Frequently Asked Questions
- Are contributions to ARFC tax-deductible? Is ARFC a 501(c)3 organization?
- How did ARFC get started?
- How does ARFC affect the HIV/AIDS situation in China?
- China has begun to provide free treatment for AIDS patients. Why do we need to have charity groups like ARFC?
- What makes ARFC special?
- In what area(s) of AIDS work is ARFC most interested? Prevention or treatment? Urban or rural?
- How does ARFC do due diligence and keep tabs on the use of the money that goes overseas?
- How does ARFC select its grantees?
- How many people are involved with ARFC?
- What is the annual budget of ARFC? How many paid staff?
- What percent of my donation to ARFC will go to grant-making in China?
- How does one apply for a grant from ARFC?
- What can I do to help ARFC besides donating money?
Are contributions to ARFC tax-deductible? Is ARFC a 501(c)3 organization?
Yes, all contributions to ARFC are tax-deductible. ARFC does not have its own 501(c)3 status at the present time. It is a donor-advised fund of the Tides Foundation and under its management. All donations go directly to the Tides Foundation first and funds are distributed upon the request of our board.
How did ARFC get started?
Mr. Roger Chow, a long-time Bay area resident and former social worker, realized there was not a local public charity organization that was doing AIDS work in China. He convened two focus groups to assess the level of interest among Asian AIDS activists. Soon a small group of volunteers formed an initial interim board for the AIDS Relief Fund for China.
How does ARFC affect the HIV/AIDS situation in China?
ARFC's mission is to support broad-based organizations that are working to combat AIDS in China. Most of our grants go to grassroots non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that work in local communities.
China has begun to provide free treatment for AIDS patients. Why do we need to have charity groups like ARFC?
China has announced a new progressive policy with respect to HIV/AIDS testing and treatment. This is very helpful for the rural poor. But outreach and education does not extend to everyone. The lack of public awareness and the stigma of AIDS are not addressed by the current plan. Many people who are HIV+ are stigmatized for being gay, using drugs or selling sex. Unless the society becomes more accepting, they will most likely continue their risky behavior without revealing themselves. Stigma can be potentially more lethal than the virus. Supporting NGOs in China to reduce stigma is critical in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
What makes ARFC special?
ARFC gives small grants to China's grassroots organizations which do AIDS education and service work. Many of these grassroots groups cannot easily find international funding support. ARFC is particularly interested in nurturing the growth of the small, new groups. We see this as our niche. ARFC takes its model from the Global Greengrant Fund (GGF) which is a regranting organization. GGF's grant size is $1,000 to $5,000 and its coverage is broad. In the last few years, we have witnessed the effectiveness and the success of GGF in supporting green groups for the protection of the environment. ARFC strives to do the same in the area of fighting AIDS.
In what area(s) of AIDS work is ARFC most interested? Prevention or treatment? Urban or rural?
ARFC has limited resources and we look for opportunities to place our grants where we can effect change. Obviously, we cannot help in capital building projects, policy change, epidemiology studies, and treatment of individual patients. We invest our resources in HIV-awareness education, HIV-testing and counseling, condom distribution, programs that provide care and support to AIDS affected families, and anti-stigma campaigns. We support pilot projects, start-up groups, and leadership development. We have worked with diverse community groups in various provinces of China, such as men who have sex with men, people with HIV, rural women, commercial sex workers, drug users, and students.
How does ARFC do due diligence and keep tabs on the use of the money that goes overseas?
First, we physically visit our potential grantees. The program director and our in-country advisors keep close tabs on our grantees. We encourage open communication and transparency. We also ask for a simple report from everyone who has received money from us. Usually the report is due six months to a year from the date the grant is issued. Secondly, we often fund tangibles. We don't usually pay for salaries. We pay for promotional and educational materials, or for condoms and HIV testing kits that actually bear our name as a sponsor. Thirdly, we do cross referencing with other community activists and funders. If there is questionable conduct, we will hear of it from our trusted advisors. And the fact that we only give small grants greatly reduces the risk of corruption.
How does ARFC select its grantees?
Our grantees are nominated by our program director and in-country nominating advisors. When we find a group that is a potential good fit, we will find time to visit them or call them up for a telephone interview. We have found that many NGOs may not be able to write a good proposal, but can do great work. We also found that some NGOs can write great proposals, but their capacity to develop is questionable.
How many people are involved with ARFC?
ARFC is not a membership group. ARFC has a five member board and many active volunteers and advisors. We also have five in-country advisors (in China). As of August 2004, more than 100 people have donated to this cause.
What is the annual budget of ARFC? How many paid staff?
In 2004, the total annual budget is $30,000. We have divided the budget into two portions: $21,000 (70% of the budget) for grants, and $9,000 (30%) for expenses and development. We pay the Tides Foundation management fees which roughly amount to 15% (5% flat rate on all income and $250 due diligence fee per grant). We have about $4,500 to spend on the first year's development and bills. In order to preserve our operating funds, all of our board members and advisors pay their own travel expenses when they visit grantees in China.
What percent of my donation to ARFC will go to grant-making in China?
In 2004, 70% of your giving is going to China. Our annual budget for 2004 is $30,000. 30% or $9,000 is reserved to pay for the Tides Foundation management fees and our first year's operation and development costs. This ratio will be revised once we start to bring in more income. It is our goal to reduce the percentage that goes to operating costs after the first year.
How does one apply for a grant from ARFC?
Send us an email inquiry. If you are a China-based registered group working in AIDS education/service, we are interested in knowing your work. Once we receive your message, we will schedule a verbal interview with you. Our program director or nominating advisors will bring your information to our board, which meets every other month, for approval.
What can I do to help ARFC besides donating money?
ARFC has two public fundraising events a year. We need many volunteers to help us out. And we are also looking for friends to sponsor house parties to raise money. Most importantly, please tell others about what we do. ARFC also convenes experts for brainstorming discussions. If you are interested in these, please send us an email: info@arfcusa.org or leave a message at 415-820-9630. If you have specific professional skills that may be helpful to us, please let us know. We need volunteers who are skilled in the areas of law, fundraising-development, grant-writing, translation between English and Chinese, and website design and maintenance. Contact us at info@arfcusa.org or 415-820-9630.
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