To become a member of SOPAR you can make a donation or become a volunteer. As a member, you can participate in our general body assembly and the election of the board of administrators.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
SOPAR is a recognized charitable organization and registered with the Canadian Revenue Agency. Our registration number is: 11915678RR0001. We provide charity receipts for donations of 15$ and more. Every year in January, we issue official tax receipts for donations made during the previous year. To ensure you receive your tax receipt, please provide us with your updated mailing address.
How much money is spent on administration and fundraising?
The administrative expenses of the organization are maintained at less than 5%. During the last 30 years, SOPAR has endeavored to channel almost every dollar of donation to its development programs in India. SOPAR manages its funds in accordance with a strict code of ethics and is fully accountable for the use of donor’s funds.
Do I have access to SOPAR’s financial statements?
All members have access to the financials statements found in our annual reports. We are strict about transparency and accountability therefore all questions can be directed to our staff and board and we will be pleased to provide you with a clear answer.
What kinds of projects are funded with my donation?
All donations are used to assist rural communities in India in improving their living conditions. SOPAR’s development work is divided into 6 programs: Women, Water, Youth, Education and Capacity Building Programs. Please click here for more information.
Why does SOPAR concentrate its work in India?
In order to increase our developmental impact, we concentrate our programs in one geographic area and train them on specific sectors of development. This focus has allowed us to develop an in-depth knowledge of local realities and development issues. With this knowledge and experience, our programs have produced tangible and viable results. For the past 30 years, we have been working in India which has a population of more than 1 billion, out of which 350 million live below the poverty line.
Is SOPAR a religious organization?
SOPAR and its partner organization Bala Vikasa are secular organizations; however, we are financially supported and collaborate with faith-based institutions.
Can I volunteer to work overseas with SOPAR?
SOPAR is not a volunteer sending organization. However, we offer one internship program for Canadian students from selected colleges and universities. The internship duration is one month. It allows for the participation of young Canadians in a community development certificate. The certificate, which targets international participants, is offered by the People Development Training Center in Andhra Pradesh, India. Please click here for more information.
Can I visit SOPAR’s projects in India?
Occasionally, we coordinate a trip to India for SOPAR donors who want to visit the development programs they are supporting. This is not a sight-seeing trip, but rather an opportunity for our donors to discover how people organize themselves and work to improve their lives and share with them a special experience. However, since our partner organizations are extremely busy working with the poor, and since they are not involved in tourism activities as such, we try to limit these visits.
If you have questions regarding our Children Changing the World! program, please click here.
