Financial Ethos
‘Where will my money go?’
‘Who's to say it is spent correctly?’
‘How will I know?’
When considering contributing to a charitable cause, people often stop and worry how much of their money will actually reach those it is intended to help. Will the administration costs be exorbitant? Could there be unscrupulous individuals both here and abroad? And will poor management squander funds? These are just a few of the ways your goodwill could be diluted, but at Scholarships for Kids we actively plan against this eventuality.
We make every effort to ensure that your money is well spent, and to those ends we have adopted the following approaches with our spending and your funds.
Our Spending
To ensure that as much of your contributions reach those who so desperately need them, our efficiency is at the fore of every decision we make as an organisation. The lower our costs, the greater percentage of your money will reach its destination and the more children's lives we can change between us.
Of course every organisation has costs it must cover, but we feel a responsibility to those we support to keep them as low as possible.
Your Scholarship Donations
We take considerable care when it comes to deciding where to use your sponsorship money. Before a single penny is offered to help a child, there is a lengthy and thorough process to approve them for the scheme. This process ensures that only the most deserving and dedicated children, in the direst need, will benefit.
- Only a child recommended to the scheme by their teachers or school as having aptitude and drive, but whose future education and prospects are threatened by a lack of funding, will be considered.
- The child's school, teachers and family must show 100 per cent support for their continued education for the child even to be considered. This is necessary in order to prevent scholarships being squandered - for instance, if a child drops out before the end of their education. All those involved will be interviewed by our local representatives.
- The school must be prepared for the administrative responsibilities that come with the scholarship funds. Scholarship money is to be used, quite specifically, for the school fees, uniforms and books for the boy or girl, and each school must periodically produce proof as to how and when this money is spent.
- All children who receive our scholarships must also continuously prove their dedication to their education by achieving an excellent attendance record and passing their annual exams. All of this information will also be passed to us by the schools. Any child who fails to meet these basic standards will have their funding reviewed.
- Schools must not only meet, but also maintain, certain standards of care in order for their students, administration and academic achievement to be accepted, and then to retain their place, on our scheme. These standards are checked on a regular basis by our local representatives, and if they fall their status will be reviewed.
- We have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to misappropriation of funds.
We go to great lengths to select the right children to benefit from our scholarships and to monitor their progress. Your money will only be used for the specified purpose of paying for their schooling, along with their books, uniform and stationery when you make additional donations. Only those in most need, and with most chance of appreciating your generosity through completing their education, will receive your funds.
We constantly monitor the progress of every scholarship through reports from teachers and examination results for each child. If you wish, you may request to be included, so we can inform you of their academic progress.
If you would like to, please contribute a scholarship or make a donation towards the education of one of these children. Alternatively, contact us to find out more about Scholarships for Kids and how your generosity could change a child's life.