Keep The Lights On
Since 100% of the gifts you give go to the area you designate, we actually have to ask people to donate toward keeping the lights on, paying the rent for our Memphis office, wire transfers, staff travel, and that sort of thing.
When we say that 100% of your gift goes to the kids, we really mean that.
Here's an example: Say you gave $1,000 to Lar Batista in Brazil. (Thank you) We would wire the whole $1,000 to Lar Batista. We pay the $45 wire transfer fee from our Keep The Lights On – Operating Funds.
That way, we keep our promise to you – that 100% of each gift goes where you designate.
We do not know of another charity that operates this way.
People have different ideas about how much “overhead” an efficient charity should operate with – some say 10%, others say 15 or 20%. (United Way takes 17%.)
You decide for yourself how much overhead we should have. Please consider a separate gift to help us Keep The Lights On.
(Please do not split your current gift. We do not want to reduce what a missionary receives in support or to take from the homes for the kids. Missionaries are having a hard time with the weak US dollar, the economy's effect on giving levels and the personal sacrifice that they are already making.
If you are not led to increase your gift, just keep giving the same. If you can give more, please do so. Regular gifts are extra special because they help us be good stewards of predictable cash flows.)
