Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse has declined to accept a $300 million grant from the State Department. The organization was invited earlier this month to enter a partnership with the Trump administration to support global health foreign assistance.
“This historic announcement is the largest allocation of global health foreign assistance to faith-based organizations in over 20 years,” the State Department said in a media note at the time. “It underscores the Trump Administration’s commitment to partnering with organizations that demonstrate faith in action and have proven their ability to deliver health and humanitarian assistance in the world’s most difficult environments.”
From a $1.4 billion award, $850 million will be distributed over five years to support more than 2,500 faith-based hospitals and clinics across 17 countries. The funds will also support more than 30,000 community health workers. Another $570 million will be provided to faith-based entities through Memorandums of Understanding reached with other governments.
In a statement explaining the rejection of the grant, Graham said that while the organization was “honored” and appreciated the offer, Samaritan’s Purse has “always relied on God, not government, for funding,” CBN reports. “We thank God for the incredible donors He has led to be a part of upholding this ministry.”
“We are grateful for our working relationship with the State Department and will continue to be available to partner with the U.S. government in response to emergencies, just not through this macro grant program,” the statement continued. “I am thankful for the changes President Trump has made to America’s foreign aid program and appreciate the tremendous efforts Secretary of State Marco Rubio has put into this. I’m grateful that the U.S. government remains the global leader in providing life-saving aid around the world.”
