I wrote a long review of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints about 10 years ago. A decade later, I can only say that they keep on serving. Absolutely amazing involvement.
Please read my prior review, and consider donating to them - I still do. https://philanthropies.churchofjesuschrist.org/humanitarian-services/
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I worked for over15 years in South Asia and East Asia with various government agencies and NGOs and I have always been impressed by the LDS Church's charitable relief efforts. When disaster strikes, they are among first ones in - and they come with appropriate aid.
For example, we watched as container after container of LDS aid arrived in Indonesia after the big 2004 tsunami, and again after a big earthquake in a different part of the country the next year. We were in China following the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan and again the LDS were busily bringing in supplies. I can't remember a typhoon in the Philippines in the last 10 years where I haven't run into LDS relief efforts.
I was discussing the LDS with some of my classmates who work in the US and they tell me they regularly see hundreds of LDS volunteers (sometimes called Mormons) in yellow vests working in the aftermath of disasters in the US like hurricanes Sandy and Katrina.
One of the things that impresses me most about the LDS church's relief efforts is their attitude. They don't try to limit their aid to their own adherents, they are willing to help where help is needed, regardless of religion. It doesn't even matter to them whether they get "credit" for their efforts - only that the aid gets to those in need.
For example, in Pakistan after the 2005 Kashmir earthquake there were problems with local officials who were very opposed to their people finding out that relief supplies were coming from Christians (to the point that the officials were blocking shipments to starving people), so the LDS simply had their supplies repacked to remove any mention of the church so they could get through. One LDS leader told me "It's only important that the hungry are fed and the homeless are sheltered, not that we get our names in the papers". I heard a similar story from a colleague that the LDS have been quietly shipping food to North Koreans on the same "no name" basis - politics don't matter, only hungry children matter.
I saw criticism of the LDS church several years ago for a "lack of transparency" (echoed in some other reviews on this site) and I did some research of my own.
Apparently the LDS church doesn't file the same financial disclosure documents with the US IRS that big US charities do (like Red Cross), but I learned that most US churches aren't required to file them and therefore don't file either. I also learned that the LDS church has a modern internal audit department and that one of the major public accounting firms (currently Deloitte) audits the church and its internal processes and auditors.
I looked into the governing board overseeing LDS charities and it is quite impressive (and a bit eclectic, which I like), including a Stanford business school professor, several university presidents, a state supreme court judge, and even the former chief pilot of Lufthansa, All serve as unpaid volunteers.
LDS charities distribute 100% of funds donated for relief. An LDS church leader told me that their charitable relief funds are separated from the church's other funds (like their tithing program) by a one-way gate. The church can use other funds to support relief efforts (like paying for all the overhead of the relief program), but no relief funds can be used for anything other than relief aid.
Given what I have seen and experienced personally and what I have learned about them, I would be very comfortable recommending The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as a worthy charity.
Pertaining to the laws governing tax exemption, this corporation is in gross violation. I can only assume they retain status due to State and Federal corruption; Masonic exchange of signs and tokens and strategically placed membership. I want my tens of thousands in donations returned on grounds of fraud and theft by false promise. Is their charity commensurate with the harmful nature of their particular flavour of brainwash? Demand transparency from corporate entities requesting donation. Blind faith behoves no one.
Amazingly helpful. Saw me digging to the footer around my house and offered to come back and help without hesitation. They not only came back but there were 4 of them! I have never in my life seen people so willing to help. They not only helped that day but came back to help more. Seriously felt like someone was watching over for me.
Great boots on the ground organization .. I have volunteered for 30+ years in local and national disasters. Well organized and able to help with thousands of volunteers at a time with only days notice. I have seen first hand their assistance for Thousands of needy individuals.
Review from Guidestar
This is not a true nonprofit in my opinion. There is no way to verify your funds are being treated with the respect they deserve. Transparency is absolutely necessary when deciding how your money will be best utilized to help others. Look elsewhere.
They focus too much time and resources on political matters that they disagree with instead of seperating church and state . Avoid taxes with their status but they have crossed the line multiple times over the years that should affect their non profit status just like it would with anyone else
I received help with food and housing when we had financial struggles. I know lots of other people who did too. I also know that there is a huge outreach every time a natural disaster hits. You don't have to believe in the religious teachings to see that this church and all the generous members are doing good in the world.
Review from Guidestar
After volunteering for over 30 years, I'm bothered that this organization chooses to spend their millions (if not billions) of dollars on building malls and acquiring real estate instead of helping people. I understand that they are very giving to humanitarian aid projects, but it's not enough. Jesus would NOT spend money on extravagant churches & temples but would certainly chose to "go about my fathers work" by helping people more. I would rather give & volunteer to other organizations.
