Donor FAQs
General
The percentage spent on overhead costs varies annually based on factors such as the organization’s growth cycle, finalized programs within the fiscal year, and investments in infrastructure. This flexibility allows for adaptation to changing needs. You can read more on our Overhead Policy here.
You can read more about our Board and our team here.
Our Annual Reports and Audited Financial Statements are available here.
Yes, you can use this link to find out if your employer will match your donation.
At Penny Appeal USA, ALL of our programs are zakat-eligible. That means your zakat can bring nutritious meals to families, sponsor an orphan or provide a well to a family in need. You can view our Zakat Policy here.
Unfortunately, at this time we cannot accept crypto donations, however this is something we’re working on.
While we deeply appreciate the thoughtfulness behind clothing donations, Penny Appeal USA does not accept physical items, including clothing. Our approach is centered around monetary donations, allowing us to maximize the impact by directing funds to program focuses identified in communities in need in a more timely fashion.
Penny Appeal USA primarily focuses on implementing sustainable projects and programs to create long-term impact. We do not offer direct social assistance in the form of cash transfers or individual financial aid. Instead, we channel donations into carefully planned initiatives that aim to uplift entire communities, providing them with lasting solutions to improve their quality of life.
Please feel free to drop us an email at info@pennyappealusa.org or call us at (202) 851-2112 and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Thirst Relief
You can learn more and support our Thirst Relief projects through this link.
Yes, currently we offer the construction of Hand Pumps and Deep Wells in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Malawi. These regions are tough to operate in but we strive to serve where the need is high and service is low.
Yes, certainly. Once completed, we provide a report and certificate to you. We do not add inscriptions to the physical well itself as a means of protecting the dignity of the beneficiaries.
As of Feb, 2023, wells will no longer feature plaques, instead, if requested, we send donors a certificate commemorating your loved one.
The report contains the unique identifying number and site location to ensure accountability. With our new water well policy, we are taking a bold and innovative step towards honoring the dignity of the communities we serve while upholding our mission of ending intergenerational poverty. You can read more about it here.
Deep Wells take between 10-12 months from the moment the donation is made to the time you receive a completed well report.
For Hand Pumps this timeline is 6-9 Months.
We try our best to provide status updates. However, we rely on local partners to deliver on the orders and timelines and updates are not always readily available until completion. However, if there are going to be delays, we try our best to notify donors of this.
It depends on the location. $2,000 in Pakistan and Afghanistan, $2,900 in Bangladesh, $3,600 in Malawi
Orphankind
You can make monthly donations towards Orphan Kind on this link.
OrphanKind Sponsorships are monthly donations. By donating $30 a month for 12 months you can sponsor one child’s needs for the year.
You can donate towards the OrphanKind Sponsorship program right here.
Your monthly sponsorship helps provide nutritious meals, clothes, healthcare and an education to orphaned children in over eight countries. It will enable the guardian, often a family member, to provide the level of care we wish for all the children in our own lives.
You’ll receive an allocation email within 2 weeks of your donation, with information such as a name and location of the child you are sponsoring. After a year we will send you a report with more details on how the child is doing. We do rely on our local partners for this information so occasionally this information can be delayed.
No, unfortunately we do not allow for this as we allocate based on needs.
– India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, Syria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Sudan, USA.
Yes, we do. Since we opened our doors, our Muslim-led Domestic Violence shelter in North Carolina has remained at full capacity, providing survivors and their children, regardless of their faith, the warmth and safety of a home. You can learn more and give support right here: https://pennyappealusa.org/safespace/
As part of our efforts to eradicate poverty in a sustainable way, our income generation programs focus on providing rural communities with the tools, skills or resources they need to escape poverty by providing them a way to earn an income. Examples of projects under this umbrella include Vegetable Gardens, Livestock, Olive Trees. You can learn more about this program here: https://pennyappealusa.org/our-work/income-generation/
Gaza Emergency Response FAQ
We collaborate with trusted local organizations in Gaza, who are registered with the UN, ensuring access to essential supplies and services. These partners undergo thorough screening to meet both the U.S. government and Penny Appeal USA standards.
- In October 2023, we responded immediately to the emergency in Gaza by locally procuring and distributing emergency food and hygiene supplies through our local partner by providing support to 100 families, benefitting over 550+ people.
- We’ve provided dignity kits for pregnant and lactating women along with food and hygiene packs, which supported 1,300+ displaced people.
- In December 2023, our trucks from Egypt passed through the Rafah border with food and medical supplies, benefitting approximately 9,000 people.
- We are continuing to distribute locally procured supplies. Over the next few months, we will have ongoing food and water distributions to those in need, along with hygiene and sanitation efforts in the shelters.
Most of our projects involve local procurement. We have stockpiled supplies and there are items in Gaza, but people haven’t been able to access or afford them.
Our registration with the Egyptian Red Crescent allows trucks from Egypt to cross the Rafah border to deliver aid. Our last truck was admitted in December 2023. Since then we have been relying on our partners procuring items locally as this is not only possible but more effective. We will continue to do this while supplies last.
When and if more trucks can cross through the border, we will get more goods inside through the outlined method:
Water provision involves partnerships with companies using solar energy to desalinate water in Rafah City. Distribution is carried out via trucks equipped with stainless steel containers.
We’ve proudly been working in Palestine since our inception in 2016, with projects such as rooftop vegetable gardens, olive tree groves, and vocational training–all focused on building up the capacity of the civilian population.
For Emergency Relief, our Zakat overhead breakdown is approximately 11%. However, this may vary due to specific needs. We prioritize sending aid efficiently to Gaza, despite challenges.
We adhere to a best-practice nonprofit model, relying on local partners for logistics and distribution. Your support and prayers are crucial as we continue our efforts in Gaza.
