American Friends Service Committee
(AFSC)
The
AFSC’s mission statement begins: “The
American Friends Service Committee is a Quaker organization that promotes
lasting peace with justice, as a practical expression of faith in action.” It was founded in 1917. It states that history has shown that
non-violent means for change work better than violent revolution. Its annual report describes programs in (sub-Saharah) Africa, Asia (China, North Korea, Indonesia,
Cambodia, and Burma), Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East
(Palestine and Gaza), and the United States.
(Human rights activities in China, North Korea, and Burma are dangerous
and show pacifist heroism.) Activities
in the United States include: peace as a national priority (a traditional
Quaker emphasis); less homelessness and more good jobs; solidarity with
immigrants; and ending abuses in prisons.
Its
financial statement shows revenue of $33,830,000, of which 93% or $31,483,000
was public support. (The rest was
investment incomeprogram service income, and
government grants.) Its expenses were
$32,607,000, of which $26,004,000 or 80% was for program services ($9,998,000
for international programs and $16,006,000 for US programs), $3,629,000 or 11%
for fund-raising, and $2,974,000 or 9% for management and general.
The
AFSC has a 501(c)(3) status and is eligible for
contributions from the General Endowment and the Special Endowment. The Fund has in the past “permanently
nominated” the AFSC, most recently in March 2005. The Fund has contributed $1,141 from the
General Endowment and $5,275 from the Special Endowment in the past. Recent contributions have been mainly from
the Special Endowment.
The
AFSC is eligible for contributions under various provisions of the charter,
including 6C1, which authorizes contributions “to projects for the promotion of
cooperation between potentially hostile groups, especially between diverse
national, racial, religious, sexual, or industrial groups”. I recommend that the AFSC be categorized as “eligible
and permanently nominated” (that is, nominated for five years) from the General
Endowment and the Special Endowment.
Respectfully
submitted,
Robert
McClenon
15 June 2014