Frequently Asked Questions

Philippines Humanitarian offers youth living in destitute conditions in the Philippines an opportunity to get an education so they can escape the cycle of poverty, improve their lives, and look forward to their future.

Philippines Humanitarian was started as a grassroots organization more than 20 years ago by Amelia & Diosdado Hernandez, Philippine natives living in the U.S. At the time, they were helping 12 students in the Village of Payatas, a community that was built on the largest open dumpsite in the Philippines. Mrs. Hernandez died in 2014 and Mr. Hernandez in 2019, but their children continue their legacy. Today, Philippines Humanitarian is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization helping two communities and over 270 students fulfill their dreams of a better life.

Philippines Humanitarian relies primarily on individual and corporate contributions for revenue. A fundraising event is also held annually to raise money (currently constituting approximately 25% of total revenue). Additionally, applying for grants is an ongoing endeavor that we hope will generate a larger percentage of future revenue.

We evaluate our success by:

Philippines Humanitarian offers the following programs that support our mission to provide indigent children with the resources they need to get an education and escape poverty:

Students and sponsors are encouraged to communicate with each other via Philippines Humanitarian. You can send any form of communication to us at the address below. Please include your child’s name with your correspondence. We will deliver any letters to the Kapatidkita Mahalkita Foundation (the certified NGO in the Philippines that administers our programs) to be distributed to your sponsored student(s).

Philippines Humanitarian
124 South 400 East, Suite 400
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
info@philippineshumanitarian.org

You can also send letters directly to Kapatidkita Mahalkita Foundation at:

Kapatidkita Mahalkita Foundation
ATTN: Eva Aquino, Program Director
Lonergan Center, Loyola House of Studies
Ateneo de Manila University
Loyola Heights, Quezon City
Philippines

Please note that, for the protection of anyone involved in our program, we reserve the right to read any exchanges between sponsor and child.

Yes! Please contact us at (801) 613-8189 or send an email to info@philippineshumanitarian.org if you are interested in sending a personal gift to your student. We do not recommend that our sponsors send packages with any monetary value (including checks or cash) through the Philippine postal service. If possible, please include your gifts in the Balikbayan Boxes we send at least once a year (typically in May) or ask us about making a direct wire transfer for cash gifts.

Yes, we strongly encourage our sponsors to support their students through at least Grade 12, if at all possible. In fact, many of our sponsors have chosen to sponsor their student(s) through college. It should be noted that the contribution amount of $20/month increases to $24/month once the student begins Grade 7, and then again to $27/month once the student graduates from high school (Grade 10) and begins college preparatory courses (Grades 11-12) that are required to qualify to apply for college. If the student qualifies for college, the level of sponsorship is $40/month/student. Please note that any contribution a sponsor makes towards their student’s education is sincerely appreciated by the student and their family.

Because we closely monitor our students and their families to ensure they are meeting program requirements, most of our students remain in the program through high school graduation (Grade 10). However, it is important to note that a very small percentage (less than 5%) have to leave the program because of unforeseen circumstances, such as a death in the family, additional financial burdens that necessitate their relocation, inability to go to school on a regular basis because of chronic illness, etc. In the unlikely event that your student drops out of the program, we will notify you immediately so you can decide whether to continue your involvement by sponsoring another student in need.

Since we were approved by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2012, more than 375 elementary, high school, and college students have received much-needed educational sponsorships from the almost 200 individuals and businesses who have participated in our Student Sponsorship Program. Our organization also awarded 87 one-year college scholarships to students with outstanding academic performance and a commitment to “pay it forward.” In total, 45 of our students have graduated from college, and all are employed, many in their field of study.

There are many ways to get involved in any of the programs we offer:

Yes. Because Philippines Humanitarian (EIN 45-5327723) is an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, your donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Philippines Humanitarian does not charge any fees and 100% of your donation will be used as instructed. In fact, we pay for any transaction fees ourselves, to ensure that your students get the full value of your contributions. Please note that we allocate $2 of monthly student sponsorships for grade K-12 students, and $4 of monthly student sponsorships for college students, to our NGO partner in the Philippines for managing the Student Sponsorship Program on the ground. The remainder of student sponsorship contributions go directly to the students and their families.

We give our donors the option to designate their contribution as “unrestricted.” If that is the case, our Board of Directors will determine the best use of your donation.

Please consult your lawyer about drafting a will that includes Philippines Humanitarian as a beneficiary in your will or trust.