Donating to the Humanitarian Aid arm of the LDS Church is one of the very few charities in the world where absoluely 100% of your donation goes to helping the actual people in need.
I have donated time, money, and charity rendering service to this establishment for years and will continue to do so for the rest of my life in great joy and gladness as this organization's resources benefit all mankind around the world.
If one were to volunteer behind the scenes and witness just how far reaching the charity and service this establishment offers to the community as well as across the nation and all mankind on the earth, one would never question the leaders decisions as to where the money is rendered useful as it is not wasted. Careful, prayerful consideration and planning down to the last detail is had before the money is rendered useful in our community, the entire nation, or the world, to best serve those in need for optimal benefit. Financial planning and investing is wise and prudent because that is using resources to grow money expotentially, and in turn given in service or charity work as there are options.
The goal of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints is to serve our friends, neighbors, and all mankind everywhere exceptionally, rendering fellowship, upliftment, and love; to serve God and the Savior of the world; Jesus Christ.
All who become involved volunteering, donating time, money, talents and resources to sacrifice or render service to this organization will find fulfillment, pupose and meaning, and much joy in their offering, as there is no other establishment like this one in the entire world. You will feel closer to God and Jesus Christ than you ever have before.
Those on the outside of this organization looking in can't possibly comprehend the potential joy and fulfillment to be had waiting for them on the inside. All are welcome to come inside from the cares of the world to find happiness, safety, and serenity unified in a spirit of joyful contentment, love and gratitude for services given and recieved.
I have donated time and money to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for decades. I noticed some comments on the site from individuals offering disapproval and making claims that sound as if the nonprofit money was used to build a mall. I just wanted to clarify that there are business arms to the church that are separate from nonprofit. If there was moneys used by the Church to build a mall, then it was not pulled from the nonprofit arm of the church. Nonprofit money goes to the aid of the individuals or groups who are in need and many unpaid hours go in to that so that moneys donated are actually put 100% toward whichever cause it goes to. I understand that there are frustrations experienced by those who have been disillusioned by the church for various reasons and so they use there review as an opportunity to vent. I believe that the church bears no malice toward these individuals but rather it is my experience that all people are viewed as of equal value in the eyes of God. I will continue to donate my time and money because the LDS church not only donates the money, time, resources, but also does so with tremendous love and heart. This is truly an organization that wants to bless the world.
I donate to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints because I know that the money donated will be used wisely to benefit people all over the world. They do and help more people than we will ever comprehend. It is an example of how we should live by serving, helping and caring for each other.
Look I have been out of work and the church has been helping me by paying some of my bills and providing food for us. I also get to help out by serving in the Bishop Store House, which this helps me feel good. I am helping back not just taking. I have also seen many other people have been benefited by it. Just go to the Humanitarian Center. The Church has been there in many other places....they don't just help members they help other people. They have provided medical services where none has been...they helped out Germany with wheat after WWII or I....many pounds of wheat was sent on train carts. They also have Family Services to help out with counseling (these are licensed counselors) .
When my husband lost his job and we were struggling financially for several months the LDS church offered to help us by sending us to a place called the bishop's storehouse to receive food. When we arrived I was surprised to find dozens of families like ourselves filling their shopping carts with food and necessities. I have since learned that the LDS church offers this all across the world and they do so through their members donations and investments in cattle ranches and such. We receive meats, dairy, and canned goods during the time my husband was un-employed. Everytime we visited the store house it was full of people receiving help. I'm thankful for the help we received in a time of stress and need. Thank you to all who make this charity possible.
Interesting set of reviews. Either ex-members rate the Church with one star (anonymously) or Church members and other active donors rate it highly.
I spent 18 months as a senior missionary and was intimately involved in administering Church funds. I am thrilled to say that the donations go to the needed recipients and every effort is made that donations are both sustainable and that there is no graft or corruption. I gladly donate to the Church.
Spent more than 25 years as a voluntary member of this organization. After I left (voluntarily), I was shunned by members of this organization. I was told that I was not good enough for them and many of them cut off contact with me due to the teachings of this organization.
This organization also took thousands of dollars from me with the promise of my life getting better, but like many organizations who claim this, it didn't happen. It is also a very homophobic and misogynist organization which routinely gets involved with politics (gay marriage) and I believe that it's tax-exempt status should be revoked because of that.
