Support Helping Hands Orphanage

We believe transparency is part of good stewardship. This page explains how Helping Hands Orphanage is organized, how money flows, and where it goes.

Our Nonprofit Structure

Helping Hands Orphanage is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry serving orphaned boys in Barahona, Dominican Republic. Every dollar we can direct to the boys' care, we do.

Formally, we operate under the fiscal sponsorship of Crestview Wesleyan Church in Asheboro, North Carolina. Crestview is our 501(c)(3) parent, providing the legal, financial, and reporting umbrella that allows Helping Hands to receive tax-deductible donations and comply with IRS requirements. Crestview's board provides oversight of our finances and mission alignment.

We chose this structure on purpose. A stand-alone nonprofit requires its own board, its own annual filings, and its own compliance overhead. Operating as a ministry of an established church keeps those costs off the top, so more of every gift reaches the orphanage.

How Funds Flow

Donations are received by Crestview Wesleyan Church and directed to the Helping Hands Orphanage fund. Donors receive a tax receipt from Crestview reflecting the 501(c)(3) status of the gift. From that fund, we send support to Barahona for daily operations.

Store proceeds work slightly differently. When you buy a t-shirt, mug, or other item from our store, you are purchasing a product at market rate. 100% of net proceeds — after production, shipping, and payment processing — flow through Crestview to the orphanage, the same as donations do. Store purchases are not tax-deductible for the buyer, because you receive a product of comparable value in return. Only direct donations qualify for the tax deduction.

Where the Money Goes

The Helping Hands Orphanage in Barahona provides for approximately 35 boys, ranging from young children to teenagers preparing for college. Support covers:

• Food and nutrition — three meals daily plus snacks
• Education — school enrollment, uniforms, supplies, and tutoring
• Medical care — routine health, dental, and emergency needs
• Shelter and utilities — facility maintenance, electricity, water, internet
• Staff — house parents, cooks, and administrators on the ground
• Skills and entrepreneurship training — the program that produced this store

When you buy a product, the proceeds are split three ways:

• 10% goes directly to the young entrepreneur — money they earned, that they decide how to use. For many, it’s the first money they’ve ever made.
• 40% goes into a savings account in their name — building toward their education and their future after they leave Helping Hands.
• 50% funds the orphanage — food, education, and care for all 30–40 children who call Helping Hands home.

So every purchase does double duty: it rewards one child’s hard work, and it supports every child at Helping Hands.

Oversight and Accountability

Crestview Church's board reviews Helping Hands' finances and mission alignment on an ongoing basis. On the ground in Barahona, the orphanage is directed by Yeudy, who oversees daily operations and reports to the U.S. team.

No board members receive compensation for their oversight of Helping Hands. Records of income and expense are maintained by Crestview and are available for review by donors upon reasonable request. If you'd like a recent impact report or more detail than appears on this page, please reach out.

Questions

If you have questions about our finances, governance, or how a specific gift will be used, we're happy to answer honestly. Good stewardship matters to us, and we want it to matter to you too.

Email: helpinghandsorphanagedr@gmail.com