Organization
Projects
		General
		Sponsor a family
Contributions
		General
		On-line services
		Distribution of funds
		Taxes
Statistics

1. How does BLESS USA differ from other Coptic relief organizations in America?
   BLESS USA is the official nonprofit charity organization of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United States. It serves many Copts with various needs in different areas of Egypt. It is regulated and supervised by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III , along with H.G. Bishop Youannes and H.G. Bishop David.

2. Is BLESS USA staffed by volunteers, or paid staff?
   Through God’s grace, BLESS USA has been functioning with the assistance of a voluntary, part-time staff. There are no paid employees or staff members of BLESS USA.

3. Does BLESS USA have office hours?
   Yes, currently the office hours are Tuesday-Thursday from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM EST. Messages are retrieved daily and calls are usually returned within 24 hours.

4. Who supervises BLESS USA in America?
   At the Archdiocese of North America, where BLESS USA is located, His Grace Bishop David supervises and monitors BLESS USA’s activities.

5. Are previous members of BLESS CA, BLESS International and BLESS NJ now members of BLESS USA?
   Yes, all previous members of those organizations automatically became members of BLESS USA.

1. Is there a minimum amount of money required to participate in a BLESS USA project?
   No. BLESS USA welcomes any contribution for any amount. There is no minimum.

2. Can one send contributions to a certain church or monastery?
   BLESS USA diligently attempts to deliver contributions to our beloved churches and monasteries in Egypt.
   If for any reason we cannot deliver it, the contributor is contacted for instructions on how to proceed. In most cases, however, we are successful in finding a way to send these contributions.

3. Why is there an education fund if education in Egypt is free?
   Even though education is free, students still need to pay fees and buy supplies. Also the need for private tutoring has greatly increased in the Egyptian education system.

4. Can one send money to a relative in need or someone they know through BLESS USA?
   Contributors can only send to individuals who are registered with the Charity Department of the Bishopric of Public, Ecumenical & Social Services (BLESS). These individuals must first be assessed by the Charity Department as needing support.

5. Have you tried to obtain funds from the US Government or from any other outside sources?
   BLESS USA is currently researching options that will enable us to obtain funds from outside sources. If you have any suggestions, please contact BLESS USA.

Sponsor A Family Project

6. Is the Sponsor-a-Family project a one-time contribution, or will I have to contribute every month?
   The sponsor-a-family project can occur one time if the contributor so wishes; however, most people contribute monthly. There are also some individuals who choose to contribute semi-annually and annually. It is flexible and dependent on the contributor.

7. Is there a specific or minimum amount to sponsor a family?
   No, one can contribute any amount. Each family has different circumstances and needs. If a family's needs are not met by a sponsor's contribution, the remainder of that family's support comes from the BLESS USA General Fund.

8. Can a contributor obtain the names and addresses of the people they sponsor?
   We do not have any biographical information about the individuals sponsored, rather a description of each family's situation.
   Since we have promised confidentiality to those whom we serve, we need to preserve their dignity and privacy. We also need to be sensitive to their feelings and self-dignity.

9. Can the contributor choose from the sponsor-a-family list the type of family condition or situation he/she wants to sponsor?
   The assignment of families to contributors is random because all of the families are in desperate need. BLESS tries to provide for all the different types of cases and to meet their needs accordingly.
   Random assignment eliminates preferential distribution and exclusion of particular persons or groups.

10. If families on the sponsor list are not sponsored by contributors, do they receive money anyway?
    Yes. Even if a specific family is not sponsored by contributors, they still receive funds from the General Fund of BLESS USA.

11. Can a contributor sponsor a certain family they know in Egypt?
    Contributors can only send to individuals who are registered with the Charity Department of the Bishopric of Public, Ecumenical & Social Services (BLESS). One can sponsor a certain family only if they have been assessed by the Charity Department as needing support.

1. How can I become a member of BLESS USA?
   One can become a member by contacting BLESS USA, registering on-line, or sending a contribution.

2. How can one contribute to BLESS USA?
   There are several ways one can contribute to BLESS USA:
   1. Sending a check or money order to BLESS USA at PO Box 384, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009.
   2. If one chooses to contribute with a credit card, they can do so on-line, or by contacting BLESS USA.
   3. For those who want to contribute every month, they can schedule automatic deductions from their checking accounts or credit cards. This option is available by contacting BLESS USA and on-line.
   4. Through the matching gift program. This program is one where your employer matches your contribution to BLESS USA, double, or even triple, it. There are over 3,600 companies that match contributions made to an organization like BLESS USA. To obtain this list, please contact BLESS USA, or you can search for your company on-line to see if your employer participates in this program. Please note that the on-line search is sensitive to the exact spelling and spacing of the company's name.

3. Is there a minimum amount of money required to participate in a BLESS USA project?
   No. BLESS USA welcomes any contribution for any amount. There is no minimum.

4. Can we send clothing or equipment rather than money?
   Currently BLESS USA does not send clothes or equipment to Egypt. However, we are researching the feasibility of such services.

5. What percentage of funds raised actually go to Egypt, and what is the percentage of administrative costs?
   Administrative costs fluctuate between 7-10%. Thus 90-93% of the contributions go directly to Copts in Egypt who are in need.

6. What is the matching gift program?
   A matching gift program is one where your employer may match your contribution to BLESS USA, double, or even triple, it. There are over 3,600 companies that match gifts made to an organization like BLESS USA.
   A list of these companies is available through BLESS USA. Through a directory, you can see whether your company participates in a matching gift program.
   To obtain this list/directory of companies: contact BLESS USA, contact your human resources/personnel office, or search the database of companies on our web site. Please note that the on-line search is sensitive to the exact spelling and spacing of the company's name.