I think it's so wonderful that the LDS Church is usually the first organization to arrive at the scene of a disaster, sometimes even before the Red Cross gets there. We learn to "serve one another" from the scriptures and so volunteering is serving. Members can either volunteer and help at disasters or can help by donating to the Humanitarian aid on an Offerings slip at church. I haven't been able to volunteer at a disaster, but have helped by donating. The church helps people throughout the world, not just the U.S.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or "LDS" or "Mormon" for short, is run completely by non-paid clergy, including those at the highest point of leadership (They are compensated for travel and other church related expenses if they are unable to pay with their own funds). ALL the non-paid clergy to the highest level continue paying tithing voluntarily as well. The biggest expenses of the Church are building chapels and temples world-wide including upkeep and maintenance, and maintaining missions throughout the world. Members when paying tithing, which money is used for these and related eccesiastical matters, also have options to donate additional moneys for disasters, humanitarian aid, education scholarships for less developed countries, etc., and contrary to the norm, all the money goes to help since church volunteers are paid nothing to do so. It is due to lack of understanding that some write negatively about the money controlled by the church, since they do not know the facts - that help given to disasters, etc. is directly donated by members voluntarily for that express purpose, and is distributed by the church free of overhead. I prefer donating this way since I know that every penny I give will go to help those in need.
It is reassuring that the church gives out 100% of its humanitarian aid contributions, which is very uncommon in so many charities today. The church often stays for extended periods helping in areas that have had natural disasters, long after other relief agencies have left the scene. The Church specializes in small items that are often overlooked by larger agencies such as hygiene kits. The LDS Church also has an extensive welfare system which is separate from its humanitarian aid program. This program is primarily for the relief of its members and is administered on a local level. Members of the church fast each month and donate the money they would have used on meals to assist the poor. This program should not be confused with humanitarian aid. To learn more about the LDS Church's humanitarian aid program visit www.mormon.org/humanitarian-aid
I've been a donor, volunteer, adviser, and dispenser of both human resources and finances for the LDS Church. I think it deserves high marks, particularly since almost everyone is an untrained volunteer. Collections are done in person, online, or through the mail, and receipts are kept by the donor, local group, and headquarters. Every year the donor confirms their receipts with the organizations to make sure nobody tried to skim anything, and in all my years I've never encountered a problem. The primary donations are tithing, which is taught as a biblical principle and duty, and those funds cover all the operations of the Church, it's facilities, staff, equipment, etc. Other funds, such as the humanitarian relief fund, are 100% load-free-- all the donated money goes directly toward the recipients, because administrative burden is paid for already by tithing. Because of it's size and spread, the LDS Church has people on the ground all over the place, and the local administration of relief funds increases their effectiveness IMO. I have been on both the giving and receiving end, and the human face makes the help more meaningful. The LDS Church also excels at gathering volunteers, has a well-developed transport and distribution network, and even owns farms and food-processing facilities, so each dollar tends to have far more than a typical dollar's impact at another aid organization. Internal audits are conducted by Deloitte, a top accounting firm, and double checked by an independent in-house team. Totals aren't released, which keeps the focus on the goal rather than the money, and local administrators have access to their precincts' funds and records, and it's all very orderly. Overall, it's tough to beat a no-admin-load charity with well-developed networks and reputable history. The religion's adherents' tithing donations provide facilities and staff and keeps the ball rolling, so anyone else's donation goes straight to the particular cause. My favorite funds are the education-loan fund and the disaster relief fund. They are LDS specialties. I expect that LDS philanthropies will continue to improve in coming years, and it's been a joy to be a part of.
The Church receives 10% of its members' gross income as tithes as well as other donations. It has various tax-exempt benefits and has large land holdings and property investments in various locations around the globe, it is involved in the running of numerous media and commercial enterprises. It uses donor contributions as it wishes to expand its operations without providing any form of financial accountability statement. Its contributions to humanitarian assistance are absolutely miniscule in relation to its income, mostly in the form of getting its membership to donate their time. So where does all the money go? I will not be contributing another cent.
100% goes to humanitarian, The church picks up the overhead of running the humanitarian efferts. I don't think there is another oraganization that can say that.
Review from Guidestar
This organization supposedly has the worth of billions of dollars yet there is no financial disclosure. I have contributed to this organization in the past but will refrain from doing so due to its secretive financial stance.
The Church has provided for the needs of many worldwide. I have helped in both church sponsored and church supported efforts for decades.
I have been volunterring with the LDS church for 35 years in emergency response to national and international disasters, in addition to working in local food bank prgram sponsored by their store houses. Tremendous help in hundreds of millions of dollars, worldwide as well as in kind goods! Over 23,000 congregations worldwide with 13 million members stand ready to assist. DC