For your convenience, Help a Child Survive has answered your frequently asked questions below.
Please note: Help a Child Survive consults with a council of imams who follow the Fiqh Council of North America for information about religious donations. It is advised that you consult with your local imam or scholar for more detailed inquiries.
At Help A Child Survive, we work hard to ensure that every penny is spent in the most effective way possible because we are accountable to our donors, to people in need all around the world, and most importantly; we are accountable to Allah (SWT). We’re happy to share our financial reports with everyone on our website: helpachildsurvive.com.
We work to make every dollar have the greatest impact, and receive matching gifts from some of the biggest companies in the United States. And often, our overseas affiliates are able to receive institutional funding that grows your gift further. This increases the power of your donation. Furthermore, a significant amount of our work is done by generous and hard-working volunteers who donate their time to stretch your dollars even farther.
Help a Child Survive is a member of the Islamic Relief (IR) Federation, which operates under Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW).
Through the IR Federation, we are able to use the collective resources of its members to fund field operations in over 40 countries across the world. This significantly lightens the burden of costs on each member and allows us to have a greater impact in the regions where we work. For instance, instead of Help A Child Survive covering the total costs of a field office in Yemen, we share that cost with all of the IR federated members. A local field office gives us access to timely information, to local staff who can move quickly and can get into hard-to-reach areas, to vital footage and reporting materials, and to other valuable resources.
The IR Federation collectively invests in local field staff and offices – so we don’t have to wait to try to gain access in times of emergencies; we are already there.
Help a Child Survive currently provides aid in more than 40 countries, including the United States.
Due to logistics and costs, Help a Child Survive can only consider accepting in-kind donations from institutional donors and manufacturers who deal primarily with in-kind goods as well as other NGOs.The cost to pack, ship, and distribute items from individual donors is typically greater than if they were purchased local to the area of crisis or from a neighboring country.
The most effective way to help Islamic Relief aid those in need is through a financial contribution. We encourage our donors to support their local community by giving in-kind goods to local mosques or organizations in their area who are best able to distribute the items to those in need. To learn about Help A Child Survive’s Gifts in Kind program, Contact Us.
As a US-based organization that upholds that highest credentials, Help a Child Survive regularly monitors US laws to ensure that we and our donors remain in compliance with complex and changing regulations. We also take all precautions to ensure that funds are never diverted from their charitable purposes. Also, large organizations such as ours can leverage better prices on large purchases, meaning your donation works in a more cost-effective manner. And donating to a recognized charity may qualify you for a tax deduction—seek clarification from your personal tax adviser.
Help a Child Survive receives no government funding. We have an excellent working relationship with the federal government. We work with US agencies such as the US Department of Agriculture on projects (see a related blog from the USDA website,).
Help a Child Survive’s leadership and staff also serves on boards, and regularly attend US government meetings related to the work we do. Each year, US Office of Personnel Management lists us in its Combined Federal Campaign catalogue as an approved charity to which employees are encouraged to donate.
Help a Child Survive consults with a council of imams who follow the Fiqh Council of North America for information about religious donations. The information we present is meant to provide a general understanding of the topics at hand. We highly recommend that you consult with your local imam or scholar for more detailed inquiries.
We have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS. O It is best to consult with your tax adviser to learn how you may be able to use your donation as a tax-deduction.
Help a Child Survive records contributions according to donor specifications or restrictions.
There are two types of restrictions that can be set:
Purpose restriction: This type of restriction is based on the donor’s specific faith-based or intention-driven giving, such as donations designated for particular causes, for example, supporting orphans or humanitarian projects aligned with religious or ethical beliefs. This ensures that funds are allocated according to the donor’s intended purpose, in line with their values. Purpose restriction examples are considered Islamic Giving: Zakat, Sadaqah, or Fidya/Kaffara.
Geographic restriction: This restriction pertains to the specific location or region where the donation is intended to be used. For example, a donor might choose to support projects in a particular country or region based on the area’s needs or their personal connection to that area. This ensures that funds are directed to where they are most needed in terms of local or regional impact.
