The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is a work of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuit order), incorporated as an international non-governmental organisation with a mission to accompany, serve, and advocate for the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people.  The organisation was founded in November 1980 and now has a presence in over 50 countries. JRS undertakes services at national and regional levels with the support and guidance of an international office (IO) in Rome.   JRS works in situations of greatest need, seeking the long-term well-being of refugees and displaced people while not neglecting their immediate or urgent needs.

The JRS International Office (IO) in Rome is the head office of the Jesuit Refugee Service. It sets the global organisational strategy, and provides support and guidance in the areas of programmes, finance, advocacy, communications, fundraising and human resources to 10 regional offices in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe. In the area of fundraising and donor relations, the IO coordinates and works closely in particular with the JRS USA regional office.

The Communications and Development department leads JRS’s global efforts in communications and in resource mobilisation from private sources (including individual donors, major donors, high net worth Individuals, corporations, and religious congregations). It does so through all possible communications and fundraising channels, and in close collaboration with the JRS IO Advocacy department, the Communications and Development departments of JRS USA based in Washington DC, and with other partners in the Jesuit network.