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Frequently Asked Questions
The Center for Arab American Philanthropy (CAAP) promotes, facilitates, and celebrates Arab American giving through education, donor outreach and services, and grantmaking. Founded in 2005 as a project of the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS), CAAP is the only program in the country harnessing the collective power of Arab American giving and knowledge to strengthen communities.
What services does CAAP provide to the community? CAAP serves the community through the following roles:
What services does CAAP provide to me? CAAP builds on the tradition of Arab American giving by working with you to invest your charitable dollars in organizations and programs that make the greatest community impact. Some of our services include:
Are CAAP's services only for Arab Americans? No, while we focus on promoting Arab American giving, anyone can benefit from utilizing CAAP's expertise and services. For example, many non-Arabs are interested in supporting Arab American causes but are not aware of the wide variety of Arab American organizations in the United States. CAAP can help you locate an organization that matches with the areas you want to support. In order to meet your philanthropic goals, CAAP offers the following vehicles through which you can give to organizations and causes you care about:
What resources do you have available to assist me with my giving? CAAP works with individuals, families, corporations, and foundations to provide information and resources on tools for giving and needs in the Arab American community. Our resources include the following:
Planned Giving is the process of thinking about your long-term philanthropic plans and how you want your philanthropy to uphold the values that are important to you for years to come. A planned gift is any charitable donation, immediate or deferred, that considers an individual's personal tax, financial, and estate planning circumstances. Planned gifts can range from simple gifts of cash to sophisticated charitable trusts or foundations that are integrated into your financial and estate plan. What is a Community Foundation? A Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity that attracts contributions from many donors to support charitable organizations, usually in a specified geographic area or ethnic community. Community Foundations provide you with many opportunities to make your giving more strategic by utilizing the Foundation's research on nonprofits and giving mechanisms, and by leaving a legacy for your family or business. How can I know that an organization I want to support is legitimate and credible? Feeling confident in your decision to give to an organization is critical to strategic giving. In particular, every donor wants to know that the charity they are supporting is in good standing with the Department of Treasury and the IRS. There are some basic tips to ensure that the organization you are supporting is legitimate and credible:
How can I learn more about an organization I am considering supporting? Several websites, including www.guidestar.org and www.charitynavigator.org provide useful information on nonprofit organizations in the United States. Guidestar, in particular, lists previous 990 tax forms, and other public records of organizations. You can also directly contact the organization’s financial, development, or communications department to receive more information about the programs and finances. If an organization is unwilling to send you information or answer your questions, then you might want to consider supporting a different organization. Finally, the Center for Arab American Philanthropy and other philanthropic organizations, such as your local Community Foundation, are available to conduct research on organizations on behalf of donors, providing you with more comprehensive data about the programs, services, and credibility of organizations. How can I know that my giving is making a difference? When you give to an organization, you have the right to know how your funds were used and the impact of your gift in the community. You know that your giving has made a difference when an organization communicates regularly and consistently about their programs and services. Organizations share this information through their website, publications, e-communications, and print newsletters. The most effective way an organization communicates with its donors is through an Annual Report--a yearly publication that highlights the programs and successes of an organization and provides financial data for the year. What rights do I have as a donor? The Donor Bill of Rights was created by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and the Giving Institute: Leading Consultants to Non-Profits.
To ensure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public, and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the nonprofit organizations and causes they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights:
I. To be informed of the organization's mission, of the way the organization intends to use donated resources, and of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes.
II. To be informed of the identity of those serving on the organization's governing board, and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities.
III. To have access to the organization's most recent financial statements. IV. To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given. V. To receive appropriate acknowledgement and recognition. VI. To be assured that information about their donation is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law. VII. To expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature. VIII. To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organization or hired solicitors.
IX. To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share.
X. To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers.
A Donor-Advised Fund is a fund set up through a public charity into which you can make tax-deductible contributions and retain the ability to recommend grants from the fund to support any 501(c)(3) public charity in the United States. You receive a tax deduction the year the donation is made but can distribute the funds over an extended time period if you wish. All Donor-Advised grants must be approved by the public charity's Board of Trustees. Donor-Advised Funds can be established by an individual, a family, or a business. Why should I establish a Donor-Advised Fund with CAAP? CAAP offers you the same services as a local Community Foundation while at the same time connecting you on a national level to other Arab American donors. We are able to administer charitable funds for individuals, families, or businesses. By establishing a Donor-Advised Fund through CAAP you can:
What kind of assets can I contribute to a Donor-Advised Fund with CAAP? You can contribute cash or appreciated stocks. What types of charities can I contribute to? You can recommend a contribution from your fund to any 501(c)(3) public charity in the United States. Will my contribution be tax-deductible? Yes, you will receive a tax deduction the year your donation was made, even if you decide to distribute the funds over an extended time period. Do I have to be Arab American to establish a fund? No, you do not have to be Arab American to establish a Donor-Advised Fund with CAAP. Do my funds have to be directed to Arab American organizations? No, through a Donor-Advised Fund at CAAP you can recommend grants from your fund to any 501(c)(3) public charity in the United States. Can I direct my funds to an international organization? Through a Donor-Advised Fund at CAAP you can only direct funds to an international organization if the organization has 501(c)(3) status in the United States. However, if CAAP is not able to direct your funds to the organization of your choice, we will assist you in locating an alternative public charity that will be able to direct your contribution internationally. What if I don't know where I want my money directed to? If you are unsure of what organization you want to give to, CAAP will work one-on-one with you to develop your giving plan and assist you in finding credible organizations that match with your priority areas and personal values. Contact us at caap@centeraap.org How is my money handled once the fund is established? CAAP's Donor-Advised Funds are currently invested with Comerica Charitable Services. With a fund set up through CAAP at Comerica, you can feel secure that your money is housed at a well-established and experienced financial institution. As the donor, you make grant recommendations from your fund to the organization of your choice. Please note however that CAAP must approve all grant requests from your fund, and CAAP does have the right to deny a grant request (for example, if the organization you want to give to cannot prove its 501(c)(3) status). Who manages my fund if something happens to me? When you establish a Donor-Advised Fund through CAAP, you will fill out a Donor-Advised Fund Agreement. The agreement asks you to list up to three Primary Advisors for your fund who you trust to act on your behalf if you are no longer able to manage your fund. Grantmaking (click here to be directed to the Grantmaking FAQS)
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