I have been contemplating when to dive into the heart of what this organization will do and feel now is the time. We are about to finalize all the business-side pieces to make us a full-fledged non-profit company and thus we can begin taking donations. Before I ask you to open your wallets though I ask that you open your mind...
From the Heart, Inc. is a non-profit organization that raises money and awareness for families dealing with a medical challenge. We take the approach of hosting a physical benefit, only we are doing it all on line. Here's how it all works.
First, we choose a family to sponsor (we will call them Family X in this scenario). Family X has a child who is suddenly become a paraplegic and their family needs a wheel chair accessible van. This is where we come in. Instead of hosting a bake sale, raffle, or something of that nature, we take their story to the internet. On our blog and on our website will be an in-depth story that the family and our organization has put together (they approve everything that is posted on both sites). On that same page there will be information on how you can give to Family X. By giving through our organization here are the benefits:
1.) 100% of your gift will go towards that family's need
2.) Your gift will be tax-deductible
3.) You can donate on your time, not at a specific event.
4.) We can reach friends and family members from all across the world with a need instantly.
Another benefit (more for the family) is that they will not receive a check from us (there would be taxes on that type of gift). Instead we would directly put the money towards the van. This allows all of the funds raised to be used for the need, not divided among, organization costs, the government, and then the family.
Each sponsored family will get a set amount of time for their story to appear on our blog and website. After that time we will have periodic updates but we will not be accepting further donations. We will hopefully have other families to help.
So, when their story is finished and ready to be put on the website and blog we give them the link to it. Family X will then send this link (via email, facebook, twitter, etc) to all of their friends and family. This gives all they know a chance to learn more about their struggle in hopes of gaining support, prayers, and obviously, money. Plus, it may be spread to people beyond their relationships and touch the hearts of people they have never and will never meet. This is the power of the internet. We want to channel that power for the greater good.
After the set amount of time has passed our organization will report the lump sum of money that has been collected for Family X. Then we will document what we do with it and report back to the givers (via our website). In this scenario, From the Heart would write a check to ABC Dealership for the amount we raised and it would be applied towards the purchase of the van. Again, the benefits of going straight to the need are to keep the family from having to pay taxes on the money (it would be seen as a gift if given to the family).
Now that you see how we work, there may be questions. Here are a few I can think of:
If 100% of my donation goes to that family, where are you getting the money to run your organization?
In order to fulfill the vision of 100% of the donations designated for a family to go to the family's need, we need to take donations for our organization. We will have times throughout the year when we are raising money strictly for operations of the organization. These are minimal as we are at 100% volunteer staff at this point. However, site maintenance, fees associated with online donations and general expenses will be covered with these donations. We expect these to be relatively low due to the fact that our entire presence is on line.
Will I get a receipt for my donation?
If you donate online you may use your credit card statement or a print screen as a receipt or you may contact us and request a receipt. If you send a check, your cancelled check can serve as your receipt or you may also request a receipt.
How can I or someone I know become one of your sponsored families?
We are still in the process of ironing out our application process, but for the time being, we ask that you contact me, Ashley Ferris at aferris06@gmail.com with the subject line "FROM THE HEART" so that I am able to quickly filter it out of my other emails. I will contact you and talk more about your story. Then when I have enough information to bring to the other board members, I will talk with them and we will make a decision.
So, now you have the basics of our organization. As always, the first thing I would ask of anyone reading this is to please pray for our organization. I feel that this dream has been placed on my heart for such a time as this. I know I am following what God has for me and am doing at least a part of what I was put on this planet to do. If in your prayers you feel led to give, then please do so.
Here comes the fun part. We are now accepting donations towards our organization. We have two families ready to help, but we have to get completely up and running first. We need to raise funds to get our website up and fully functioning so that we can give these families the opportunity to gain prayer, support, and funds for their child's medical challenge! If you would like to make a donation, please make your checks out to: From the Heart, Inc.
Until our website is up and running snail mail is the only way for us to accept funds. We hope to be up and running by the end of March.
PLEASE MAIL ALL DONATIONS TO:
From the Heart
P.O. Box 325
Fishers, IN 46038
Also, please indicate whether or not you would like a receipt so that we may provide you with that in a timely manner.
We are officially registered with the State of Indiana (as of June 2010) and will be done with our 501(c)3 process later this year. But all donations for this year are tax deductible due to retroactive benefits of the 501(c)3 status.
If you have any other questions before you can make the leap to a donation, please feel free to contact me via email. or comment on this blog post.
aferris06@gmail.com with subject line "QUESTION FROM THE HEART"
Thank you for your time and consideration of this project and the organization as a whole.
Ashley Ferris
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