FAQ

Are donations to my campaign tax deductible?

Yes, all donations made to the International Rescue Committee (theIRC.org) are tax deductible and your donors will receive a receipt.

How do I find a campaign that I want to support?

You can search for a specific campaign by typing a name or keyword in the serch box in the right-hand column of this page or browse our list of active campaigns here.

What do I do with cash or checks that I receive?

If your donors are writing a check, they can make it out to the International Rescue Committee and send it to the address below. Please ask your donors to note your name or the name of your campaign on the check. If we receive checks that have a donor's address on them we will send the donor a cash receipt. If you collect cash donations please send a check to:

International Rescue Committee
attn: iRescue
122 East 42nd Street
New York, NY 10168 USA

Can I have more than one campaign?

At the moment our site is set up to handle one campaign per person at a time. After your current campaign expires you can start a new campaign.

Will I know who donated to my campaign?

Your campaign page will list all of your donors and the amount they donated, assuming they did not ask to donate anonymously.

What do I do if I reach my goal?

If you surpass your goal, congratulations -- and thank you. Your campaign will continue to accept donations and you can change your goal by logging into your personal campaign page and editing the Goal field.

What do I do if I want to extend my campaign?

Campaigns are automatically set to last three months. However, when you create your campaign — or at any time during your campaign — you can extend or shorten that timeframe by logging in to your personal campaign page and editing the Project Timeline field.

How is the money I raise used?

The money will be used to support the IRC's work helping refugees worldwide. Of every $1 the IRC spends, 90¢ goes to programs and services that directly benefit refugees and communities affected by war or disaster.  Charity Navigator gives the IRC its highest rating of 4 stars.

Can you send me IRC 'stuff'?

We are delighted to send a t-shirt to the first 100 iRescue campaigners. Please include your postal mail address and specify a shirt size when you set up your campaign. Unfortunately we cannot send additional materials due the cost and logistics of doing so -- but on your personal fundraising page you will see some downloadable materials you can use in your campaign such as a fact sheet about the IRC, banner ads for your website and e-cards to help you spread the word. iRescue t-shirts can also be purchased here.

Can I target my money to a specific program at the IRC or to a specific country where the IRC works?

We encourage you and your donors to give unrestricted gifts so that the money can be used where most needed in the IRC's work; however, if you prefer your donations be restricted to a specific program or country, please e-mail us at irescue@theIRC.org and we will mark them for the use you designate.  

Do's and don'ts

The IRC reserves the right to remove campaigns that use inappropriate images or text, or to correct any inaccuracies in your profile as it relates to the IRC's work or the use of the donation.

Where do I go to learn more about offline, promotional or cause marketing fundraising activities?

This FAQ is for people interested in creating online personal fundraising pages. If you would like to raise money for the IRC outside of personal fundraising pages, including offline events and promotions, please click here.

Where can I find tips for promoting my campaign?

Check out our iRescue Toolkit, located on the left-hand side of your profile page. You'll find ideas and tips on promoting your campaign, including our social network promotional kit and sample messages for your friends and family.

My question was not answered here, how do I contact someone at the IRC?

Please email your questions to  irescue@theIRC.org