This book examines how American foreign policy has shaped the relationship between international private voluntary organizations and the U.S. federal government. Private voluntary organizations (PVOs)—Americares Foundation, Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, CARE, World Vision, and Catholic Relief Services, to name just a few—perform a vital function. They are the expression of human caring overseas, a compassion that was formalized during World War II and has continued to grow since. Through the dispersing of foreign aid, the U.S. government has relied on agencies to carry out humanitarian ... More

This book examines how American foreign policy has shaped the relationship between international private voluntary organizations and the U.S. federal government. Private voluntary organizations (PVOs)—Americares Foundation, Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, CARE, World Vision, and Catholic Relief Services, to name just a few—perform a vital function. They are the expression of human caring overseas, a compassion that was formalized during World War II and has continued to grow since. Through the dispersing of foreign aid, the U.S. government has relied on agencies to carry out humanitarian and development activities overseas. Using a new data set on revenue (private, federal, and international) from 1939 to 2005, this book analyzes the nature of PVO financial dependence of the federal government and how U.S. foreign policy influences federal funding mechanisms for PVOs.