It’s a good question to ask…and we are happy to share with you.  Light Up Hope is dedicated to keeping our administrative costs at or below 15% of every dollar donated.  So that means all of our US Based operations – or “administrative costs” (staff, marketing, web services, travel, events) are covered with just $.15 of any dollar you donate.  Any administrative costs over 15% are covered by designated administrative donations or volunteer services.

So what about the other 85%?

The bulk of every donation goes directly to supporting children in Kenya.  We carefully track each program and project to make sure we are first providing for the monthly costs of operating Hope Children’s Home (food, clothing, caretakers, shelter and education for the children) and then hitting our goals for empowerment programs, emotional care and support, and capital projects with our partner, Candlelight Ministries and Hope Children’s Home.  You can feel assured that your donation is directly impacting orphans and children in need.  You can read detailed descriptions of  our programs below, and keep checking back on our blog where we frequently feature stories and photos of your donations in action: providing healing orphan care and lighting a path out of poverty!

Program Descriptions

Capital Expenditures (25%) – provides for the cost to construct a new structure on the land, to improve/remodel any existing structures on the land and the cost to purchase any land or property.  Does not include construction, renovation or purchase of farming property or farming improvements or livestock purchases.

Emotional Care Training and Staffing (25%) – includes educating and training existing staff in caring for the emotional needs of the children in the program.  Training/educating can come from trade schools, universities, or paying to bring in professionals to put on workshops, etc. from Kenya and/or the United States.  Also includes cost of hiring counselors either as consultants or full time staff.

Empowerment Programs (45%) – programs designed to assist Hope Children’s Home and beneficiaries of programs run through Hope Children’s Home with assistance to break the cycle of poverty and dependence.  Includes:

• Guardians support –  Assistance for guardians welcoming an orphan or vulnerable child into their home for care (with monitoring), rather than relinquishing the child to an orphanage or children’s home.  These programs include monthly support and (if appropriate) grants to cover small business loans.
• High School Education – providing day school or boarding school fees for secondary education for children living at Hope Children’s Home.  Any excess budget available  may be used to assist Kitale community members and/or Candlelight School graduates with high school fees (with approval/review by LUH).
• Family Unification  – cost to assist families to keep children in their homes, rather than relinquishing the child to Hope Children’s Home.  These programs include monthly support and (if appropriate) grants to cover small business loans.
• Foster Care Support – cost to assist foster families in welcoming an orphan or vulnerable child into their home for care with monitoring.
• Empowerment Post Graduates – assistance for post graduates from Hope Children’s Home with post-secondary education, job skills training, professional internships, and if appropriate grants to cover small business loans.
• Empowerment Transition Program – assistance for transitional programming to post-graduates.  This includes housing assistance, life skills training and any staff costs associated with transitional housing, counseling and monitoring.  Training/educating may come from trade schools, universities, or paying to bring in professionals to put on workshops, etc. from Kenya or the United States
• Empowerment Farming  – assistance to run farming operating at Hope Children’s Home: planting, weeding, fertilizing, harvesting, etc. of farm located on the Hope Children’s Home Property.  Also includes cost of improving or developing farming techniques and technology, and hiring farming experts or farming staff.  This category may also be used for fish farming and raising livestock and other agricultural animals intended for consumption or sale to benefit Hope Children’s Home.
• Empowerment Kenyan Staff – assistance for education opportunities to the staff and directors of Hope Children’s Home,  when appropriate may be used for grants to cover small business loans to staff, etc.