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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: September 2026 Expires: September 2028

Adventist Development and Relief Agency International

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
1 6 7 14 16
(800) 424-2372
12501 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD, 20904
https://adra.org/
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Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

Adventist Development and Relief Agency International does not meet the following 5 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 1 (Oversight of Operations and Staff)
Organizations shall have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity's operations and its staff. Indication of adequate oversight includes, but is not limited to, regularly scheduled appraisals of the CEO's performance, evidence of disbursement controls such as board approval of the budget, fund raising practices, establishment of a conflict of interest policy, and establishment of accounting procedures sufficient to safeguard charity finances.

ADRA International does not:

  • Review the performance of the chief executive officer at least once Every 2 Years.
  • Have a voting member of the board who is assigned the responsibility of serving as the treasurer.
  • Have written agreements with fundraising firms.
  • Inform its board of the financial terms of fundriasing agreements.

Standard 6 (Board Policy on Effectiveness)
Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

ADRA International does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors does not have a written policy stating that, at least Every 2 Years, an appraisal be done assessing the organization’s performance and effectiveness and determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

Standard 7 (Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness)
Submit to the organization's governing body, for its approval, a written report that outlines the results of the aforementioned performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions.

ADRA International does not meet this Standard because:

  • The organization has not completed an effectiveness assessment in the last two years.

Standard 14 (Budget)
Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration.

ADRA International does not meet this Standard because, when the organization provided 2026 budget information, it indicated that the budget:

  • Included total projected program service expenses, however, did not break these expenses down by major program category (humanitarian programs and social enterprises).

Standard 16 (Annual Report)
Have an annual report available to all, on request, that includes: (a) the organization's mission statement, (b) a summary of the past year's program service accomplishments, (c) a roster of the officers and members of the board of directors, (d) financial information that includes (i) total income in the past fiscal year, (ii) expenses in the same program, fund raising and administrative categories as in the financial statements, and (iii) ending net assets.

ADRA International does not meet this Standard because the 2024 annual report did not include:

  • 2024 financial information.

Adventist Development and Relief Agency International meets the remaining 15 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to serve humanity so all may live as God intended."

Year, State Incorporated:
1956, DC

Adventist Development and Relief Agency International (ADRA) International reports that it is the international humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church that delivers relief and development assistance to individuals in more than 120 countries. The organization reports that it has 6 grants and cooperative agreements in over 5 countries. The awards are comprised mainly of food security and health projects. Food security grants address the cause of food insecurity to vulnerable groups in targeted countries, addressing availability, access and utilization of food. Health projects use a holistic approach and focus on improving access to quality healthcare in vulnerable communities by supporting health systems, promoting preventive care and responding to urgent medical needs. The organization is also engaged in development and relief projects, disaster assistance funding and grant match, supporting projects in over 73 countries, including emergency management of disaster relief and long-term recovery. Economic development projects are aimed to improve the quality of life for recipients. Food security projects include famine relief and short-term from displacement, Other ADRA International grants include 11 non-governmental grants in 10 countries, comprising mainly of food and food security, health and wash, infrastructure, and education projects. Food projects supply meals for those in need of a warm meal. Food security projects address the lack of food or the causes of food security to vulnerable groups in targeted countries, addressing availability, access and utilization of food.

For the year ended December 31, 2025, Adventist Development and Relief Agency International's program expenses were:

Humanitarian programs $57,803,808
Social enterprises $323,684
Total Program Expenses $58,127,492

Chief Executive
Paulo Lopes, President

Compensation*
$181,319

Chair of the Board
Audrey Andersson

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
General Vice President, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Board Size
46

Paid Staff Size
72

*2024 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Note 1: In 2024, the highest paid employee was Jose Guevara who revieved compensation of $282,850.

Note 2: Paulo Lopes became President on April 1, 2025. Compensation for her/his role as President is not available at this time. In 2024, the previous President, Michael Kruger, received $181,319 in compensation.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Telephone appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Grant proposals, Internet, Door-to-door appeals, Planned giving arrangements, Cause-related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.), Membership appeals

Fundraising costs were 6% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $744,466,833, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on Adventist Development and Relief Agency International's audited financial statements - consolidated for the year ended December 31, 2025.

Source of Funds
U.S. government support $39,853,707
Contributions $20,302,616
Grants- other $6,087,872
Realized and unrealized gain on investment $5,265,812
In-kind contributions $4,282,594
Seventh-day Adventist Church $3,940,044
Investment, net $1,107,434
Other revenue $817,740
Freight and handling fees reimbursement $14,776
Total Income $83,187,823

Programs: 70% Fundraising: 6% Administrative: 24%

Total Income $83,187,823
Total expenses: $82,675,188
  Program expenses $58,127,492
  Fundraising expenses $4,686,688
  Administrative expenses $19,637,689
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $512,635
Beginning Net Assets $70,165,120
Other Changes In Net Assets $5,265,812
Ending Net Assets $71,165,120
Total Liabilities $11,207,326
Total Assets $82,372,446

Note 1: For the year ended December 31, 2025, ADRA International reported in-kind donations totaling $4,282,594 including food ($2,508,654), Division International Service employees ($1,429,134), and facilities ($344,806).

Note 2: In the above finanical section, "other changes in net assets" represents currency translation adjustment (3,759).

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

RELATED CONTENT

Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance