Giving During The Coronavirus Pandemic
Hello supporters and friends,
Like many of you, I am working from home. Hugs and handshakes have been replaced with Zoom meetings. Our family waves at the neighbors from afar. Living through a global pandemic is certainly strange.
Our team has received a lot of questions about giving during this time we are in. I’m hearing the same questions get repeated, so here are the answers all in one place!
I’m expecting a relief check from the federal government, but I don’t need it. Can I donate to Operation Broken Silence?
Yes you can! If the pandemic hasn’t affected your livelihood, donating your check will help people who do need extra support. If you need to take care of your own bills, please do that.
How much you give is up to you. We recommend spending some of your relief check at your favorite local businesses. You can support our work too. When you give, you are supporting our schools in Yida Refugee Camp and Mother of Mercy Hospital in the Nuba Mountains.
Are there CARES Act benefits for giving?
For 2020, the limitation on how much of your charitable gifts you can deduct has been lifted. Previously, it was a maximum of 60% for cash donations and 50% for non-cash gifts. Under the CARES Act, these limitations have been removed for federal income tax purposes.
Even if you don’t itemize, anyone who donates up to $300 can deduct it against other income for 2020. This is considered an Above the Line deduction. Simply put, this is a great time to give!
What’s the best way to give right now?
There’s no reason to sugarcoat it: we’ve taken a financial blow from coronavirus. We are strongly encouraging online monthly giving to help us start regaining lost ground.
Our monthly givers are the life support to our programs in Sudan right now. We have a new monthly giving campaign for the 24 teachers we sponsor in Yida Refugee Camp.
Even if all you can spare is $10 a month, please sign up to give. The Sudanese we partner with need our financial situation to return to normal soon. Your giving helps us get there.
Other Ways To Give
Mail checks to Operation Broken Silence, PO Box 770900, Memphis, TN 38177-0900.
Give by stock or donate an item we need. Learn more here.
In memphis?
Don’t forget that Soirée For Sudan has been rescheduled for August 29!
Additionally, discounted earlybird tickets have been extended through mid-August.
Our annual gala is our biggest event of the year. It provides a substantial amount of funding to the teachers and students we support in Yida Refugee Camp. Postponing the gala was the right thing to do, but it means the Endure Primary and Renewal High Schools are receiving only a third of the funding they normally rely on.
So, go ahead and register! Your tickets will provide extra funds to teachers in Yida right now. It also gives you something to look forwards to after the pandemic passes.
And that’s worth ending on: this pandemic will eventually pass. Normalcy will start returning to our daily routines. For now though, coming together to support some of the most vulnerable teachers and students in the world is the best thing we can do.
I hope you are staying safe and healthy. Audrey and I are thinking about all of you as we work from home.
Feel free to reach out to us if you have questions. Talk to you soon.
Onward,
Mark C. Hackett
Executive Director, Operation Broken Silence
About Us
Operation Broken Silence is building a global movement to empower the Sudanese people through innovative programs as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We focus on empowering Sudanese change makers and their critical work. Learn more here.
Donations are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. Give today.
