A Q&A About Foreign Aid
- MWEG
- Aug 13
- 6 min read
Mormon Women for Ethical Government’s principle of ethical government 3(e) states:
“Economic and social inequity damages the moral fabric of societies and weakens democratic governments. People should act freely to implement measures that promote equality of opportunity for their fellow human beings” (see Alma 4:12-13; 3 Nephi 6:9-16; and D&C 49:20).
This principle underscores the importance of addressing inequality and supporting opportunities worldwide — values that inform and guide the United States’ foreign aid efforts.
What is foreign aid?
The U.S. provides foreign aid assistance to other countries to promote global peace, security, and development. This includes humanitarian relief during disasters, support for long-term development projects, and help with building health systems, education programs, infrastructure, and democratic institutions. U.S. government agencies typically deliver aid through international organizations or trusted local partners on the ground. Foreign aid is a tool of diplomacy, grounded in humanitarian values and strategic interests.
Why does the U.S. give foreign aid?
The U.S. provides aid for moral, strategic, and practical reasons. As a nation founded on principles of human dignity and freedom, the U.S. has a long tradition of offering support to people suffering from poverty, natural disasters, war, and disease. The government’s aid reflects the belief that every life has value and that everyone is part of a global human family.
Foreign aid also serves national interests. It helps prevent conflicts, stabilize regions, reduce forced migration, build relationships with trading partners, and contain global health threats before they reach the nation’s shores. Supporting healthy, stable communities abroad ultimately leads to a safer and more prosperous world for everyone — including Americans.
In a world as interconnected as ours, helping others helps us, too.
How much does the U.S. actually spend on foreign aid?
While Americans often assume foreign aid takes up a large portion of the federal budget, it actually accounts for less than 1%. For every tax dollar, less than a penny goes toward helping others around the world. And yet, that small investment has produced an enormous impact — vaccinating millions of children, reducing extreme poverty, improving access to education, and curbing the spread of deadly diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.
Who receives U.S. foreign aid?
U.S. foreign aid is distributed to more than 100 countries, including:
Communities facing health, food, or infrastructure challenges due to lack of employment opportunities and low income.
Strategic allies where stability is in the U.S.’ national interest.
The exact countries change depending on need, opportunity, and U.S. priorities.
What kinds of programs are supported through foreign aid?
Health programs, like PEPFAR (the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), which has saved more than 26 million lives by providing HIV treatment and prevention.
Emergency assistance for people affected by wars, natural disasters, and famines.
Economic development, including microfinance, agriculture, and entrepreneurship support.
Education, particularly for girls and marginalized groups.
Democracy and governance, helping build transparent institutions and uphold the rule of law.
Climate resilience and environmental protection, especially in areas vulnerable to climate change.
Does foreign aid actually work?
Yes, foreign aid can and does work. While no form of aid is perfect, decades of data and lived experiences show that well-targeted, transparent, and locally informed aid saves lives, supports stability, and helps communities become more self-reliant.
Here are just a few examples of foreign aid working in practice:
Through PEPFAR, 7.8 million babies have been born HIV-free to mothers living with HIV.
Since its launch in 1988, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) has reduced polio cases by over 99%.
The Benin Power Compact, part of the Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC), has tripled the nation’s grid capacity.
USAID global education programs have reached more than 24 million learners and trained more than 300,000 educators and administrators.
Power Africa, a U.S. interagency initiative, has helped deliver first-time electricity to 127.7 million people across sub-Saharan Africa.
After the 2015 Nepal earthquake, USAID’s Baliyo Ghar program supported the safe reconstruction of more than 63,700 homes, trained more than 13,000 masons, and provided earthquake-resilient construction guidance to 146,000 people.
Is the U.S. just handing over cash to other governments?
No. Foreign aid usually goes through U.S. government agencies like USAID, in partnership with:
U.S.-based nonprofits.
Multilateral institutions (e.g., United Nations and the World Bank).
Faith-based organizations.
Local groups with strong accountability standards.
U.S. government laws and regulations require rigorous standards and provide oversight, monitoring, and evaluations.
How does foreign aid benefit Americans?
Foreign aid is not only about helping others — it also serves national interests.
Health security: Stops outbreaks abroad, which helps prevent pandemics at home.
Economic growth: Fosters stable economies that become trading partners.
National security: Addresses poverty and conflict, reducing conditions that increase terrorism and forced migration.
Diplomatic strength: Enhances U.S. leadership and credibility on the global stage.
Do other countries contribute foreign assistance?
Yes. While the U.S. provides the most foreign assistance in terms of dollar amounts, when measured as a share of gross national income (GNI), the U.S. contributes much less than many of its peers.
There is a long-standing international target for wealthy countries to contribute 0.7% of GNI in order to support global development. Only Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Luxembourg, and the UK consistently meet or exceed this goal. In fact, the U.S. ranks near the bottom of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) donor nations at 0.2-0.3% of GNI.
Isn’t charity the job of private organizations, not the government?
Private charities do incredible work; however, they cannot match the scale, coordination, or access that government aid provides. Government-led assistance allows for:
Nationwide and region-wide campaigns.
Trusted partnerships with other countries and international bodies.
A unified diplomatic voice and long-term planning.
Public aid and private giving often complement each other. Government aid provides the overall framework for nonprofits and other organizations to operate. They help facilitate in-country contacts and coordination with networks and systems already in place.
Is U.S. foreign aid a bipartisan issue?
Yes. Foreign assistance has received broad bipartisan support for decades, especially in the areas of global health, humanitarian response, and development. Some of the most rapid increases in foreign aid occurred during Republican presidencies. For example, former President George W. Bush’s team initiated the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and the President’s Malaria Program (PMI) during the early 2000s.
Why does foreign aid matter right now?
Many of the greatest challenges facing the world — conflict, climate change, hunger, and disease — are deeply interconnected and increasingly global in nature. When the U.S. invests in smart, targeted aid, we help stabilize fragile regions, prevent humanitarian crises from spiraling, and build partnerships that serve our long-term interests.
Conflict in places like Ukraine and Sudan have displaced millions. Droughts and floods are pushing families into hunger. Disease outbreaks continue to threaten already-strained health systems. Foreign assistance structures — like global health programs, humanitarian response systems, and development partnerships — allow the U.S. to respond quickly, support recovery, and build long-term resilience, while at the same time protecting American values and national security. It is one of the most cost-effective tools we have to promote peace, reduce poverty, and prevent the kind of instability that can lead to greater global threats.
How does foreign aid align with our values as people of faith?
As members of a global religious community, we are called to love our neighbors, feed the hungry, heal the sick, and lift the poor — to care for those in need as Christ did during His mortal ministry. Foreign aid is one way we collectively respond to those calls. It reflects our belief in the infinite worth of every human soul and in the importance of acting with compassion — not just within our borders, but throughout the world.
Programs like PEPFAR and GAVI (the Vaccine Alliance) partner directly with churches, local clinics, and faith-based organizations to deliver care. These partnerships are often the most effective because they are trusted, embedded in the community, and guided by service.
Foreign aid allows us to extend Christlike love in coordinated and worldwide efforts. As President Russell M. Nelson taught:
“They who are willing to be called the Lord’s people ‘are willing to bear one another’s burdens, . . . to mourn with those that mourn; . . . and [to] comfort those that stand in need of comfort’” (Oct. 2019).
