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UMCOR NGO Frequently Asked Questions

What is UMCOR?

The United Methodist Committee on Relief was established by the Methodist Church in 1940 in response to the needs arising from World War II. What began as a temporary relief unit became a permanent part of The United Methodist Church in 1972 as a unit of the General Board of Global Ministries.

Today, UMCOR supports work in more than 80 countries with a direct presence through UMCOR NGO in 11 of those countries. UMCOR’s work includes development, agriculture, food security, emergency response, immigration assistance, relief supplies and more. To learn more visit our About UMCOR page.

What is the relationship between UMCOR and UMCOR NGO?

UMCOR NGO is one of five program units of UMCOR: UMCOR NGO, Emergency Services, Hunger and Poverty, Immigration and Refugees, and Relief Supplies. Each unit works to carry out UMCOR’s mission to alleviate suffering.

When there is a need for UMCOR to establish a long-term presence in a particular area, UMCOR does that through the NGO unit. UMCOR NGO establishes overseas field offices that provide a center for establishing long-term relief and transitional development to assist entire communities in the wake of natural and civil disasters.

What is the significance of the UMCOR logo?

The UMCOR logo communicates several of the organization’s attributes: history in relief and recovery through the use of a stencil-like font; tradition and roots within the United Methodist Church through the use of the cross and flame and the colors red and black; and mission through the use of the words “United Methodist Committee On Relief.”

Does 100% of my donation really go directly to your programs?

Contributions designated by the donor to an Advance Special account number for a specific program go 100% to that designated program. UMCOR uses other funding channels to fund non-program related activities such as headquarters communication or financial or personnel management costs. One source of UMCOR’s overhead funding is the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering. This offering covers the cost of doing business for UMCOR and allows us to keep our promise to use 100% of designated funds for that program. If you would like to know more about One Great Hour of Sharing and giving to UMCOR, please visit our How to Give web page.

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How do you decide where you will work?

UMCOR determines where field offices will be established using a series of criteria, some of which are below:

• Sufficient funding is available to UMCOR through private and public donors to establish and maintain an office and programming in the country.
• There is an established need in the country for UMCOR. (e.g. UMCOR’s presence would have to fill an existing gap)
• The established need is in a program area where UMCOR has expertise.

UMCOR also works in areas where an existing United Methodist or Methodist community has invited UMCOR NGO to work with them in a particular aspect of humanitarian relief or development.

Do you do missionary work in the countries where you operate?

UMCOR does not engage in direct missionary work. UMCOR is a humanitarian, non-proselytizing agency of the United Methodist Church. While there may be United Methodist missionaries in the same country as an UMCOR field office, our programs serve humanitarian needs regardless of religion or ethnicity.

Can I get funds from UMCOR?

In general, UMCOR NGO does not provide funding other than with partner implementers in a local region. Our partner implementers must adhere to the humanitarian principle of aid regardless of ethnicity, race or religion. Another unit of UMCOR, the Emergency Services Office, grants funds for emergency response and mitigation. Other units of UMCOR provide funds through the Advance program. UMCOR gives preference to programs that involve survivors in their own recovery and that seek to address the root causes of suffering. UMCOR seeks to alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable members of society due to natural and human-made disasters.

What is your source of funding?

UMCOR NGO programs are funded through a combination of United Methodist, US and European governments, international organizations, private, and public funding. Visit our Financial page and our Partners page to learn more about how we are funded and the organizations that support our work.

How do you monitor your programs?

UMCOR NGO conducts monitoring and evaluation on a program-specific basis. During the program development stage, a program goal is determined, as are relevant objectives, for the organization to achieve. Indicators (i.e. 500 shelters will be constructed) are established and tracked throughout the program lifetime to measure the its success. Monitoring often depends on the reporting requirements of the donor (US government, UN agencies, UMCOR ESO, etc.), which can differ.

Program evaluations are carried out as often as possible, usually at the midpoint and end of a program. Two types of program evaluations are used—internal and external. Internal evaluations are performed by UMCOR staff and external evaluations use outside consultants to perform independent assessments of the UMCOR’s work, often on a more scientific level.

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