7. Can one give their contribution during the church presentations conducted by BLESS USA?
   Church presentations are reserved for informing people about the BLESS USA service. The intention is not to collect contributions or raise funds. Thus it is preferable that one sends their contribution directly to BLESS USA.
   For your convenience, business reply envelopes are available with the servants at the time of the presentation so that contributors can send directly to BLESS USA without postage.

On-line Services

8. Is there a way to contribute online?
   Yes. Now available on BLESS USA’s secured web page, you can safely make contributions online by credit card or through your checking/savings account. You can contribute one time, or schedule automatic monthly contributions.

9. Can I find a list of matching gift companies on-line?
   You can search the database of matching gift companies on-line to see if your employer participates in the matching gift program.

10. Can I contribute with a check on-line?
    Yes. Now available on BLESS USA’s secured web page, you can safely make contributions online by credit card or through your checking/savings account. You can contribute one time, or schedule automatic monthly contributions.

Distribution of Funds

11. Who handles and supervises the distribution of funds?
    Under the leadership of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, along with His Grace Bishop Youannes, funds are distributed to Copts who are disadvantaged and in need.
    His Holiness Pope Shenouda III personally meets many of the people who are in need every Thursday in Cairo, and every other Saturday in Alexandria.

12. Is there a report published about where and how the funds were distributed?
    Annually BLESS in Egypt issues a comprehensive report on how and where funds were used.

13. How and when is the money sent to Egypt?
    The money is wired to the BLESS account in Egypt every month. The bank to which funds are wired is secure.

14. Do any of the funds sent go to the building of churches in Egypt or any other project(s)?
    No. All of the funds BLESS USA sends to Egypt are used exclusively for distribution to the people who are in need.

15. Does BLESS USA help those in need in Cairo only?
    No. BLESS USA funds are not directed only to individuals in Cairo, but are extended and distributed to people in need in different parts of Egypt. For example, funds have been previously sent to the dioceses of Deir-Moass, Koussia, Manfaalout, Abanoub, Abou-Teeg and Deirut.
    However because of current limited funds, we are unable to reach out to all the impoverished areas of Egypt.

16. How does a person in Egypt become eligible for assistance from BLESS?
    A person who is in need first seeks aid from the priest in his/her church. If the priest is unable to provide for them, then that person, along with the priest, will seek help from the bishop of their diocese.
    In the event the diocese is unable to provide for that person, the bishopric will supply him/her with a letter stating their condition and needs, which they in turn take to BLESS for assessment and processing.
    For people who do not live in areas where there are dioceses, they first seek help from their priest. If the priest is unable to provide for their needs, he issues them a letter, which they then take to BLESS for evaluation and processing.
    This cooperative effort between BLESS, the dioceses and the churches ensures that the burden is not placed on one entity so that as many people as possible are helped.

17. Are funds in Egypt evenly distributed, or are they distributed only to certain individuals?
    Funds are distributed to individuals based on their need; a family of four may need less funds than a family of six.
    The BLESS team in Egypt, led by H.G. Bishop Youannes, keeps comprehensive track of individuals who receive funds from BLESS USA. BLESS extensively investigates and verifies every case it receives for aid. A careful and thorough evaluation method is used to identify individuals in need and assess their situation:
    1. Assessment - H.G. Bishop Youannes, along with the BLESS team, meets with individuals who will receive funds from BLESS USA to determine legitimacy and need.
    2. Distribution - funds are then distributed based on need.
    3. Follow-up - individuals who received funds are monitored in order to ensure that funds given are used for the purpose intended.
    4. Reassessment and update - His Grace Bishop Youannes and the BLESS team in Egypt work diligently to ascertain whether the situations of individuals receiving funds from BLESS USA are deteriorating or improving. Records are then updated.
    5. Redistribution - depending on the findings of the reassessment and update of a situation, funds are then redistributed accordingly.

18. Do funds go to Copts who are victims of militants, and how are these Copts helped by BLESS in general?
    Yes, BLESS USA has a special fund for such situations. Some of the families who receive contributions from BLESS USA are victims of fanatical attacks, or terrorism. These individuals are assisted with contributions of money, clothing, economic opportunity assistance, medical assistance, educational assistance, etc. to help them recuperate.

19. Does BLESS USA benefit our non-Christian brothers & sisters as well?
    As there are many organizations that help our non-Christian brothers and sisters, BLESS USA focuses on alleviating the suffering of Copts in Egypt. We are unable to directly aid them because of the limited funds and resources.
    The Development Department of BLESS in Egypt turns very poor villages into stable, productive and self-sufficient communities. Through these development projects, all inhabitants of poor villages, both Christians and non-Christians, benefit.

Taxes

20. Are my contributions tax-deductible?
    Yes, all contributions are tax-deductible.

21. How are receipts of contributions handled for IRS tax-filing purposes?
    In February following the close of a fiscal year, BLESS USA sends a summary contribution statement to every contributor, according to IRS regulations.
    This statement is used as a receipt for tax-exemption purposes.

22. Are any of the funds taxable in the United States or Egypt?
    BLESS USA is a tax-exempt organization in the U.S. under IRC 501 (c) 3.
    All contributions are tax-deductible.
    The funds that go to Egypt are not taxed by the Egyptian government.

1. Where do we get the statistics used in the presentations?
   The statistics we use have been compiled from current sources such as the United Nations 1998 Human Development Report and World Bank Report 1998. These groups work to assist the needy in many countries around the world.
   A list of statistic sources is available upon request.

2. What is meant by poverty, adequate sanitation, and illiteracy?
   Poverty: people who are living with less than $2/day.
   Adequate sanitation: access to proper, safe, and clean waste matter disposal, such as bathrooms and outhouses.
   Illiteracy: the ability of an adult to write a paragraph composed of 2-3 complete sentences about his/her day, life, job, etc.