After three years of deficits, international AID closing.

International AID, a Christian relief agency that a decade ago generated $76 million in gifts, is closing its doors after 29 years. The board voted to close the Spring Lake, Mich., organization because of a lack of resources.

Dr. Gordon D. Loux, IA's acting chief executive officer, said the organization had more than a $1.5 million deficit each year for the past three years.

He explained that the organization was currently "continuing with a few of the functions to fulfill commitments that were made to corporations and foundations and we want to make sure we end well."

Loux said he has "great admiration" for the organization and was sad to see it cease operations, but it was "no longer prudent to continue to try to operate."

Donors were notified about the decision via email and IA posted the announcement to its Web site and social networking pages, such as Facebook. Loux said the organization planned to send a mail piece to donors.

"The donors, especially the donors of west Michigan, have been very, very generous with us, not only in their finances but in their volunteering," Loux said.

"While this was a tough decision for all of us who believe in the mission of the organization, we simply do not have the re sources to continue even another day," said Board Chair Rodger Spoelman in a statement.

The decision was effective immediately after a vote by the board. Loux informed the organization's 40 United States employees and 32 employees based in Honduras and the Philippines about the shutdown after the vote.

According to IA's 2007 Form 990, the organization received nearly $74 million in contributions, gifts and grants, with more than $68 million in noncash contributions, but the organization, finished the year with a $1.8 million deficit. The organization listed companies such as Amway, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc., and Schering-Plough Corporations as gift-in-kind donors.

IA landed the 99 spot in The NPT 100 listing of the largest nonprofits in 1998, with a $66.1 million income. The organization jumped to 95 in the 1999 report, with more than $76.4 income, before just making the cut at number 100 in 2000 with $82.3 million. IA was edged out of the ranking in 2001, landing IA in spot 102.

IA provided health care services and supplies to developing countries, including the Philippines and Honduras. In June, IA was awarded a $163,000 grant from the government of Honduras to improve childhood health in nearly 80 poor communities in the country.

In addition to health care services and training programs, IA developed the HydrAid BioSand Water Filter, an eight-pound water filtration system with the ability to filter 75 gallons of water a day for those without access to clean water.

Loux said the organization is currently in the process of "negotiations and conversations with numerous nonprofits to see if we can find other homes with organizations that will fulfill the purposes for which International Aid was created and has functioned."

He said IA hoped to assist in the continuation of the HydrAid filter with other organizations, which would then take responsibility for the product.

The organization's Twitter account, @intaid, posted a message on July 2, which said, "All of IA's employees are now seeking work. If your org has an opening please send us a message via twitter & we will post to staff."

Loux said after announcing the closing to employees, more than 20 percent offered to volunteer their services while the organization fulfilled existing commitments. "I thought that was a fantastic tribute to the organization of their loyalty and love and commitment to what International Aid has done for all these years," he said.

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