About Us


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A Deep Foundation


North Carolina has been welcoming refugees for over 40 years, and CWS Wilmington is proud to work every day to keep that tradition alive! While we may be new to Wilmington, our office is part of a global network of CWS offices providing services and offering hope to vulnerable populations since 1946.

The CWS Story


Church World Service was born in the wake of the devastation of World War II. In 1946, seventeen Christian denominations came together “to do in partnership what none of us could hope to do as well alone.”

In our early days, the CWS family mobilized more than 11 million pounds of food, clothing and medical supplies for war-torn Europe and Asia. In the United States, we began to welcome refugees who were looking to start new lives in safety, resettling more than 100,000 refugees in our first 10 years.

Over the decades, the specifics of our programs have shifted. And the CWS family, leadership, and faith-based identity has also grown and evolved as we remain committed to our founding principle of bringing all voices to the table to build a world where there is enough for all. 

The CWS Wilmington office opened in 2022 as a local refugee resettlement office and resource provider for refugees and immigrants in our community. Our local partners, staff, and clients who hail from rich and diverse faith, ethnic, racial, and linguistic backgrounds work every day to turn our vision into reality.

Here at CWS, the principles of welcome, collaboration and dignity have spanned the decades and wrapped around the globe. We have seen over and over again that we are stronger when we stand together. Every single person has gifts and skills to help. Welcome to the movement--we’re glad you’re here.


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Finances


CWS Wilmington operates under the governance of CWS Global’s Board of Directors and our finances are included in the CWS Global annual audit.

Church World Service is tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to Church World Service are tax deductible. The CWS financial records are audited by independent auditors in accordance with guidelines established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.


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