Coptic
Orphans
1. What Does “Coptic” Mean?
2. What is Different about Coptic Orphans?
3. Is Coptic Orphans a Religious Organization?
4. What are the Results of Coptic Orphan’s Approach?
5. What
is Your Relationship to the Coptic Orthodox Church?
Financial
Matters
6 . How Does Coptic Orphans Ensure Financial Efficiency
and Accountability?
7 . Are My Gifts Tax Deductible?
8 . What are Your Administrative Costs?
9 . Are You Part of Consolidated Campaigns?
Getting
Involved
10. What
Is Child Sponsorship and How Does it Help?
11. I Don't Have Time to Develop a Relationship with a
Child. Can I Just Donate?
12. Can I Volunteer in Egypt?
13. I
Don't Have Any Money. What Can I Do?
For Questions
About Sponsoring a Child, See our Frequently
Asked Sponsorship Questions
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About Coptic
Orphans
1.
Q: What does “Coptic” Mean?
A: “Coptic” is derived from the same Greek word as the English “Egyptian,”
and originally referred the peoples who lived along the Nile river.
Nowadays, the term refers most commonly to Egypt’s Christians, who
trace their origins back to the first Christian communities that existed
during the time of the apostles. Coptic Orphans is committed to all
vulnerable children in Egypt, regardless of religious background or
affiliation; however, the term Coptic does indicate that our Christian
identity and our affection for the ancient Christian homeland of Egypt
motivate us.
2.
Q: What is Different about Coptic Orphans?
A:
1. Our
partnership with the Coptic Church and our presence through indigenous
volunteers and institutions in Egypt, the ancient homeland of the
Copts where Jesus once took refuge as a child, makes us unique
among Christian sponsorship organizations . The larger
sponsorship organizations cannot work in Egypt, while our networks
are nearly everywhere in the local fabric of each community.
2.
That we work in the homes and families of children rather than in
orphanages that often take children out of their families and where
there is a low caregiver per child ratio make us unique
among organizations that focus on orphaned children . Our
programs focus on comprehensive child and family development where
each children is: we don’t pull children out of their contexts because
they are most likely to make an impact in the social networks they
already have.
3.
Our dedication to the most professional level of effectiveness in
everything we do, our partnership with 43 dioceses in Egypt, and
our extensive network of nearly 300 volunteers makes us unique
among Coptic organizations working in Egypt.
3.
Q: Is Coptic Orphans a Religious Organization?
A: Our Christian identity motivates us in everything that we do, and
our primary partner is the Coptic Church in Egypt. On the other hand,
recognizing that every member of a body has its own specialized function,
Coptic Orphans does not take responsibility for religious formation
or teaching, evangelism, or any other function traditionally associated
with the Church. Also, while restricted in our flagship program to
children from the Coptic Orthodox Church, we do not discriminate on
the basis of religion in our other programs.
4.
Q: What are the results of Coptic Orphan’s Approach?
A: Since 1988, Coptic Orphans has touched the lives of over 16,000
vulnerable children in Egypt. We have had tremendous success helping
children reach greater levels of self-sufficiency. One of our volunteer
Reps who has worked with Coptic Orphans from the very beginning two
decades of go recently told us of participants who were part of the
program 20 years ago: “their children are independent today, while
the children of those who did not participate in a Coptic Orphans
program are still on the church charity rolls.
5.
Q: What is your Relationship to the Coptic Orthodox Church?
A: The Orthodox Church in Egypt, by far the largest Christian body
in Egypt, is our most important partner on the ground. While we are
not administratively affiliated with the Coptic hierarchy, we are
the fruit of the Coptic Church and work closely with her bishops and
with the nearly 300 Reps who come to us from places of active service
in their local churches. Read more about our partnership with the Coptic Orthodox Church.
About Financial
Matters
6.
Q: How Does Coptic Orphans Ensure Financial Efficiency and Accountability?
A: 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 used most effectively in every project for every child. Our rigorous efficiency structures have won the
highest rating from the Charity Navigator , North America’s largest independent charity evaluator. We rely on many donated supplies and services, and cut corners wherever
we can, such as using scrap paper for internal correspondence.
7.
Q: Is My Contribution Tax Deductible?
A: Yes. In the US Coptic Orphans has 501(c)3 status and the Employer
Identification Number (EIN) is 54-1637257. Donations in Australia
are tax deductible. Canada's tax ID number is 879517712RR0001.
8.
Q: What are Your Administrative Costs?
A: 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.
9.
Q: Are You Part of Consolidated Campaigns?
A: 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
About
Getting Involved
10.
Q: What is Child Sponsorship and How Does it
Help?
Poverty is more than a lack
of material possessions. With poverty often comes a lack of hope that
requires compassion, love, and encouragement to overcome. Even those
of us who are comfortable materially may be just as vulnerable to
falling into hopelessness when it comes to our desire to make a difference.
Sponsorship is a relationship that aims to overcome this by pairing
a sponsor outside Egypt with a child inside Egypt. Sponsors and children
write letters to one another, and sponsors also may visit and designate
special gifts that go directly to their children. Sponsors also commit
to support the program from which his or her sponsored child and many
other children benefit with a monthly contribution of at least $50
per month. Each child in the Not Alone program has the opportunity
to be matched with only one sponsor, to increase the opportunities
for a vital relationship to develop. This personal relationship between
sponsor and child carries the potential to be transformational both
to the child’s life and to your own. For more information about sponsorship,
see our Sponsorship FAQ's.
11.
Q: I Don't Have Time to Develop a Relationship with a Child. Can I Just Donate?
Absolutely!
The difference with sponsorship is the special relationship that a
sponsor forms with a child, but there is no difference in the impact
your contribution will make in the lives of the fatherless in Egypt. Donate
here.
12.
Q: Can I Volunteer in Egypt?
A:
You can volunteer in Egypt through Serve
to Learn, a summer program in which volunteers from all over the US, UK, Canada,
and Australia travel to Egypt for three weeks to teach English and
witness the living conditions of children first hand. Now
and then, groups from churches or universities also come to engage
in projects of various kinds in Egypt. If you are interested in a
project like this, contact us.
13.
Q: I Don't Have Any Money. What Can I Do?
A: If you can't sponsor, donate, or go to Egypt, don't worry! We appreciate
volunteer help in any form, especially in your local country
office. You may also donate items.
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.
