The Charity Charge Show - Nonprofit Podcast · Charity Charge

FAR USA’s Bree Carriglio on Building Long-Term Nonprofit Impact in Armenia

·44 min·4 clips

Stephen Garton opens by welcoming Brie Carriglio and asking her to explain FAR USA. Brie describes FAR, or Fund for Armenian Relief, as an organization that primarily operates in Armenia and is committed to supporting the most vulnerable populations there. She explains that the work spans children, healthcare, economic development, education, and social services. The organization’s approach is intentionally holistic. Brie ties that approach to the group’s origin story after the 1988 earthquake in Gyumri. What began as emergency relief gradually grew into a longer-term commitment to helping people thrive and become independent. That shift from survival to sustainability becomes the backbone of the conversation. As the interview develops, the focus moves from mission to operating model. Brie explains that FAR works carefully to protect its long-term capacity. She says the organization wants to ensure it could sustain itself for at least another 10 years if needed. That discipline starts with funding. The organization is careful not to build programs first and figure out the money later. Instead, it tries to make sure support is in place before commitments grow. She also notes that FAR keeps a close eye on how much money reaches beneficiaries. The goal is to avoid waste and direct resources where they matter most. Stephen picks up on that and frames it as a meaningful shift for many executive directors. He asks about the logic of having a buffer and what to do with funds while they are sitting safely in reserve. Brie says FAR does invest its funds. She describes the role of endowments and the idea of earning interest without touching principal. That conservative posture, she says, is part of what has allowed the organization to endure since 1988. The conversation comes back to the idea that if everything went wrong tomorrow, the people FAR has committed to would still be cared for. Brie also talks about being conservative in other parts of the operation. She mentions that FAR is not especially flashy in marketing spend. The emphasis stays on usefulness, durability, and responsibility rather than image. Stephen responds with appreciation and asks how organizations can think about that kind of stewardship. Brie’s answer stays consistent throughout: leaders need to be careful, stay focused on the people they serve, and resist drifting away from that core responsibility. By the end, the interview lands on a simple invitation for listeners to learn more, explore the organization’s stories and programs, and consider supporting FAR USA directly through its website.

As heard by us

A steady look at nonprofit work built for durability, not quick wins.

Brie Carriglio treats nonprofit work as something closer to stewardship than rescue. FAR USA, founded in 1988 after the Gyumri earthquake, works with vulnerable communities in Armenia through children’s work, healthcare, economic development, education, and social services.

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Why you'd press play

If you want a practical model for funding mission work without losing sight of the people you serve, start here.

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