We are excited to share our 2024 Annual Impact Report with you. It wasn’t easy, but we held on to hope and stayed true to our mission through a rough and tumble year. I don’t think I could have said it any better than our Executive Director, Sam Ol, so here is his opening summary from the report:
“Reflecting on the year 2024, we at CIF faced one of the most challenging seasons in our history. As the world continued to recover from the effects of COVID-19, we were also confronted by a cascade of global crises—wars between nations, natural disasters, and ongoing economic instability. The ripple effects were deeply felt, especially in the funding landscape. Several of our long-standing donors, impacted by these global shifts, were no longer able to continue their support—forcing us to make some of the most difficult decisions we’ve ever had to face.
“As Executive Director, I carry the responsibility of safeguarding the well-being of our staff, the children, and the families we serve. This responsibility took on a new level of gravity this year. Despite our relentless efforts to secure new resources, the financial shortfall left us with no choice but to restructure. Saying goodbye to devoted colleagues—people who have walked faithfully with us and poured their hearts into this mission—was deeply painful. It marked one of the most sorrowful chapters in our journey.“And yet, through the hardship, we grew. These trials pushed us to think more strategically and act with greater intention. One of the most important lessons from this season has been the need to prioritize long-term sustainability. We have strengthened our collaboration with government officials—both nationally and locally—through increased engagement and co-case management. These partnerships are helping to ensure that family-based care is no longer just our mission, but a shared priority for the wider system.
“In the midst of adversity, we have been deeply encouraged by the unwavering generosity and commitment of our faithful donors. Your financial support, prayers, and belief in our vision have carried us through. Your presence reminded us that we are not alone—and for that, we are truly grateful.
“Even in uncertainty, our mission remained strong. Children with disabilities continued to live safely in families. Adoptions progressed. Our digital case management system, OSCaR, expanded to support more organizations. And our team, though reduced in number, showed extraordinary commitment and resilience.
“As we step into a new year, we do so with humility, courage, and a renewed sense of purpose. We are reimagining how to build more sustainable systems, foster deeper partnerships, and strengthen the safety nets that protect children and families.
Thank you for standing with us.”
Please click on the link to read the full report.
Adversity as a Catalyst for Change
In our last newsletter I shared that challenges can be opportunities. We have seen that play out in a number of ways. For one thing, many of you rose to the challenge of helping us to bridge the gap for 2024. THANK YOU!! While the funding CIF receives from individual donors is still a relatively small part of our overall budget, there was a 250% increase in giving on our GlobalGiving platform from 2023 to 2024. Wow! We can’t tell you how much that means to us!
As Sam Ol stated in his summary, and as described in more detail throughout the report, we have also worked hard to streamline our operations and build greater collaboration in order to operate as sustainably as possible. While the financial crisis has taken a toll on many organizations, its high visibility has seemed to foster more opportunities for multiple stakeholders to work together to ensure that critical needs of children and families are met.
Stories of Change
Our Annual Impact Report is more than facts and figures. We also share stories which highlight the impact your support of CIF has on the lives of individual children.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13
Lisa and the CIF team