1.  How many donors have contributed to the financial resources of the Foundation?

EKF is a grass roots effort started by parents, for parents.  As of early 2009, more than 250 different families, individuals, and corporations have made financial contributions to EKF, making the Foundation’s financial support of families in crisis possible.  Throughout 2009, we hope to grow the offering and reach out to more families in need.

2.  How is EKF different from all the other non-profits working in this arena?

EKF is dedicated to helping families in the midst of a medical crisis with their child.  Most tangibly, we offer short term financial assistance to help families cope with the added financial burdens encountered while getting their children the care they need.

Other national not-for-profit cardiac organizations exist, but focus their mission on education, advocacy, and research as a means of assisting people impacted by these devastating diseases.  They do tremendous work for the cause, and we hope that people will continue to fund those programs.

EKF is different.  We acknowledge that the best hope for long term solutions to life-threatening cardiac diseases is in funding research to identify causes and definitive treatment modalities.  But we also realize that until cures for these diseases are found, there will continue to be thousands of families caught in the trenches, struggling to cope with the added burdens brought by these disease processes.  Our vision for EKF is to serve the folks caught in the middle at their point of need.  No portion of funds donated to EKF will be used to fund research.

3.  I’m interested in volunteering my time to help the mission of EKF.  How do I get involved?

We’re always looking for great people to get involved and help out with the Foundation.  We will work with you to find a way you can serve the mission of EKF in accordance with your unique talents, strengths, and passions.  Send us an email at info@erikakate.org to let us know of your interests and contact information.  We’ll follow up with you shortly thereafter.

4.  What’s the best way to go about donating to EKF on a regular basis?

The Erika Kate Foundation has entered into a cash management arrangement with the Country Bank in Aledo, Illinois.  Country Bank has arranged a convenient way for people to make periodic, tax deductible contributions to EKF.  Under this arrangement, an individual donor can authorize an electronic fund transfer from their checking or savings account at their personal bank to be deposited directly into an EKF holding account at the Country Bank.  Transfers are typically set to occur on the 15th of each month, and are completely free of transaction charges.  The fund transfers can be initiated or terminated at any time through communication with representatives at the Country Bank.  This is an arrangement that can be processed between Country Bank, and any other bank in the U.S.  It’s up to each individual donor to determine the amount of their contributions.

Signing up for periodic contributions is easy.  Simply complete the Debit Authorization Form, attach a copy of a voided check, and drop them both in the mail.  There is no processing fee of any kind.  The funds transfer will appear on your monthly bank statement as an electronic payment to the Erika Kate Foundation.

5.  How can I help promote the Erika Kate Foundation?

Some friends and family have asked us how they can help us get the word out about the Erika Kate Foundation. One thing people can do is very simple, it doesn’t cost anything, and it has the potential to reach a lot of people. We ask you to consider adding a phrase like the one below as the default signature on all your emails.

‘We support the work of the Erika Kate Foundation. Visit www.erikakate.org’

Most people don’t use the signature feature on their personal email accounts. In just a few minutes, you can set up your default ’signature’ so that this phrase and a link to the EKF site automatically appear at the bottom of all your outgoing email.

Instructions for setting this up will vary depending on which application you use for email. For Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express, select ‘tools’, then ‘options’, then click on the ’signatures’ tab. This will get you where you need to be. The rest is pretty intuitive. Let us know if you need more help doing this. We appreciate your help.

6.  If I donate to EKF, how will my money be used?

At this point in time, nearly all funds donated to the Erika Kate Foundation are applied to the rendering of financial assistance to parents of children with life threatening cardiac disease.

Because we’re a small foundation, our current administrative expenses are relatively small and managable. It’s our intention to continue to minimize those administrative expenses as the Foundation grows so that the families we seek to help will receive the greatest possible benefit.

No funds donated to the Erika Kate Foundation will go toward supporting medical research. We want our focus to be on helping people, today. Should potential donors feel compelled to support research for heart related pediatric disease processes, we would suggest sending your donation to the Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation, or perhaps the American Heart Association. Links to these websites can be found on our ‘links’ page.

7.    What type of documentation will I receive as evidence of my donation?

Unless a specific request is made, donor acknowledgment letters are mailed in mid January for donations in excess of $250 made anytime the previous calendar year.  For donations less than $250, the IRS considers your canceled check or itemized transaction on your credit card or bank statement proof of your donation.  A note of thanks and acknowledgment is sent in response to every donation.

8.    Can I make a donation as a memorial or in honor of someone?

Yes.  Just let us know the name of the person(s) you wish to honor and provide an address to which you would like us to send notification of your donation.  Note that if you’re donating online via Pay Pal, you will be given the opportunity to select this option.

9.    Can I donate anything besides money?

Certainly.  Please send us an email and let us know what you have in mind.  We would be happy to put you in touch with people to help you help the Foundation.

10.  How does EKF screen applicants and make a determination to grant assistance to a particular family in need?Applicants must complete a 2 page application which provides us with basic information about their child’s medical condition and course of treatment.  It also provides us with information about the family’s financial situation in light of the child’s condition.  Parents are also asked to:  1.  submit a letter of hardship further explaining additional aspects of challenges faced, 2.  provide us with documentation of expenses incurred or anticipated, and 3.  forward third party contact information to which a payment should be rendered.  Upon reviewing this information, an EKF representative will contact the child’s social worker at the appropriate treatment center.  With the family’s consent, social workers are able to confirm details or facts and offer additional insights into a family’s situation.  They’re also able to confirm that available local or regional resources have been consulted and/or exhausted on the family’s behalf.  Once all this information has been processed, a payment is sent, most often to a third party, on behalf of the family.