Russian War Relief (also known as the Russian War Relief Fund, and The American Committee for Russian War Relief) was the largest American agency for foreign war relief. It had the "express and exclusive purpose of giving succor to the Russian people at a time of crisis". The chairman of Russian War Relief was Edward C. Carter, chairman of the National Committee for Medical Aid to the Soviet Union, a member of the Executive Committee of the American Russian Institute and secretary general of the Institute of Pacific Relations. From 1942, the fund was headed by Allen Wardwell.
On July 29, 1941, one month after Germany’s attack on Russia, a group met in New York and established Russian War Relief, Inc incorporated in New York on September 12, 1941. Fred Myers, who later founded the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), served as director of public relations and was later promoted to Executive Director.