FAQ
FAQ
F.A.Q.
Most Common Questions.
We are a registered non-profit, charitable organization that connects people to meaningful volunteer opportunities, provides community information and services.
What is a nonprofit corporation?
A “nonprofit corporation” is a corporation no part of the income of which is distributable to members, directors, or officers. A nonprofit corporation is created by filing a certificate of formation with the secretary of state. See Form 202 (Word 152kb, PDF 142kb). A nonprofit corporation may be created for any lawful purpose, which purpose must be stated in its certificate of formation.
Is a nonprofit corporation exempt from taxes?
The mere fact that a corporation is organized under a not-for-profit corporation law does NOT mean that contributions to it are necessarily tax deductible. For donations to be “tax deductible” the organization must file an “Application for Recognition of Exemption” with the Internal Revenue Service and be approved pursuant to Internal Revenue Code.
How much time do I need to volunteer?
This is really up to you. You can find volunteering opportunities that only take one hour per month, to five days a week – or more.
Some roles are for one-off events, some are short term and others might need a six month commitment.
You can volunteer at any time of the week, day or night. While much volunteering takes place in office hours, you can volunteer at evenings and weekends too, again depending on what you want to do.
How do I know you are legitimate?
We are very open with our testimonials and volunteers can contact each other. Our annual accounts and reports are viewable through the link at the bottom of the page. You will also find links to independent review sites on every page of our site.
Why are your fees so affordable?
We make no profit and many of our admin staff volunteer hours of their own time so we can keep our costs low, passing this saving on to you.
What is the minimum age to volunteer?
It varies between organizations; however, youth ages 13-14 can find a number of volunteer opportunities that they can pursue by themselves. Generally, if you are younger than 13, you will require a parent, or guardian, to volunteer with you.
Can I volunteer with my friends/family/group?
Totally! There are many opportunities for groups of all sizes.
How will my donation be used?
Your donation will directly support eye care for patients living in extreme poverty in developing countries. 80 % of all blindness is preventable or curable, and your generosity will provide preventive and sight-restoring eye care to patients in Africa, Asia, and Latin America who would otherwise remain or become blind because they are unable to access or afford quality eye care.
Can I make a recurring online donation?
Yes, on our donations web page, you can schedule a monthly or yearly gift to Grist. In fact, we encourage it!
Is my donation secure?
Your security is important to us, and we take every measure to ensure your information is protected. RAINN’s donation process complies with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. The process is fully encrypted using industry best practices to ensure your personal and credit card information is kept private and secure.