Donor Perspective

As a complex organisation that brings together donors, children and staff, we have obligations to fulfil in each area; expectations to be met and exceeded.  We believe we have identified through our research, key areas that are important to our donors and as such, support and abide by their corresponding requests as follows:

Specific Cause

Our charity supports a very specific project – the building and running of an orphanage in the Jaffna area of Sri Lanka.  Our donors will be directly influential in the lives of these 50 girls who with their support, will grow to become 50 strong and independent, educated women.  Our donor will be given every support to visit and see first-hand the affect of their charity.  We hope that for the benefit of the donors and the girls, there will be regular interaction (web-based, letters, presents, visits).  We hope this will be a lifelong relationship and not simply another blind donation

Concentrated Giving

Our donors philanthropic investments will be concentrated on this one project.  We believe in a focus on the quality of care is necessary as is continuity and stability.  As such, until we have accounted for all reasonable costs of money and time these 50 children need, we will not be embarking on further expansion in numbers or property.

Our Choice of Name


The Serendip Children’s Home charity is so called because we aspire to an earlier time in the country’s history when men lived in relative peace and as brothers.  It denotes neither religion nor caste, language nor polity.  We operate as a charity in the spirit of this name and hope our donors identify us thus.  

Direct Giving

We have a strict policy of never employing third-parties for financial remuneration to raise funds for our charity.  Neither do we pay for advertising.  Any fundraising proceeds will go directly for the benefit of the charity.  

No Executive Compensation

Our Board Members in the UK collect no remuneration for their work.  Neither do any members of the Executive Committee in Sri Lanka.

Financial Transparency

As a charity, we follow a strict code of behaviour regarding financial matters.    Operational costs are clearly unavoidable but a full breakdown of costs as they recur will be available on our website.  We support a culture of full financial transparency.   Any interested parties can request an up-to-date copy of our financial reports.

Legitimacy & Tax Exemption Status

The charity will be applying for tax-exempt status under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.   

Commitment to Donor's Rights

The Serendip Children’s Home charity has a donor privacy policy whereby our organization promises to never sell or trade the donor's contact information.

Discussion

We are willing and happy to engage with any donors, dialogue on our accomplishments, goals and challenges ahead.  Any insight, ideas donors may have is always welcome.  Our channels of communication will be web-based, letter-based, telephone-based, as well as face-to-face event-based and direct meetings by appointment.

We also support our donors’ interest in the children they will be sponsoring.  We have secured 25 computers for the home which we hope to utilise to make this possible.  We hope our donors will invite our girls into their homes and their lives in the spirit of family and likewise, that our girls feel part of this wider network.  Our website (including a members only area) will be the main and cheapest portal for this.   Eventually. We would like our donors to visit the site and where possible, to become involved in the project first-hand. 

A Long-Term Commitment

We see our donors as partners in our efforts to bring about change.  Only with long-term, committed supporters can we be successful.  We will therefore make every effort to ensure they are kept informed of our progress and invited to mark the coming milestones together.