How to Help

Effectiveness of Donations

Every dollar donated to St. Joseph’s Mission Fund is used to support the neediest people in the world. There are no salaries paid or expenditures for overhead expenses associated with the Fund (view the latest IRS form 990). Volunteers handle all administrative functions, and administrative expenses are borne by the Board members. Local administrators in India and Africa determine the specific needs to be supported thus ensuring the funds are put to best use. Most of our donations are used to support daily needs or to fund vital permanent improvements. There is also the opportunity to fund Special Projects which are  not within our normal budget.

Special Projects

November 2022 Solar Panel Addition – $5400

We need to rethink our energy bill at the Center since the Tamil Nadu state government recently has announced a price hike per unit above the baseline.I had discussions with a few agents regarding solar panel systems. They have suggested two possibilities. One with batteries and the second without batteries. The accessories for the installation like solar panel, PCU unit, battery, switches, protection devices, box, earthling, cable, galvanized pole for mounting all comes to nearly $5400 for a specified area.

For a non-battery system, the cost is about $1000 lower but would involve more paperwork such as an agreement with the electric utility board. And of course there are too many changes in the EB departments every now and then and revamping of government policies continuously. They need to yet establish a customer friendly guidelines and policies with regard to non-conventional energy. There is a kind of delay in policy making still and proactive mode is remote. Moreover we can’t surrender the existing EB lines and the existing tariffs.

Unfortunately the savings from solar energy is yet to be calculated, maintenance costs are uncertain and the service provider’s loyalty is not examined. This is my first research regarding this subject and reporting. But I could do more research works and report you if necessary.

Let me know whether we could take this initiative.

 Housing – $650 per house

SJMF is funding construction of low cost “houses” for poor and homeless villagers in the Assam region of India. These people often have no place to live and appreciate even the most rudimentary shelter. A photo of one such new house is shown here. Our long term goal is construction of a total of 50 homes at a current cost of $650 each. Funding for all or part of these remaining homes would be greatly appreciated.

A new masonry house with sanitation facility can be built through Habitat for Humanity at an estimated cost of $4000. Renovation of an existing masonry house (new wall, add door, painting, adding flooring, etc.) can be made starting about $650.

Various Other Projects

  • Well  Drilling:    Under 100 feet (hand drilling, hand pump) ($275). More than 100 feet (machine drilling and electric pump)   $650
  • Sanitation facility (toilet and bathing place)  $425
  • Livestock:  Goat $50    Cow $375
  • Leper family food assistance:  $500 per month
  • Dowry for bride (orphan): $6500
  • Advanced Education :
    • Teacher training certificate (two years)  $4625
    • Degree in Education (1 year)   $4000
    • Engineering Degree (4 years)  $17, 500

SJMF welcomes your support for any of these specific needs.

Donate by Mail

Although contributions could be mailed directly to the Administrator of the orphanage in Vellamadam, mail is often lost and never arrives there. The unreliable mail system was one of the reasons several donors banded together to form SJMF in order to ensure that donations were received reliably.

Unrestricted donations give us the best latitude to respond to the most pressing and immediate needs. If you would prefer to specify how your donation is to be used, you need only enclose a short note, or even annotate your check appropriately. Directed gifts will be used as specified by the donor.

Mail donations to:
St. Joseph’s Mission Fund
1250 S. Washington St. # 209
Alexandria, VA 22314

You will receive a written receipt for each donation by letter, usually within a month.

Donate Online

Making a cash donation to St. Joseph’s Mission Fund online through the PayPal secure service is easy and safe. [Note that PayPal deducts a small charge for their service from your donation (usually 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction).] To assure your privacy, PayPal does not forward either credit card or address information to us. Please include your address in the “donor notes” section of the PayPal form. If your gift is in honor of or in memory of a loved one, please also use the “donor notes” section to let us know where to send an acknowledgement card.

(Click the above to donate VIA PayPal)

Network For Good   also allows donations to be made by credit card. Click the icon below to make through Network for Good:

Donations as Gifts or Memorials

Unsure what to give the person who has everything?

Make a Christmas, birthday or other special occasion donation in honor of that family member or friend. Donations can, if desired, be for a specific purpose such as orphan support, livestock program, or housing. SJMF can provide you with gift cards and envelopes that you can then send to your recipient. Contact us and we will be glad to help you.

Memorial gifts are particularly appropriate and welcome. SJMF is pleased to accept and acknowledge donations in memory of a friend or loved one.

Shop On-line and Help the Orphans!

Have a portion of your on-line purchases and travel arrangements go directly to St. Joseph’s Mission Fund by registering at www.iGive.com/SJMF. Fully secure. No hassle. No “spam.” No additional cost to you. Just more funds for St. Joseph’s Mission Fund to use to help the needy !!

Over 600 merchants are now participating with iGive.com, including Land’s End, Barnes & Noble, J. C. Penney, Lane Bryant, Coldwater Creek, Expedia (including airline tickets, rental cars, et al.), United Airlines, Hilton Hotels, Ross-Simons, Sharper Image, 1-800-Flowers, Eddie Bauer and many other names that you will recognize. Over one million dollars has been raised for charities by iGive.com. St. Joseph’s Mission Fund has received over $500 so far from purchases by less than a dozen people.

If you already shop or make travel arrangements on-line, please seriously consider using this service. Many of your fellow supporters already do, and the orphans have already benefited significantly from the funds we have received. A wonderful way to help with ease and at no cost to you.

Sign up when you are ready to make a purchase so that we can get the $5 bonus for a new subscriber who makes a purchase.

 Purchase items made by the women and older orphans

A limited selection of fancy embroidery work and hand-made crafts are available for sale. These items are usually sold at church bazaars in the Alexandria, VA, area. If you are interested in such items, contact us by email or mail.

Volunteer Opportunities

A. Fundraising

Volunteers are needed throughout the world to help us give other people the opportunity to help the neediest. We need your help in identifying church, social and business organizations where our story might bear fruit. Your level of involvement is up to you:

  •  Give us names, addresses, email addresses or telephone numbers of potentially interested people, and we will contact them
  • You can distribute pamphlets for us to individuals or groups
  • We can provide you with a presentation on a CD

B. Management

Volunteers in the Alexandria, VA, area are needed to assist with month-to-month SJMF operations, including:

  • Processing donations
  • Preparing personalized receipt letters
  • Preparing mailings
  • Conducting handicraft sales at local church bazaars
  • Volunteers interested in more substantial involvement are invited to consider becoming a member of the Board of Directors.

C. Businesses

You are invited to consider becoming a sponsor of SJMF. Contact us to discuss how to establish mutually beneficial arrangements.