Mercy Corps reached 37.6 million people with humanitarian assistance in 2024. It was founded by a man who told his wife, "We have to do something."
A Response to Genocide
Between 1977 and 1979, Dan O'Neill became increasingly horrified by the Khmer Rouge genocide in Cambodia. Telling his wife Cherry, "We have to do something," they organized a fundraiser called the "Thanksgiving Dinner for Cambodia." O'Neill cold-called First Lady Rosalynn Carter, who called him back and became a key supporter.
The organization launched in 1979 as the Save the Refugees Fund. Ellsworth Culver, a seasoned humanitarian who had served as vice president at both World Vision and Food for the Hungry, joined as the third full-time staff member. By 1981, it had been renamed Mercy Corps.
Building a Global Force
O'Neill brought the urgency. Culver brought the operational expertise. Together they built an organization focused on community-driven solutions in the world's toughest environments. Mercy Corps grew from Cambodian refugee relief into one of the world's leading humanitarian organizations, operating in conflict zones and natural disaster sites alike.
Today, over 5,400 team members work in more than 40 countries. Revenue reached $465.5 million in fiscal year 2024. The founders' instinct to act in the face of crisis continues to drive the organization forward.
Learn more on our Mercy Corps page.
