Sponsorship: Frequently Asked Questions

We have no means of facilitating adoptions. More information regarding adoption in Egypt can be found on the website of the US State Department.

In Not Alone, we partner with the Coptic Orthodox Church to work with children under the spiritual care of each bishop. We cannot presently accept children from families who are not under the spiritual care of the Orthodox Church. Nevertheless, in our Valuable Girl Project we are able to welcome all girls to participate, regardless of religious affiliation.

In Not Alone, each Rep in our network of hundreds of grassroots volunteers identify children from their local communities who have lost at least one parent through death or abandonment and who are in particular need of mentorship, literacy, and basic necessities. Most of the time, a Rep identifies the children from “The Brethren of the Lord” lists of local Coptic parishes, lists that keep track of those in the parish who are in particular need. This way, even identifying children is a grassroots process.

Our goal is to open up access to the fullest spectrum of choices that will help children succeed most and the personal development to transform their families, communities, and future generations. Education is holistic and embraces life beyond the classroom as well as within it. Learning how to learn and develop, the goal of Coptic Orphans’ non-formal approach to education in our programs, equips a child to face life in all of its facets and aspects, whether that child matriculates to the university, becomes an entrepreneur as an adult, or becomes a homemaker for a family. Unfortunately, economic realities are such in Egypt that many who graduate from university remain unemployed. As a result, many children choose to matriculate to technical school instead of university to gain practical skills that are much more marketable in the Egyptian job market. Also, the Egyptian school system puts children on a particular track from very early. Coptic Orphans aims at taking each child where he or she is and lifting that child to fulfill his or her potential.

Each child receives spiritual direction and support from his or her local church. Reps are also servants and leaders in their churches, but a Rep’s mentoring for a child focuses on the child’s overall development rather than on their spiritual development in particular. As a lay-led organization, we give absolute respect to the teaching authority of the Church hierarchy. We leave the spiritual and doctrinal development of our children to their hands, though occasionally we support that by, for example, providing Arabic picture bibles to children.

Even if you sponsor just one child in a family of more children does not mean that the children are not being helped. The money that you donate to your child will help both your child and the others because your donation is pooled to help all the children as well as the child you are sponsoring, and support the overall program from which they all benefit.

Certainly! Keep in mind, though, that the difference with sponsoring a child is the relationship that you have with each sponsored child. If you think you might not have time to dedicate to building that relationship with more children through letters, visits, and gifts, we encourage you to also consider increasing your monthly contribution so that we can reach even more children just like the one you sponsor.

Since only about 30% of the children in our program have individual sponsors your donations help support our entire program from which all children–sponsored or not–benefit. The difference between sponsoring a child and giving a regular recurring donation is the relationship that sponsors and their sponsored children form. This relationship is rewarding for both sponsor and child, and provides opportunities for gifts to be given directly to that sponsored child, as well. Sponsors often designate contributions directly for their sponsored children for special occasions in addition to the monthly support for the program that opens opportunities for their sponsored child.

No. In order to keep our administrative costs to a minimum, and to ensure that your sponsored child receives a regular and reliable contribution, we ask that you make your donation as a recurring gift through either a credit card or direct debit of a checking account. If you feel most comfortable writing checks, you may still contribute to any child who is in greatest need at the time of each donation.

If you need to discontinue your support, we will cover the needs of your child from our general donations and continue that child’s support without interruption. Your commitment can be terminated at any time, but it’s tremendously rewarding to walk with a child during their entire journey to adulthood. The day that your child graduates and enters the world ready and confident as an adult is a satisfying day, indeed.

In both you support the program through which children receive so many benefits. The difference is in the relationship that you have with your sponsored child. There is more of a commitment when you sponsor a child. You will get his/her picture, learn more about that child and exchange letters and prayers with that child. No other person will sponsor this child, only you. Also, we encourage you to visit your child when you travel to Egypt.

No. Many of our supporters choose to make general donations. Whether you decide to simply donate to Coptic Orphans as a whole or to specifically sponsor a child, assistance to the children is based on the individual and family situation of each child.

Coptic Orphans utilized volunteer manpower, including hundreds of local volunteer “Reps” who share our passion and vision for service and who are the backbone of our work in Egypt. Because they are as committed to the children as we are, they make sure that the funds are used effectively. Reps live in the same village as the children they care for. In addition, we train and equip our Reps so that they understand effective child development and good financial management. Coptic Orphans is totally committed to earning the trust of our donors and sponsors. Integrity is not only a commitment; it is a value that drives our whole organization. Besides an annual audit of Coptic Orphans by an independent auditing firm, we regularly conduct our own audits to make sure that funds are properly received, dispersed, tracked, and managed in every project for every child. We rely on many donated supplies and services, and cut corners wherever we can, such as using scrap paper for internal correspondence.

Yes. In the US Coptic Orphans has 501(c)3 status and the Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 54-1637257. Contributions in Australia are tax deductible through a partnership with the Australia Council of Churches. Canada’s tax ID number is 879517712RR0001.

Less than 10% on average. We work very hard to keep the administrative costs to a minimum. See how we accomplish this. An audited financial statement is available upon request.

Yes, Coptic Orphans participates in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) for Federal government workers in addition to other state government campaigns. Our CFC number is 12153.

We appreciate volunteer help in any form. Telling your friends and acquaintances about Coptic Orphans is a good start. And we love to hear from you. Even a little feedback can help us improve and expand our services. See more on how you can contribute by donating items or on how to become a Serve to Learn volunteer in Egypt. We also have various opportunities for volunteering in our country offices. Please visit the “Take Action” section of the website to learn more about what you can do to help.

Yes. You may write your sponsored child in English, and we will deliver your original letter along with an Arabic translation. Your child might even be learning English, so having the letter and a translation will be all the more valuable.

We must first and foremost protect the children from any possible harm. As our children often don’t have anyone in a position to protect them, we as an organization must take steps much like a parent would to supervise their contact with the outside world. Coptic Orphans is responsible for managing sponsorship relationships with thousands of children. This also protects sponsors from inappropriate requests from the child’s extended family, who may seek to use the sponsorship relationship for personal gain. We cannot take the chance of anything inappropriate happening between our children and the sponsors, as it would threaten the entire program. For that reason, unannounced visits to the child or their family by the sponsor are strictly prohibited. All visits must be arranged through Coptic Orphans.

By all means! Both occasions are a time for giving and thinking about others. Please never hesitate to send gifts to the children. They are all very much needed.

If a sponsor wants to take his/her child out for the day, he/she must first go to the child’s home and then leave from there. Also, the sponsor must get permission from the child’s mother and must take all the other children into consideration. It would be very unfair to take one child out and leave the rest and this should be pointed out to the sponsor. We are unable to bring the children to meet sponsors elsewhere besides their homes out of respect for the dignity of the children involved.

The only people allowed to accompany the sponsor on the visit are fiancé(e)s, spouses and/or children – only immediate family. There are no exceptions to this rule.

The money that is provided for the family is not spent solely on material items. There are many things that are not material that the family needs. There needs to be food on the table, there are private lessons that the children need in order to succeed at school, there are small improvements made to the house to make it livable, and more importantly, there are valuable skills that a child and his or her family needs to overcome poverty: skills such as household management, planning nutritional meals, life skills for academic success, etc.. In every case, the state of the family improves tremendously because of the sponsorship relationship even if the family still appears poor by western standards.

When the father was still alive/here and providing, the family had everything it needed, and most of what you see was purchased by the father. They have a television now because it was bought by the father back then. What they don’t have now are the basic needs such as income for food, clothing, school supplies and the like.