The Near East Foundation (NEF) had its genesis in a number of earlier organizations. As the scope of relief expanded from aid to Greek, Armenian and Assyrian victims of the Ottoman Empire to post WWI relief in the region, the names and mission changed. The inception was as the American Committee on Armenian Atrocities, later becoming the American Committee for Relief in the Near East (ACRNE), and then Near East Relief. In 1930 the Near East Foundation was established.