ABOUT US
Ray of Hope is a crowdfunding charity that helps people who have fallen through the cracks.
Ray of Hope’s mission is to build and inspire a community to give hope to those who have fallen through the cracks.
We are a crowdfunding charity where 100% of your donations goes to people in need. All campaigns are also fully verified, so you know your funds goes to real people with real needs.
Our team goes beyond crowdfunding by providing community support and resources to our beneficiaries. We do this by working with our charitable partners and Ray of Hope volunteers to give hope to our beneficiaries.
Some of our corporate & community partners are
To Build and Inspire a
Community through Giving
Not all social networks are equal. We lower barriers so people who need help can access community support through our network of donors and partners.
Ray of Hope aims to build a society where people help one another, by connecting people who can help with others who need support.
Our Values
Empathy
We try to walk in the shoes of beneficiaries to fully understand their struggles and to provide the best possible support.
Integrity
We are uncompromising in our beliefs in accountability and transparency to protect our donors’ funds.
Dignity
We respect our beneficiaries’ independence and privacy, so that they can lead a dignified life while seeking support.
OUR Values
Empathy
We try to walk in the shoes of beneficiaries to fully understand their struggles, to provide the best possible support.
Integrity
We are uncompromising in our belief in accountability and transparency to protect our donors’ funds.
Dignity
We respect our beneficiaires’ independence and privacy, so that they can lead a dignified life while seeking support
Why we serve people who have fallen through the cracks
Being neglected or living in poverty is a relentless physical, mental and emotional strain on a person. There are complex reasons why people fall through the cracks.
With funds from donors, short-term financial assistance gives our beneficiaries some relief, from worrying about the next meal or electricity bill. This break can enable them to get back on their feet and move forward.
Ray of Hope often builds long-term relationships with beneficiaries over the long campaign, e.g., disbursing $500/month for 6 months, and this goes to much needed food, bills, milk powder, basic medication, etc.
WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE
100% of donations go to our beneficiaries
When donors choose not to cover credit card processing fees, Ray of Hope pays this. We are the only crowdfunding website to do so, as we believe it is important not to deduct anything from donations to the beneficiary. Ray of Hope has paid more than $80,000 in credit card fees so-far.
We verify every individual beneficiary
Protecting donors is important to us. Ray of Hope is financially accountable for funds raised on our website. We validate each person’s identity and run multiple checks to ensure the need is genuine. In all cases, our case managers ensure the funds are used as stated in the campaign.
Our 3-Step Verification Process:
- Family & financial history
- Social assistance (if any)
- Needs
- Payslips
- Bank & CPF statements
- Medical and other records
- Due dilligence check with Ministry of Social and Family Developent (MSF)
- Other non-profit helping beneficiary
The ONLY crowdfunding charity raising funds for individuals
We are a registered charity (UEN 201229333H) and member of NCSS. As the ONLY charity crowdfunding for individuals, we rely on raising funds separately to cover our operations and salaries, including maintaining our website and reaching out to the public to crowdfund for beneficiaries.
While other crowdfunding platforms are businesses, we are the only one that is also a registered charity.
As a subscriber to the Code of Practice for Online Charitable Fund-Raising Appeals, we are required to undergo periodic audits by MCCY to ensure that we are in accordance with the Code.
In addition, our accounts are audited yearly and our financial statements are publicly available on our website and on the Charity Portal.
How we help those who fall through the cracks
1. Raising Funds
Because not all social networks are equal
Crowdfund for individuals
Know exactly who you donate to:
There’s no vague middle-man. With your donations, we give beneficiaries the funds raised or pay their outstanding bills and arrears directly. What you give to, is exactly what they will get.
Reaching out for more help:
You make up an important part of the support as we market to our growing network of donors.
Giving Circles
Donate to a cause or support a group of people, e.g., Special Needs Giving Circle. Beneficiaries who are unable to raise enough from their campaigns get support from related Giving Circles.
Community Partner and Other Donors
We make donating easy by offering innovative campaigns. In September 2021, we partnered MSIG Insurance to set up a one-for-one matching campaign to raise $11,480 in groceries for our low-income beneficiaries.
HOW WE HELP THOSE WHO FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS
1. Raising Funds
Because not all social networks are equal
Crowdfund for individuals
Know exactly who you donate to:
There’s no vague middle-man. With your donations, we give beneficiaries the funds raised or pay their outstanding bills and arrears directly. What you give to, is exactly what they will get.
Reaching out for more help:
You make up an important part of the support as we market to our growing network of donors.
Giving Circles
Donate to a cause or support a group of people, e.g., Special Needs Giving Circle. Beneficiaries who are unable to raise enough from their campaigns get support from related Giving Circles.
Community Partner and Other Donors
We make donating easy by offering innovative campaigns. [In September 2021, we partnered MSIG Insurance to set up a one-for-one matching campaign to raise $X in food hampers for our low-income beneficiaries]
Everything we do is to raise funds for the individuals.
2. Beyond Funds
Connecting the community with people who need support, means we can help more people
“It’s a blessing for the community to have ROH who cares about families! Often, families face multiple rejections, but ROH will give hope to more families to benefit from your network of donors.”
– Queenstown FSC social worker
Community Building
We tap on our network of donors and partners to help beneficiaries.
Family Service Centers across (FSC) Singapore often refer their clients to us, to set up crowdfunding campaigns for financial assistance. Similarly, we help FSC clients, e.g. in September 2021, 30 students (aged 13-21) were nominated by their social workers and received $800 grants from Ray of Hope’s Lim Doa Hin Education Fund.
Personal Touch
We build long-term relationships with our beneficiaries, as many campaigns fundraise for several months living expenses.
For example, aside from crowdfunding 6 month’s expenses for Irhwan’s family, we supported his job search by getting his resume cleaned up, facilitated a photoshoot and helped Irhwan go back to school to complete his studies after 6 months
Support Ground-up Groups
Informal, volunteer-led initiatives lack a formal set up and bank account. Ray of Hope is the only Singapore crowdfunding website that enables these groups to raise funds with proper financial controls and accounting ; we verify their needs and pay their service providers directly.
E.g., Ray of Hope acted as a financial controller for It’s Raining Raincoats and Covid-19 Migrant Support Coalition, who lacked finance staff and formal registered status. By managing payments for them, these groups could focus on doing their good work.
Past and Present Corporate Partners
Our Community Partners / Volunteer Groups
About Us
Ray of Hope’s mission is to build and inspire a community to give hope to those who have fallen through the cracks.
We are a crowdfunding charity where 100% of your donations goes to people in need. All campaigns are also fully verified, so you know your funds goes to real people with real needs.
Our team goes beyond crowdfunding by providing community support and resources to our beneficiaries. We do this by working with our charitable partners and Ray of Hope volunteers to give hope to our beneficiaries.
Become a part of our community. Be a Ray of Hope.
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