Hope campaign has raised $829,209.  Thank you!

CRWRC remains confident in our on-going and future relationship with CIDA.  The original denial from CIDA did not impact the matching funds that CRWRC receives from CIDA for disaster relief and food aid programming through our membership in the Canadian Food Grains Bank (CFGB).  In the past year CRWRC received $6,333,348 in matching funds from CIDA which - combined with CRWRC’s $1,548,174 equity and contributions from CFGB and other CFGB members - enabled us to access $10.5 million for disaster programming.  

The denial was also not an indication that CIDA had lost faith in CRWRC’s community development programs.  In fact, CRWRC was asked to apply for and did receive $215,000 in transition funding from CIDA to help see us through this fiscal year.  

Now, as CRWRC awaits word from CIDA regarding the three additional proposals we’ve submitted in 2011, we are also making changes to our budgets to provide greater flexibility for any eventuality.  This will ensure that priority programs continue in spite of any future gaps in funding from CIDA.

As we make these adjustments and plan for a different relationship with CIDA, our commitment to help people overcome poverty and injustice does not change. Instead, it is stronger than ever.  Harvest Hope supporters have played a critical role in keeping our promise to do this strong and true.  Thank you.

Any additional gifts to CRWRC’s Harvest Hope campaign will be used to continue our ministry.  Each of our new CIDA proposals requires CRWRC to raise 25% of the funds, which CIDA will match with the additional 75%.  Harvest Hope donations will help CRWRC towards that 25%.

Join the harvest today!   US | Canada

Or mail your check, marked "Harvest Hope", to: 

CRWRC-US
2850 Kalamazoo Ave SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49560
Ph: 1-800-55-CRWRC

CRWRC-Canada
3475 Mainway
P.O. Box 5070 STN LCD
Burlington, ON L7R 1Y8
Ph:  1-800-730-3490