I want to raise money for my trip. Can my friends and family make a donation?

Yes. There are several ways to do this. Your friends and family, of course, can give you money directly to use toward the cost of your program participation. These gifts, because they are given to you and not to a 501(C)(3) nonprofit, are likely NOT tax deductible. We encourage you to thank your friends and family for their support in person or in writing and then make your payment in full for the program.

If your donors would like to make a tax deductible donation to the generalized scholarship fund for Damascus Summer Encounter participants they are free to do so. Checks can be made out to "Middle East Fellowship." Please also have donors write "Damascus Summer Encounter" in the memo of the check. In a letter or e-mail included with the check or payment, the donor should indicate that they want their donation to be designated for the Damascus Summer Encounter Scholarship Fund. Additionally, they can recommend that the funds be used on behalf of a specific participant whom they would like to support. Although the dispersement of these funds is under the prerogative of Middle East Fellowship, we will carefully track these donations and give full consideration to all donor requests and specifications. Please understand that, by handling donations in this manner, we are merely adhering to IRS rules and regulations. If you have additional questions about how this process works, please contact us.

If a parent, guardian or other friend or relative is making a direct payment for your program, and the tax deductibility of their gift is not an issue, they should just make clear that their payment is being made to cover your program fees. They need not (and should not) designate their payment as a gift toward the scholarship fund.

We strongly encourage donors on your behalf to consult with a tax advisor as laws are subject to change.