NATICK, Massachusetts — In August 2026, the United States announced nearly $2 billion in partnerships with faith-based and community organizations for global health and humanitarian assistance. Three of the organizations are Samaritan’s Purse, World Vision and Compassion International, according to NPR. This effort is part of U.S. faith-based humanitarian aid.
NPR reported mixed reactions to the announcement.
“I prefer to see the money get spent than not spent, and I do think World Vision will create some good,” Dean Karlan, former chief economist at USAID, said on a Morning Edition episode.
Distributing Funds
The Trump administration announced its partnerships would support 2,500 faith-based hospitals in 17 countries, according to the Morning Edition episode. The money will also provide emergency assistance for humanitarian crises and disaster response. There are no reports of people living in poverty who benefited from the funding. However, the funds included that more than 30,000 community health workers would be paid, trained and equipped with supplies to respond to health crises, according to the U.S. embassy.
About $1.4 billion is for faith-based global health services, according to the announcement. Through a Faith and Community Initiative award, up to $850 million, subject to the availability of funds, is planned over five years for World Vision and a consortium of local faith-based implementers. Another $570 million is intended for community hospitals and clinics through country-government arrangements.
The State Department said the faith-based and community organizations would ensure at least 80% of resources go toward frontline health services. The services reach patients and clients while streamlining overhead and management costs, which is a significant increase from 35% to 40% of resources provided by the State Department.
The State Department also announced a $538 million award series for Samaritan’s Purse and a consortium jointly led by World Vision and Compassion International. The series is expected to reach 7 million people across 16 humanitarian crises. More than $100 million is to be made immediately available for natural-disaster preparedness.
Partnering With World Vision
World Vision views itself as an international partner with Jesus Christ, providing aid to people in need. Working alongside children and families, the organization prepares them for lasting change in their communities. One of their priorities is quick response to people impacted by life-threatening emergencies.
From 2015 to 2022, the organization has provided humanitarian aid to 70 million people in poverty. One service World Vision supports is disaster relief. When an emergency hits, the Rapid Response Team partners with the United Nations to arrive at the scene within 24 to 72 hours. Their team has responded to 104 disasters in 70 countries.
By 2030, World Vision hopes to equip 300 million people with tools to lift themselves out of extreme poverty. The new U.S. funding is intended to support World Vision and other faith-based partners, but its effect on World Vision’s 2030 goal has not yet been measured.
Partnering With Samaritan’s Purse
Through Christian beliefs, Samaritan’s Purse provides international relief to people affected by crises, according to its website. Since 1970, the group has helped people impacted by war, poverty, natural disasters and disease.
The funding will help Samaritan’s Purse’s various projects, such as constructing houses, schools and hospitals for families and communities affected by disaster, poverty and war, according to the organization’s fact sheet. The organization undertook 13 projects in response to the aftermath of Israel. Three of the projects are community centers, two emergency medical service stations and an equine therapy center.
Partnering With Compassion International
Compassion International focuses on child poverty, partnering with local churches to protect children. By 2025, the organization helped more than 2.4 million children find protection and receive aid from community centers across 29 countries, according to its website. Compassion International collaborated with World Vision to bring together more faith-based organizations to help people in poverty.
Moving Forward
The August 2026 announcement directs planned U.S. global health and humanitarian assistance through faith-based and community partners. The funding is intended to strengthen health services and humanitarian response, while its eventual impact will depend on how the multiyear awards are implemented.
– Casey Chan-Smutko
Casey is based in Natick, MA, United States and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Flickr