November 2009 Update

Hello everyone:

I just wanted to let you know that MicroAid is moving forward despite these tough economic times, and the difficulties that that presents for nonprofit fundraising.

Thanks to you we are one third of the way to reaching our goal of $52,000 for the Sri Lanka projects. Even though the time frame for returning to do the work–rebuilding some houses, replacing tools, and supporting tsunami orphans education–has been pushed back a little, we are getting there slowly, but surely.

Reaching beyond our tight group of “friends and family,” I am currently starting to approach some smaller foundations that support charities that do international relief work. It is a bit ahead of schedule to contact them, because they usually require a few years of projects and financials, but I believe our strong mission documents and my long experience running nonprofits will help facilitate donations. We are also waiting to hear about a donation from a large financial firm in New York. This company gives away about $10 million per year, and I have been told that our proposal has reached “the highest and final level” and that we are “on the boards” for support. I’m hoping this turns out to be a substantial grant, so keep your fingers crossed.

As for the people in Sri Lanka, I am staying in as close touch as possible with them and not letting their hopes fade. MicroAid shall return to help! Also, since my fact-finding trip last year, there have been many other natural disasters around the world–typhoons, floods, earthquakes, and tsunamis– that have left many needy people in their wake. In the coming years, MicroAid will have plenty of work to do in places like the Philippines and Eastern China, Indonesia, Samoa, and El Salvador. Of course, we have many needy people here in the U.S., and even though there are more social safety nets here than in the developing world, there are opportunities to help while we wait to go abroad. To that end, I have still been working one day a week building houses for low income families with Habitat for Humanity of Los Angeles, and organizing beach cleanups for environmental groups.

I hope this note finds you well and secure.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions about MicroAid, our projects, or our fundraising efforts–especially if you have direct contacts to other funding sources.

A huge “thank you” for your support thus far.

Sincerely,

Jon Ross