You may donate to our Where Needed Most or our Humanitarian Aid funds. Money from these funds may be used for any project.
Yes. However, we don’t encourage it because it is very difficult to sell jewelry at a reasonable price.
Aqiqah is the tradition of giving charity after the birth of a new baby. Help A Child Survive does not currently have an aqiqah program available.
Help a Child Survive responds to Islamophobia and negative rhetoric against Islam by continuing our commitment to providing humanitarian relief and development to the most vulnerable individuals both at home and abroad, thereby demonstrating our core values of compassion, social justice and sincerity. We categorically condemn and abhor violence and extremism in any form. Following the tradition of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), we endeavor to overcome divides and unify communities through our humanitarian work, partnerships and advocacy efforts. We allow the essential work we do to speak for itself. By focusing on our humanitarian mission, and serving the world’s most vulnerable people, we showcase what Islam truly is about.
We want people to know the truth about our work and why we do it. We believe that investing in advocacy allows us to eliminate obstacles that could otherwise prevent us from doing our work effectively and reaching people in need all across the world. With the various challenges Muslims in America face, we recognize that we need to advocate for issues that are relevant to our mission and impact all domestic charities working to respond to humanitarian needs. That is why, in addition to continuing our programmatic humanitarian work, we have focused in recent years on increasing our advocacy efforts and dedicated resources to the task. We want to be part of the conversation, so we engage with the media to share positive stories that showcase the best of the American Muslim community.
We educate, engage, and partner with various agencies within the federal government, including the US Department of Agriculture, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and Health and Human Services. We facilitate dialogue with members of Congress and with state and local officeholders, such as mayors of the cities where we have offices and members of city councils. The Mayor of Alexandria visited our Alexandria, Virginia and read the City Council Statement of Inclusiveness, and are regularly invited to attend the New York City Mayor’s annual Ramadan iftar. When we talk to our leaders and representatives, we educate them about the great work our donors support and how we are working to make an impact in key humanitarian areas in their communities and around the world. Beyond the wide array of events that we host, we also engage extensively on policy, especially in coalition on matters related to our humanitarian work and protecting the space for non-profit organizations to implement their missions.
We find that by building relationships through engagement and education, and being good neighbors, we can transform sentiments of distrust and fear to curiosity, appreciation and, ultimately, friendship and unity.
Help a Child Survive has partnered with ShariaWiz to bring you an easy-to-use portal where you can create a will and more. The set-up will guide you through the process as well as setting up any bequests you’d like to dedicate to Help a Child Survive.
Help a Child Survive defines an orphan as a child younger than 18 who is living without one or both parents. The orphan may be of any gender, religion, or race.
Orphans are selected based on five main criteria: vulnerability, financial need, family size, housing conditions, and health. The families with the greatest need — such as larger families with dire financial situations — receive priority for sponsorship. Official documentation is required to confirm an orphan’s sponsorship, and the selection of children must not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, age, gender, or disability.
Yes! Currently, Help A Child Survive donors are helping sponsor Somali orphan refugees in Kenya; Palestinian orphan refugees in Jordan and Lebanon; Syrian orphan refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkiye; and Uyghur orphan refugees residing in Turkiye.
A donor can make the intention to donate for orphans with their Zakat as orphans are among the groups of vulnerable people who are eligible to receive Zakat funds. At Help A Child Survive, Zakat-specific funds are often used to support efforts for orphans and their communities. Please note, however, that donations made specifically to our Global Orphans and Children Programs fund incurs a different admin fee than the admin fee applied to our Zakat-specific funds.
In most cases, sponsorship funding is allocated to the orphan’s guardian in quarterly increments throughout the year. Of course, every country is different and there are unique circumstances that sometimes affect the frequency of payment or how the aid is delivered. Orphans are monitored to ensure that they are receiving the full benefits of sponsorship. This may include health checks and/or education for school-aged children.
You can sponsor an orphan as long as you wish, up to the age of 18. We require a minimum sponsorship time of one year because this allows us to plan ahead and maintain a consistent level of service to the orphan. However, in case of any difficulty, the sponsor may cancel at any time with advanced notice.
