To understand how everything works, we need to explain the setup:

• Romanian United Fund (RUF) is a 100% pass-through entity. This means, all donations are transferred to one of our partner organizations in Romania - minus the Facebook transfer, bank and wire fees. RUF uses two bank accounts: one is dedicated to collect donations, and the second one for operational expenses. The funds raised for RUF against COVID-19 campaign are only collected  into our donations bank account.

• Currently (and until further notice), all funds raised through RUF will be used to help with the fight against Covid-19 in Romania (and Republic of Moldavia).

• Pretty much anyone can create a fundraiser on Facebook. This includes our partner organizations, but also independent people who want to get involved. See this for more details.

• It takes up to two weeks for Facebook to send us the funds raised through RUF. All donations are subsequently wired to our partners in Romania.

>>> Back to Coronavirus Fundraising FAQ

Anyone can create a fundraiser for RUF against Covid-19 campaign on Facebook. To increase the chances of a successful fundraiser, we also recommend partnering with friends and family members. To learn how to start a fundraiser on Facebook, please watch this short video (2 min).

Through our partners, we are already working closely with hospitals and other local groups (e.g. Suceava, Cluj, Brasov, Mures, Salaj, Arges, Dolj, Valcea), so you should contact us to find out if there's already a group for your hospital or city. See also How do I start a fundraising campaign for my city/hospital?

Disclaimer: Romanian United Fund is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, limited by US laws, and we are acting internationally, which means we have other limitations related to compliance, anti-money laundering, anti-terrorism. As such, we can only work with a limited set of partners. All funds raised by RUF will be directed to Romania through one of our partners, verified NGOs, based on existing contracts.

>>> Back to Coronavirus Fundraising FAQ

First of all, anyone can start a new fundraising campaign. This being said, you may want to join an existing campaign for your favorite city/hospital, if one exists already. Please check the list of existing groups on Facebook (Suceava, Cluj, Brasov, Mures, Salaj, Arges, Dolj, Valcea, etc.), or our website listing.

To start a new fundraising campaign, you need to fill in this form and then contact us (click "Send Message" on our Facebook page).

Watch the instructions video. Then, click here to create the campaign:

         https://www.facebook.com/fund/romanianunitedfund/

When you decide the target of  your Facebook campaign, we would like to clarify a few things:

We cannot control what equipment is being purchased with the funds collected by you. We only offer the platform for the funds to be raised. Our partner organizations in Romania will do their best to direct the funds raised by you through our platform towards the equipment needed to support the hospital/doctors in the city/county of your choice. For better transparency, we suggest to include a disclaimer similar to the one below in your fundraising description:

“Thank you for your willingness to help out in this fight against Covid-19. We want to make it clear that the funds raised through the Romanian United Fund will be sent to its partners in Romania who will take care of purchasing whatever is needed for the hospitals and other related expenses in the fight against Covid-19. They will do their best that the equipment and materials purchased reach the chosen city/county, but that greatly depends on their their teams’ time and availability and the local needs in real time.”

Disclaimer: Romanian United Fund is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, limited by US laws, and we are acting internationally, which means we have other limitations related to compliance, anti-money laundering, anti-terrorism. As such, we can only work with a limited set of partners. All funds raised by RUF will be directed to Romania through one of our partners, verified NGOs, based on existing contracts.

>>> Back to Coronavirus Fundraising FAQ

Romanian United Fund is a 100% pass-through organization. This means all donations are transferred to one of our trusted community partners in Romania, based on the contract we have with them. The only sums deducted are related to Facebook transfer, bank and wire fees. Our partners will make the acquisition of PPE, medical supplies, tests, and respirators and distribute them to the hospitals. For other types of expenses please go here.

You need to work with one of our partners in Romania to guarantee the funds arrive at the right hospital/city.

This being said, should you decide for instance to work with MagiCAMP, you can sign up to start a fundraiser by using this Google Form. If you like to work with another one of our partner organizations, please contact us.

Disclaimer: Romanian United Fund is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, limited by US laws, and we are acting internationally, which means we have other limitations related to compliance, anti-money laundering, anti-terrorism. As such, we can only work with a limited set of partners. All funds raised by RUF will be directed to Romania through one of our partners, verified NGOs, based on existing contracts.

>>> Back to Coronavirus Fundraising FAQ

Most of the funds currently are directed to MagiCAMP (the largest fundraising campaign at 1,000,000 EUR). We also work with Caravana cu Medici, Vedem Just, Funky Citizens to fundraise in order to finance the fight against Coronavirus. You can work with any of our trusted partners to create a fundraiser.

