Donations, Memberships, Partner Projects

Friends of the Third World was incorporated as a 501c3 organization to dig at the root causes of hunger

and poverty thru voluntary citizen partnerships.  Over almost 50 years, Friends has served as mentor and

fiscal agent for dozens of nonprofit organizations many of whom operated fair trade shops.  Today, in addition to our Third World Store in Fort Wayne, Friends legally supports two Fair Trade groups, one in Illinois and one in Arizona.  We also manage funds for nonprofits in India, Colombia, Uganda, and Indiana, as well as serve as informal partners with 80 groups in over 40 countries. Friends helped found the Fair Trade Association.  We provide work experience for unemployed adults in bookkeeping, graphics and printing, retail store operations, building maintenance and computer data entry.  Our operating style includes care of the environment, nonviolent conflict resolution and simple/responsible lifestyles.

Staff members voluntarily accept wages below the poverty level, Our budget comes primarily from individual contributions and program service revenue.