Frequently Asked Questions

1  How does China AIDS Orphan Fund (CAOF) use the donations to help children affected by AIDS in China?

CAOF partners with the Chi Heng Foundation (CHF), a non-profit non-governmental organization (NGO) with its headquarter in Hong Kong and staff in the parts of China where the AIDS epidemic has had its greatest impact .  The majority of CHF’s funds are used to help AIDS-affected children to stay in school.  In addition, CHF conducts psycho-social support programs, such as home visits, art therapy, memory book for the orphans to remember their parents by.  For details please go to their website www.chfaidsorphans.com. 
CAOF is proud to be able to raise awareness and funds to support the work of CHF.  For its due diligence, CAOF conducts site visits, interviews these AIDS-impacted children and their families, local CHF offices and staff, and schools where these children attend.

According to data from CHF, the actual funds received by a student per year, on the average, are:
Primary school*          US$ 30
Junior High*                US$ 60
Senior High                 US$ 420
Vocational School       US$ 420
University                    US$ 750
*China provides free education for these grades so the support is for fees, books and other supplies.  Such expenses could be prohibitive for children in poverty.

While there are various ways for HIV to spread, our work focuses on the AIDS epidemic in rural Central China.  In the 1990’s farmers in Central China (provinces such as Henan, Anhui, Hebei, Szechuan) were encouraged to sell their blood to subsidize their income.  The blood collection stations had little awareness of transmission of infections through blood.  As a result, estimates of as high as 60% of the adult population is infected with HIV in many villages.  Many of these farmers have already died, and those who still survive are suffering and have lost their ability to work.  They cannot afford to feed, clothe or educate their children.

China’s Xinhua News Agency estimated that by 2010 there will be 260,000 AIDS orphans in China.  In 2007, UNICEF estimated that there were 500,000 AIDS impacted children in China. 

The Government has become increasingly aware of the AIDS orphans issue and is trying to establish assistance programs for them.  However, given the large number of these orphans and their rapidly declining conditions, the efforts may not reach as many children as quickly as it should. NGO’s mobilization and contribution to psycho-social care and vocational training are crucial.

Yes.   CAOF, based in Minnesota, USA, is an IRS 501c(3) organization.  Each donation is acknowledged for your tax records.

 7. What is the relationship between CAOF and The Minneapolis Foundation?

The Minneapolis Foundation, one of the largest community foundations in the United States, recognizes the concern for and desire by our community to provide assistance to AIDS orphans in China. Therefore, the Minneapolis Foundation helped to launch CAOF by serving as the non-profit host of the Fund.

8 Is CAOF incorporated?

Yes, CAOF now stands as its own non-profit organization organized under the laws of the State of Minnesota and has a 501(c)(3) designation.

9 How much does CAOF pay its staff and spend on overhead?

CAOF does NOT pay its staff. It is a volunteer organization comprised of committed board members from a wide variety of professional backgrounds and interests.  In most cases board members spend their own money to conduct due diligence visits.   Please see our board member biographies for more information on who we are.
Since the inception of CAOF, we have used less than 2% of the total funds received to cover CAOF administrative expenses, including postage, materials for creating our Henan children’s art exhibit, printing stationery, and filing for non-profit status and incorporation, and filing annual tax return.  2% of the donations going through the Minneapolis Foundation goes towards the Foundation’s administrative expense, but  not  the donations going directly to CAOF Inc.