Christian Service
Christian Nonprofits
Christian nonprofits are organizations that carry out charitable work, relief, education, healthcare, and community care, motivated by Christian faith. Some are enormous and global; most are small and local. If you are in need, many exist to help you at no cost. If you want to give, they offer a way to turn faith into action.
If you need help first
Find help near you now
Many Christian nonprofits exist precisely to help people in need, at no cost. To find help fast in your area, start here.
- Dial 211 or visit 211.org. Run by United Way, 211 connects you to local food, housing, rent, utility, and other assistance. It is free and available across most of the United States, day and night.
- findhelp.org. A free search for local aid by ZIP code, food, housing, money, clothing, health, and more.
See more free ways to find help near you, gathered in one place.
What Christian nonprofits are
A Christian nonprofit is a tax-exempt organization whose mission is shaped by Christian faith and which reinvests its resources into its work rather than distributing profit. They range from global relief agencies to a single church’s food pantry. In the United States most are recognized under section 501(c)(3), which means gifts are usually tax-deductible.
A few well-known examples, described factually:
- World Vision. A global Christian humanitarian organization, founded in 1950, working in relief, development, and child sponsorship in nearly 100 countries.
- Compassion International. A Christian child-development organization, founded in 1952, known for one-to-one child sponsorship.
- Samaritan's Purse. An evangelical Christian relief organization known for disaster response and its Operation Christmas Child shoebox program.
- Catholic Charities USA. One of the largest social-service networks in the United States, providing food, housing, and family services through local agencies.
- World Relief. The humanitarian arm of the National Association of Evangelicals, working in disaster response, refugee resettlement, and development.
These organizations are named for information only. Details are accurate to the best of our knowledge, but they may change; please confirm on each group’s own website. Being listed here is not an endorsement, and none of these organizations are affiliated with The Living Bread.
How to give wisely
Before giving, it is wise to check an organization’s mission, financials, and accountability. Independent evaluators such as Charity Navigator, GuideStar, and the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) publish this information. Give where your heart is drawn, but give with your eyes open.
You do not need to start big. The nearest need is often the best place to begin.
Find a way to serve in the Living Bread app, where local needs and volunteer openings are posted by real people and verified ministries. You can also find a church near you and ask how to join its outreach, or explore the directory of churches to see who is already serving in your area.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a Christian nonprofit?
- A Christian nonprofit is a tax-exempt organization whose charitable mission, relief, education, healthcare, or community care, is shaped by Christian faith. In the United States most are 501(c)(3) organizations, so donations are usually tax-deductible.
- What are some well-known Christian nonprofits?
- Examples include World Vision, Compassion International, Samaritan's Purse, Catholic Charities USA, and World Relief. Each is described factually here; inclusion is not an endorsement.
- How do I know a Christian charity is trustworthy?
- Check its mission and financials through independent evaluators such as Charity Navigator, GuideStar, or the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), and read the organization's own reports before giving.
Why Christians serve
Underneath every soup kitchen, shelter, and relief truck is a Person. Jesus said that whatever we do for the hungry, the sick, the stranger, and the prisoner, we do for him. Service is not how Christians earn God’s love; it is how they answer it. If you want to know the One who first loved us, you are welcome to come and see, in your own time and with no pressure.
Come and seeWhy Jesus?Freely ye have received, freely give.