General FAQ's
1 - What is International Orphans Foundation?
The International Orphans Foundation (IOF) is a Christian faith-based, licensed non-profit 501-C3 organization. IOF advocates for indigenous-run, church-based, family-style children's homes in the world’s neediest areas. Our organization works in two ways. First, we provide orphans with humanitarian aid by building partnerships with native missionaries. Second, we recruit sponsors for orphans or entire orphanages by sharing our program through church presentations.
2 - How does the International Orphans Foundation work?
The International Orphans Foundation (IOF) establishes children’s homes for 10-12 orphans. The homes are financially supported by sponsors of IOF. Native missionaries are selected to be the home parents, providing the emotional support and care every child needs and deserves to grow into a happy and healthy adulthood. IOF recruits sponsors from this website and through church presentations.
3 - How and when did the International Orphans Foundation start?
The International Orphans Foundation (IOF) was established in 2000 by Glenn Russo, who expanded his own adoptive experience into an even greater opportunity to serve God. After participation in other orphan-centered programs, he realized not every one of the world’s countless orphans will be adopted and there is a great need to ensure all orphans would have someone close by to care for their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. From 2000 to 2007, IOF focused on orphan adoption, but has since shifted its focus to orphan sponsorship.
4 - Where does the International Orphan Foundation work?
The world headquarters of the International Orphan Foundation (IOF) is located in Middletown, Connecticut, USA. IOF’s India headquarters is located in New Delhi, India. Currently, IOF has established twelve children’s homes throughout India and has future plans for establishing many more children’s homes in other countries.
5 - How does the International Orphan Foundation select locations for the children’s homes?
We consider two main attributes when selecting which areas will receive our aid. The first is how much aid the government provides its orphans. Typically, third-world countries lack strong national programs geared towards caring for orphans and need outside funding and direction. The second is the strength of the local missionaries’ infrastructure. For example, a strong network of churches provide the most opportunities for establishing children’s homes with existing local churches. We also help expand their network by planting new churches with the one condition of establishing a children’s home along with the new church. India prominently displays these two attributes, which is why we have focused our efforts there.
6 - How does the International Orphan Foundation select the home parents for the children’s homes?
The home parents are selected through the local church network, which can contact the most appropriate native missionaries. All those who are interested are then interviewed before meeting the orphans.
7 - How does the International Orphan Foundation select the orphans for the children’s homes?
We use a priority tier system for selecting orphans. The first priority orphans are those who have lost both of their parents and have no relatives to care for them. The second priority is orphans who have lost one parent and the other is dysfunctional and unable to care for their child. The next priority is those children with two dysfunctional parents, niether are capable of caring for their child.
8 - Does the International Orphans Foundation have a preference for boy or girl orphans?
No, the International Orphans Foundation selects each orphan based only on our priority tier system.
9 - What is the average age of the orphans?
The average age of the orphans in our children’s homes is between 8-12 years old.
10 - How many children are cared for in each children’s home?
We typically allow 10-12 orphans in each home because we feel that is the largest size a close-knit family can be. One of our most important goals is that each orphan receives individual attention. When a large institutional orphanage takes in twenty, thirty, or even hundreds of orphans, it is difficult for the caregivers to notice if one particular child needs extra support. Our family-style homes are designed to cultivate a loving environment where each orphan feels they are cherished.
11 - Why does the International Orphans Foundation use native missionaries?
Native missionaries are much better suited for caring for the orphans from their area than a foreign missionary because they speak the same language and have a deeper understanding of the culture and community needs. Using native missionaries is also more cost-effective because they are comfortable in a third-world setting where sometimes there is no electricity and the water comes from a well. We also use native missionaries to support the efforts of the local church rather than Americanizing their way of life.
12 - Do orphans have to become Christians to live in an International Orphans Foundation children’s home?
No. We do not require the orphans to become Christian. However, we do expect participation in morning devotional prayer and church activities. As a faith-based organization it is our hope that the orphans will decide on their own to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. If an orphan found it difficult to participate in our religious activities, we would strive to find another orphanage better suited for their culture/spiritual needs.
13 - How much of my donation goes to the orphans?
100% of all donations go directly to the orphans unless otherwise specified.
14 - Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes! The International Orphans Foundation is a licensed non-profit 501c3 organization, which makes all donations tax-deductible.
15 - What makes the International Orphans Foundation stand out from other organizations that help orphans?
Some of the distinctive aspects of IOF that differ from other orphan-centered organizations are:
- We stress the spiritual part of helping orphans as well as the humanitarian.
- We value a small, family-style setting for our children’s homes in order for each child to receive individual attention.
- Our homes are run by native missionaries so the orphans don’t lose their culture.
- We are one of the cost-effective sponsorship programs.
- All IOF children homes are associated with local churches.
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Sponsor a Children's Home FAQ's
1 - How much does it cost to sponsor a children’s home?
The cost to sponsor a children’s home monthly is $390, yearly is $4,680.
2 - What specific benefits do the orphans receive through sponsorship of a children’s home?
All children receive clean water, food, clothing, shelter, education, medical care, and spiritual guidance through sponsorship. Your sponsorship also supports the native missionaries who serve as the orphans’ home parents.
3 - Can an individual sponsor a children’s home?
Yes. Typically an entire church sponsors a children’s home. However, any individual who wants to support more than one orphan is welcome to sponsor an entire children’s home.
4 - How do the sponsors communicate with the orphans in the children’s home?
You can exchange letters and photos with the orphans. The home parents will also send progress reports periodically.
5 - May gifts be sent to the children’s home?
Yes! Gifts are a great way to show the orphans they are cared about by so many people.
6 - Does a children’s home sponsorship require the sponsors to hold and practice specific Christian beliefs?
No. We accept and appreciate donations from anyone who wishes to support our mission.
7 - If a children’s home sponsorship must be discontinued, what happens to the children’s home?
The International Orphans Foundation will continue supporting any children home which loses its sponsorship until a new sponsor is found.
8 - Is there a minimum period of sponsorship?
No, you may cancel your sponsorship at any time. However, we prefer a minimum commitment of 5 years.
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Sponsor an Orphan FAQ's
1 - How much does it cost to sponsor an orphan?
$25 is all it takes for a monthly orphan sponsorship. The reason we can keep the sponsorship amount so low is our use of native missionaries as opposed to westerners who would require a higher standard of living.
2 - What specific benefits does a child receive through sponsorship?
All children receive clean water, food, clothing, shelter, education, medical care, spiritual guidance and so much more through sponsorship.
3 - Does each orphan have only one sponsor?
Yes. You will be the sole supporter of that orphan which you can exchange letters and prayers one-on-one if you desire.
4 - How do I communicate with the orphan I sponsor?
You can exchange letters and photos with your sponsored orphan. The home parents will also send progress reports periodically.
5 - May I send gifts to the orphan I’m sponsoring?
Yes! Gifts are a great way to show your sponsored orphan he or she is cared about by someone across the world.
6 - Must I hold and practice specific Christian beliefs to sponsor an orphan?
No. We accept and appreciate donations from anyone who wishes to support our mission.
7 - If I must discontinue my orphan sponsorship, what happens to the child I’m helping?
The International Orphans Foundation will continue supporting any children home which loses its sponsorship until a new sponsor is found.
8 - Is there a minimum period for sponsorship?
No, you may cancel your sponsorship at any time. However, we prefer a minimum commitment of 5 years.
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