Questions about ARCS

1. What is the American Relief Coalition for Syria?

The American Relief Coalition for Syria (ARCS) is a coalition of secular, non-political, Syrian diaspora led humanitarian organizations that provide multi-sector relief inside of Syria, as well as assistance and services to Syrian refugees in regional host countries and in the United States.

2. Why was ARCS founded?

ARCS was founded to build bridges among Syrian relief organizations, government entities, and other partners. ARCS seeks to ensure the needs of all Syrians are met and the challenges inhibiting effective aid are addressed.

3. What does ARCS do?

ARCS’ services fall into three broad categories.

• Advocacy. ARCS advocates at all levels of government for robust humanitarian policies and provides updates on the needs of humanitarian organizations in the field, such as bank de-risking.

• Coordination. ARCS empowers its members by coordinating government advocacy, messaging, and donation campaigns around issues critical to Syrians and international NGOs, such as Temporary Protected Status and Eastern Ghouta.

• Capacity-building. ARCS promotes organizational development for its members by providing training on financial best practices, inter-organizational coordination, and more. Knowledge-sharing helps members secure funding more efficiently and work with other organizations and local communities more effectively.

4. How is ARCS funded?

ARCS is funded by grants, public donations, and dues from our member organizations.

Questions about Donations and Fundraising

5. How can I help Syrians?

A donation to ARCS helps us uplift the voices of Syrian-Americans, enhance the capacity of nonprofits to provide humanitarian aid, and coordinate advocacy efforts.  You can give a one-time or monthly donation to ARCS here. All donations to ARCS go directly to our projects that support our member organizations and their humanitarian work.

You can also donate to one of our dedicated member organizations, who provide critical food, medical care, and other needs to Syrians. If you want to donate directly to an ARCS member, you can explore our members’ projects and visit the individual member’s website for information on donating.

6. How is my donation spent?

Thanks to grants from our generous partners and our membership dues, which cover all administrative costs, individual donations received through our website go exclusively to our projects. You can learn more about how donations are spent on our Donations page. To see our latest financial data and annual report, visit our About Us page.

7. Can I give on a monthly basis?

Yes, ARCS depends on consistent support to continue advocating for Syrians, and we greatly appreciate monthly donations. On our donation page, you can choose “monthly recurring donation.”

8. Does ARCS have a privacy policy?

We respect the privacy of all of our donors. We do not sell your information, rent it out, exchange it, or provide it in mailing lists. We will only send you newsletters and other emails if you opt to be a subscriber.

9. Can I get a tax refund for my donation?

Yes. ARCS is a 501(c)(3) organization, and all contributions are tax deductible. Our Employer Identification Number or tax ID is 47-1273159.

10. Can I start my own fundraiser?

Yes, an easy way to start your own fundraiser for ARCS or one of our member organizations is through our Facebook page. Donating your birthday on Facebook is a great way to fundraise for ARCS. We appreciate your help!

Your company can also support ARCS through workplace giving and volunteering. ARCS is part of Benevity, which helps companies maximize the efficiency and impact of their Goodness Programs in supporting charities like ARCS.

Questions about Getting Involved

11. What can I do to help Syrians, other than donate?

Although humanitarian organizations are always in need of funds, there are many other ways for you to help!

• Educate yourself and others. Learn about the crisis in Syria, keep up with news on U.S. policies and the situation in Syria, and  share our members’ work on social media.

• Advocate for the needs of Syrians by calling your representatives and senators. Read our press releases to find out what we are advocating for.

• Volunteer with one of our member organizations by participating in a mission, helping fill food baskets, and much more. We recommend looking at the websites of our member organizations or exploring our project map to learn more about volunteering opportunities.

12. How can I learn more about ARCS and what’s going on in Syria?

You can follow us on Facebook or on Twitter to see daily updates on ARCS advocacy initiatives, member projects, and news related to Syria. Additionally, we encourage you to explore the media on our website — including blog posts, news articles, and press releases — to learn more about what is going in Syria.

13. How can I contact ARCS?

You can reach us directly through our website via the Contact Us page . Our mailing address is 1100 15th Street NW, 4th Floor, Washington, District of Columbia, 20005.