Orphanos FAQ

 

What is Orphanos Foundation?

We are a Memphis-based 501(c)3 Christian charity that partners with Christian orphanage homes and Christian missionaries who help children at risk around the world.

How do you say Orphanos?

Orphan.... os.  (It's Greek for orphan. James 1:27)

What are some of your biggest needs?

Please visit the giving to help page to find out more on specific projects or other areas we need support.  

 

 

How can I get involved?

  • Give to a project, give to a missionary, sponsor a child, or give towards our overhead expenses (we love automatic payment from regular monthly donors).

  • Go on a short term mission. (More than 60 short term mission teams consisting of nearly 700 people have visited our partner homes.) We offer two week teams, two month internships, two year explorers, and career opportunities.

  • Pray by utilizing our monthly Children at Risk Prayer Guide.

  • Send a kid a Christmas Card through our Kards 4 Kids Program.

  • Participate in our Spring Golf Tournament.

Who are children at risk?  What does that mean?

Viva Network, the leading international voice on children at risk defines ‘children at risk’ as persons under 18 living in situations which may include: disabling or bonded child labor, war and other forms of violence, sexual abuse and exploitation, disease, drug abuse or disability, neglect, loss of family or primary care-giver, extreme poverty, or oppressive institutions.

 

Where are the homes?  How many?

We have 15 locations we currently partner with in some way or another. All of these locations are outside the US. Currently we partner in Brazil, Korea, Ukraine, Columbia, Mexico, India, Honduras, Peru, Jamaica, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. 

 

Do you guys run the homes?

No.  Local churches or other groups do that.  We help with major projects or self-funding grants.  For example, we funded a bakery for one home so the kids could make food, sell the extra bread and learn a trade. We’ve also funded projects such as digging wells, remodeling cafeterias, purchasing farm land to grow food, educational grants, and much much more. We also give the gifts anonymously - so there's no Orphanos Foundation wing at any of the homes nor do any of the donors' names appear on plaques at the homes. Being a Christian organization, we prefer to let God get the credit for these gifts.

 

Do you do anything in Memphis?

Our main event in Memphis is the Memphis Messiah.  Last December we enabled 5,400 Title 1 students in the 4th and 5th grades from the Memphis City Schools and the Jubilee School system to attend three abbreviated performances of Handel’s masterpiece.  We also helped around 1,800 home school students to see the dress rehearsal.  We completely underwrite the $75k expenses for those presentations because the message of Handel's Messiah is important.

 

My company wants to support you guys.  How do they do that?

We can get them a copy of the 2009 Memphis Messiah corporate sponsorship package when we have it ready.  Let us know who your company contact is (name, position, phone, e-mail).  If you know the budget/decision cycle key dates, that helps but isn't necessary.  We can take it from there.  In the meantime, send them this year's link  www.memphismessiah.org.

 

What if my company has concerns about giving to something religious?

We are motivated by our faith to help these children.  Nevertheless, many non-religious companies have chosen to support us because of:

  • Our tie-in to the Arts (Memphis Symphony Orchestra, The Cannon Center);

  • Our tie-in to Education (the 36 Memphis Inner-City Schools);

  • Our ten-year commitment with Memphis as our home-base (global charity with a local impact)

  • The worthiness of the cause - once they see pictures of the kids and hear our story, they decide to "give anyway"

  • Self-interest - the people who attend events like Memphis Messiah tend to be attractive to sponsors and their business message.

I want to support you guys personally.  How do I do it?

You can give on-line at our website orphanos.org 

We can debit your credit card or checking account each month  (Authorization forms are available.)

You can give us a one-time gift of cash/check or stock. 

You can also designate Orphanos Foundation on your United Way campaign form. 

Or, you can give to us through your Hope Community Christian Foundation or other giving account.

 

Does a 100% of my gift really go to the kids or the homes?  How do you guys keep the lights on?

Yes!  Amazing isn’t it? 100% of your gift does go to the project or missionary you specify.  If you want to help keep the lights on, tell us you also want to be part of the AdminTeam.  Incredibly, this model has worked for us for 10 years.  We believe it is evidence of God’s blessing on our work.

 

Is my gift tax deductible?

We are a 501c3 charity - just like a church, synagogue or the United Way.  You should contact your accountant to see how gifts would impact your personal tax liability, but normally gifts to Orphanos are tax-deductible.

 

How do I know you guys are ethical?

Our reputation is important to us and to the kids.  That’s why we are members of The Standards of Excellence, Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, the United Way, and even have our books audited by an outside auditor. We'll be glad to open our audited financials to you, if you have real interest or concerns.