MagiCAMP and the other organizations work closely with all COVID hospitals in Romania, and they also work with smaller hospitals and ambulance stations, as well as other facilities in need. Your local hospital is most likely on that list already. MagiCAMP has a long list of hospitals and they keep track of hospital requests for PPE and other equipment. Your local hospital can contact MagiCAMP at [email protected]. Magicamp is very transparent in disseminating information about the equipment they distributed all over the country, as you can see on this website: Harta Spitalelor care au Primit Donatii

If you have specific needs that need to be met (ventilators, masks, etc), we will relay this information to MagiCAMP and try to make sure that they update their database of needed materials, or we will work with you to create your specific fundraiser through one of our other trusted partners if that is recommended. Please contact us on Facebook and ask to speak with our Acquisitions Team.

Disclaimer: Romanian United Fund is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, limited by US laws, and we are acting internationally, which means we have other limitations related to compliance, anti-money laundering, anti-terrorism. As such, we can only work with a limited set of partners. All funds raised by RUF will be directed to Romania through one of our partners, verified NGOs, based on existing contracts.

>>> Back to Coronavirus Fundraising FAQ

The expenses that can be covered through these funds are:

• Medical supplies for hospitals such as:

  • surfaces disinfectants

  • disinfectants for medical equipment

  • disinfectant gels

  • protective gloves and pouts

  • glasses, shields and combines

  • surgical sponges

  • parenteral nutrition solutions

  • spirometre incentive

  • testing machines

• Miscellaneous: other expenses that the partners consider necessary for the activities fighting with COVID-19

• Salaries for organization staff (up to 10%)
  

Romanian United Fund will transfer the funds to our partners in payments (during the campaign) every two weeks and sometimes earlier - in emergency situations.

According to our mutual agreement, our partners will communicate the activities/purchases done with these funds in relevant time (to RUF and publicly). Since this is an ongoing crisis, please excuse delays in this communication. Our partners are working sometimes day and night to support the management of this healthcare crisis and are also very exposed to the virus. 

RUF will also keep you posted, at least once a week, on our Facebook page with the activities organized and the purchases acquired.

RUF will post at least quarterly on its website and Facebook page a financial update with the donated sums and the activities our partners have organized.

According to our mutual agreement, our partners will send us a narrative and financial report up to 6 months after the funds were received.

Disclaimer: Romanian United Fund is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, limited by US laws, and we are acting internationally, which means we have other limitations related to compliance, anti-money laundering, anti-terrorism. As such, we can only work with a limited set of partners. All funds raised by RUF will be directed to Romania through one of our partners, verified NGOs, based on existing contracts.

>>> Back to Coronavirus Fundraising FAQ

If you have very specific needs that need to be met, you will need to contact us (on Facebook) and explain the situation. Most requests (gloves, shields, masks) can be accommodated through one of our existing funds/partners (e.g. MagiCAMP). We can get you in contact with them.

However, there have also been some very successful fundraisers that raised money for a specific cause (tests, ventilators, triage tents, etc.). We will consider your request on a case-by-case basis and get you in contact with one of our partners, and they may be able to work with you to fundraise for your specific needs. "Caravana cu Medici" has been connecting us with other nonprofits so far, and they have been very accommodating. We cannot guarantee that you will be able to raise money for a specific cause. We are only authorized to work with our existing partners and it will be their call.

Disclaimer: Romanian United Fund is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, limited by US laws, and we are acting internationally, which means we have other limitations related to compliance, anti-money laundering, anti-terrorism. As such, we can only work with a limited set of partners. All funds raised by RUF will be directed to Romania through one of our partners, verified NGOs, based on existing contracts.

>>> Back to Coronavirus Fundraising FAQ

• If you live in the USA, there is no maximum donation amount.

• If you live outside of USA, right now Facebook limits the donations to $250/per individual (for all the Facebook fundraisers they want to support, for all the organizations)

If you or any other donor living outside of the USA wants to make a bigger donation, please use our website: https://www.romanianunitedfund.org/donations_coronavirus

>>> Back to Coronavirus Fundraising FAQ

We offer a platform to millions of Romanians abroad, to make a donation to help the Coronavirus fight in Romania. Millions of Romanians at home (in Romania) may find it easier to make a donation online (on Facebook) than going to a website. However, the campaigns are going in parallel. If you already know the organization you want to donate to or the hospital in Romania you want to make a donation to, then that's the easiest way for you. Please be aware that most campaign also offers SMS donations, which are really easy to do, but really expensive (20-30% of funds spent on fees).