Yes. The sponsor and orphan are free to exchange correspondence via Help a Child Survive.
All sponsors receive a first (biodata) report on the child upon confirmation of the first donation payment. The first (biodata) report is emailed to sponsors typically six to eight weeks after initiating sponsorship. Annual progress reports will be sent based on availability from the respective field office.
According to Islamic tradition, when a Muslim is unable to fast during Ramadan and cannot make up the fasting days afterwards, he or she can pay fidya or kaffara in compensation.
Yes, you may donate to the Ramadan Food Aid Package fund. This fund supports countries across the world, including the US. When you make a donation to this fund, your donation is automatically disbursed based on where there is the greatest need. Each $125 donation provides food aid that will support a family for the entire month of Ramadan.
This varies according to your personal living standard. It is calculated by the cost of food for one day according to your preference and consumption.
Provisions differ from country to country. Many include rice, wheat, lentils, oil, sugar, canned fish or meat, and dates. In some countries, in place of a physical package of food, families are given vouchers to purchase the items they need the most. Connect with us via Support@helpachildsurvive.com to learn more.
The Ramadan Food Aid Fund supports countries, including Afghanistan, Albania, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Montenegro, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tanzania/Zanzibar, Togo, Turkey, Yemen, and the United States.
When you make a donation to this fund, your donation is automatically disbursed based on where there is the greatest need. Each $125 donation provides a food box that will support a family for the entire month of Ramadan.
The day of Eid can vary from country to country, as it is dependent on the sighting of the crescent moon. We recommend that you consult your local masjid or Islamic center for the most accuracy.
Help a Child Survive is pleased to accept your Zakat al-Fitr. These donations are used to pay for food that is distributed to communities in need around the world. In 2025, all Zakat al-Fitr collected will be used to distribute food in Gaza. Help A Child Survive has specific funds for Zakat and Zakat al-Fitr. Visit helpachildsurvive.com to learn more and donate.
Our program uses 100% halal meat. Meat is sourced locally whenever possible to support the local economy. It is distributed fresh whenever possible, though in difficult situations like conflict zones we may send frozen meat so it can arrive to the recipients in good condition. All logistics—from sacrifice to transportation—are handled in accordance with Islamic principle, and with the best hygienic practices possible.
Beneficiaries selected to receive meat include widows, orphans, the destitute, people of advanced age, people with disabilities, refugees, and disaster-affected populations—generally, people who cannot afford to buy meat often and whose diets are lacking in calories and nutrition. Many of the recipients of Udhiyah/Qurbani donations live in remote areas which are typically inaccessible. Islamic Relief makes every effort to reach them in order to provide aid to some of the most vulnerable community members.
Yes, Islamic Relief performs the Udhiyah/Qurbani during the day of Eid al-Adha and the ensuing three days of “tashreek“. However, under extreme circumstances, there may be exceptions due to factors such as the abundant number of Udhiyah/Qurbani or the volatile conditions on the ground in a particular country. In these cases, the Qurbani may be done after the fourth day of Eid. Scholars have approved this practice.
Islamic Relief does its utmost to deliver the meat as quickly as is possible. The distribution of meat may take up to two weeks, but in most cases, it is less. In rare circumstances, such as conflict zones, it may take a little longer.
No, because of the vast number of requests during this season, this practice becomes impossible. This is similar to the practice of offering sacrifice while on hajj. The scholars have approved the sacrifice without the names as long as the intention of the person was made. We suggest making the intention now.
Islamic Relief recognizes the various jurisprudence opinions (fiqh) in the Islamic tradition, and welcomes all to fulfill their religious right as they see fit.
We accept ordersup until the fourth day of Eid al-Adha. We prepurchase the animals and plan one year ahead of time. We also buy approximately 20% more animals, in order to fulfill all incoming requests.
