Building a Better World for 33 Years with Life for Relief and Development (LIFE) USA

What Sustains Us?

For 33 years, millions of people have refused to accept suffering as inevitable and chosen to act instead. Those people are our donors and team. They gave time, resources, and trust because they believed in helping others. That is what true philanthropy looks like: people seeing suffering clearly, recognizing their capacity to help, and choosing to act.

The same principles that guide individual acts of compassion are what have shaped Life for Relief and Development (LIFE) USA as an organization. Over three decades, five principles — Belief, Identity, Truth, Passion, and Action — have allowed LIFE to grow from a small response effort into a global humanitarian organization, widely recognized and beloved by many. 

Belief comes first. Before funding, logistics, or scale, there must be a conviction that positive change is possible. In 1992, LIFE began in response to the suffering of underserved communities affected by the Iraq War. The initial belief in making a positive change became a mission: to save lives, restore dignity, and build hope worldwide. What started with a small team packing aid by hand became the foundation for decades of sustained humanitarian action.

Every program LIFE runs exists because someone believed it should, and that together we can make a difference. Belief does not guarantee success; without it, though, nothing begins.

“Belief in a better world is choosing to invest in people you may never meet, but whose lives still matter.” - Michael, LIFE Donor

Philanthropists, big and small, carry an identity that says: “I’m the kind of person who helps” and “I live by my values.” That’s what connects LIFE’s donors, staff, volunteers, board, and partners. They choose to act because caring is part of who they are.

LIFE’s identity mirrors that same spirit. LIFE has always been rooted in proximity: choosing to arrive early, stay as long as needed, and respond where suffering is greatest. That identity is what placed LIFE on the ground in Mosul in 2016, responding to one of the most devastating humanitarian crises of the decade. It’s what led LIFE to take action during Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria in 2017, and to respond again in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Beirut Blast.

“Helping others isn’t something we do on the side. It’s who we are.” - LIFE Team Member

Truth can be uncomfortable at times; nonetheless, it's essential. Humanitarian work requires looking directly at reality, at hunger, displacement, illness, and loss, without softening it or turning away. It also requires honesty about what works, what doesn’t, and what communities actually need.

Over the past 33 years, LIFE has learned that sustainable impact depends on listening as much as it does on delivering. Programs succeed when they are grounded in real conditions, informed by local communities, and accountable to the people they serve. Truth keeps our programs relevant and effective. 

“They didn’t arrive with answers. They arrived ready to listen.” - Community Partner

Passion drives teams and sustains work. It provides steady determination to continue responding even when crises repeat, headlines fade, or solutions take years to take hold.

Our passion for humanitarian work has carried LIFE through large-scale responses to earthquakes in Turkey and Syria in 2023, through years of ongoing displacement in Gaza, and through long-term recovery efforts that rarely make headlines. We are passionate about helping people.

“Even when the world stopped paying attention, they kept showing up.”- Fatima, mother from Syria

For LIFE, action means responding quickly to emergencies while also investing in systems that last, such as food distributions paired with nutrition programs, water wells paired with maintenance and training, and education paired with long-term support.

Our commitment to action in the past has looked like delivering critical COVID-19 relief during a global shutdown, restoring sight through LIFE eye clinics in Bangladesh, and building water wells that serve entire communities across West Africa and Somalia.

“They showed up and stayed until we were okay.” - Yasin, father from Pakistan

“Before the rice, I was always hungry and couldn’t focus in class. Now I feel strong and excited to learn.”

- Salma, 7, Somalia | MannaPack Food Distribution

“Despite everything, she reached the top ranks in her class. This support gives her a future.”

- Bushra, 8th Grade, Syria | Orphan & Education Support

“This well brought clean water and hope for my education and my future.”

- Hawa, Teen Student, The Gambia | Clean Water Program

“This didn’t just improve my vision; it gave me my life back.”

- Semon Bahar, 77, Bangladesh | LIFE Eye Clinic

Today, LIFE is a giant global humanitarian organization operating across more than 60 countries through 14 international offices. Together with donors, partners, and staff, LIFE has delivered more than $666.2 million in humanitarian aid, supporting food security, clean water, shelter, healthcare, education, orphan care, refugee assistance, and emergency relief for millions of people affected by war, disaster, and extreme poverty.

In 2025, LIFE received a 100% rating from Charity Navigator after 17 years of review and excellent standing. LIFE also earned a USAID endorsement and was honored with international humanitarian awards for collaborative impact. LIFE also ranked fifth worldwide for humanitarian work in Palestine and in the global fight against poverty.

Over the last few years, in Gaza, LIFE has assisted more than 1.3 million displaced people, delivering food, water, medical care, shelter, and education during one of the largest humanitarian responses in the organization’s history.

More than 13,000 orphaned children are currently supported worldwide through LIFE. Millions of meals are delivered during seasonal and emergency responses. New water systems serve entire communities. Mobile medical care and mass medical shipments have restored independence and dignity.

Thank you to everyone who supported us on our journey. We are incredibly grateful for your belief, trust, passion, and action. We look forward to another 33 years and beyond of serving humanity together, making this world a better place for us all.