Nisab is the minimum amount of wealth a Muslim must have—after calculating necessary expenses—to be eligible to contribute zakat. Nisab is equivalent to the current value of 3 ounces of gold. The nisab we’ve calculated for our Zakat calculator is based on the most-recent report available to us (disclaimer: this number may change daily depending on fluctuations in the gold exchange rate).
Hawl is defined as the completion period for a Zakat asset, which is one lunar year. In other words, the wealth on which Zakat should be paid must have been held for at least one full year. There are some forms of Zakat that do not require hawl, such as for crops, when Zakat should be paid at the time of the harvest. For clarification, it is recommended that you consult with your local imam or scholar.
Every adult Muslim who meets the requirements of nisab and hawl in a calendar year must pay Zakat for that year. There are some conditions that may require others, a wali (guardian) of a minor for instance, to pay Zakat too. As always, it is best to consult with your local imam or scholar for clarification.
Yes. In Islam, intention is an essential part of any act of worship, including the payment of Zakat. The intention must be made at the time the Zakat is paid.
For a detailed list of wealth to include, please see Help A Child Survive’s Zakat calculator.
These stipulations delineate the type of wealth that should be
accounted for when calculating zakat:
Zakat should be paid as soon as possible prior to or at the time that you’ve earned the requisite amount of nisab each lunar year, or one year after you last paid it. Tip: A good way to ensure Zakat is made in a timely fashion is to pay your zakat during Ramadan.
You may make your zakat contributions toward any of our funds or projects. It is your intention that counts in this case. However, if your contribution is specifically made to our Zakat fund, then we will follow specific Zakat guidelines.
Help A Child Survive follows the practice agreed upon by most scholars, which states that collectors of Zakat are one of the eight groups that are eligible to receive Zakat. As such, and per ourZakat policy, Help A Child Survive is eligible to use a percentage of donations made to Zakat-specific funds for core work, including administrative and operational functions. When Help A Child Survive works with other partners to implement programs, additional fees may be applied by those partners to cover their costs incurred at the administrative and programmatic levels. Here is the full breakdown of a donation made to an Help A Child Survive Zakat-specific fund:
Does this mean that 100% of your Zakat donation gets used in Zakat-eligible ways? YES!
According to the Holy Qur’an (9:60), there are eight categories of people who qualify to be beneficiaries of Zakat:
Most scholars agree that the poor and needy are the most important categories of people to receive zakat. Given that, it is acceptable to give your entire zakat allotment to individuals who are in those groups.
One does not have to pay Zakat on a primary place of residence. If the house qualifies as a secondary residence that sometimes get rented out, however, Zakat is due on it after subtracting necessary expenses from the income generated.
Yes, on jewelry you do not regularly wear and that you own for investment purposes.
Yes. You may use the current value on stocks.
In the language of the Holy Qur’an, Zakat and Sadaqah are the same. In practice, however, Sadaqah is the term used to indicate voluntary charitable giving while Zakat is obligatory.
Zakat al-Mal (commonly called “zakat“) is due when a person’s wealth reaches the nisab amount and can be paid anytime during the year. Zakat al-Fitr is paid by the head of the household for each member of the family, before Eid al-Fitr prayer. Zakat al-Fitr is about the price of one meal—currently estimated at $12.
Zakat al-Fitr should be paid on behalf of everyone in the family. There are some scholars that recommend that Zakat al-Fitr is also paid on behalf of unborn children after the 120th day of pregnancy, but do not view it as obligatory. Most scholars do agree, however, that Zakat al-Fitr should be paid on behalf of the baby after his/her birth. Please do consult with your local imam or scholar for further clarification.
It should be paid before Eid prayer (or any day during Ramadan). There are some schools of thought that also allow for Zakat al-Fitr to be paid even before Ramadan. Consult with your local imam or scholar if you need additional information.
Yes, you can make a Sadaqah donation through Help a Child Survive. You can choose the place or kind of work it does by selecting the appropriate regional, country or sector fund—or give to our global funds, and we’ll use it where needed most. We do also have a Sadaqah Jariyah fund you can select under the Islamic Giving category. Your Sadaqah donation can give families much-needed food, water, education, job opportunities, emergency relief, and much more.