Our mission is to alleviate poverty by empowering small, high-impact nonprofits in East Asia.
Our Services
1. Boutique services
We specialize in serving NGOs in East Asia that are like diamonds in the rough. The NGOs we choose to empower typically have these characteristics:
- Small
We reserve our resources for smaller NGOs that other foundations might pass over. - Demonstrate potential
They might be small but they already have a track record of success to show they are worth our investment. These NGOs are already making an impact. - Need support
We want to help NGOs that will benefit from our capacity building services to become sustainable and accountable.
2. Curated projects
As the number of our partner NGOs grows, you have more options in which projects to support. We are committed to helping you find the right project that satisfies with the impact you desire. There are several different ways to do that.
- Choose a project based on cause or location.
Our NGOs cover a variety of causes and regions in East Asia. Based on their focus, we categorize them by cause—such as medical, education, poverty relief, nutrition, shelter, or Christian. Based on their geographical location, we categorize them by region—such as Southern China, Northern China, Nepal, Burma, Vietnam, or Taiwan. This makes it easier for you to select a project based on your preferred area. - Choose a project based on urgency.
If you prefer to donate to wherever the need is greatest, then we have highlighted those projects for you. We ensure that 100% of your donations will go to meeting these immediate needs. - Ask for recommendations.
If you’re unsure of which project to support, we are happy to answer any questions you might have. Please feel free to contact us. We can personally introduce projects and present options that are catered to your interest. - Let us take care of the decision. If you choose to Give to Where Most Needed, then we will allocate your donation according to the current greatest need and any indicated preferences. We appreciate your trust and will disburse your donation to where it will make the most impact.
3. RIGOrous screening
We work selectively with NGOs that have passed our rigorous screening process. The end goal is to see the NGOs become sustainable and transparent. To help them get there, we want to see they have already met certain eligibility requirements:
Judging Criteria:
- Past history of success and high impact delivery
- Credible and experienced project leader
- Credible and experienced team
- Actual examples of impact from the past if any
- Meeting direct needs of a low-income community
- Cost-effectiveness
- Alligns with TFish mission and strategy in East Asia
- Capacity and ability to scale
- Involve donors as stakeholders in program
- Program section carved out for TFish to sponsor and track
- Reports are thorough, concise, and discusses challenges, progress update, and beneficiary stories
· Phone interview
· Board screening
· In person field visits (We talk with the beneficiary families, their children, and their neighbors to ensure the impact is legitimate.)
· Application, Proposal & Budget
· Feedback and revisions
Once the board agrees, we congratulate the NGO on becoming part of our program. Out of the 700 applicants we have received, we only accept 30–40 a year.
Our due diligence procedures ensure that each organization we support is trustworthy and impactful. We do the research for you to ensure that 100% of your donation goes to the people in need.
- Has US 501(c)3 or equivalent status
- Are run by a member of the Asian American community
- Focus on work in Asia or the Asian American community
- Serves basic needs, direct needs, poverty relief, medical intervention, health, education in underserved areas in rural China and Southeast Asia. We do not fund research or policy related projects.
- Has financial disclosures of total revenue, expenditure (proven with receipts), and cash balance
- Has financial disclosures signed by the organization’s representative
- Keeps a detailed list of donors and donation amounts
- Agrees to TFish Fund audit
- Reports TFish funded project expenditures (and describes beneficiaries if applicable)
- Provides frequent case stories and project progress reports with key project indicators
Judging Criteria:
- Sponsorship
- NGO Background
- Past history of success and high impact delivery
- Key People
- Credible and experienced project leader
- Credible and experienced team
- Program Impact
- Actual examples of impact from the past if any
- Meeting direct needs of a low-income community
- Program Strategy
- Cost-effectiveness
- Alligns with TFish mission and strategy in East Asia
- Capacity and ability to scale
- Involve donors as stakeholders in program
- Program section carved out for TFish to sponsor and track
- Transparency
- Reports are thorough, concise, and discusses challenges, progress update, and beneficiary stories
- Communication
Maintain good communication on email, phone, and in-person with TFish
· Phone interview
· Board screening
· In person field visits (We talk with the beneficiary families, their children, and their neighbors to ensure the impact is legitimate.)
· Application, Proposal & Budget
· Feedback and revisions
Once the board agrees, we congratulate the NGO on becoming part of our program. Out of the 700 applicants we have received, we only accept 30–40 a year.
Our due diligence procedures ensure that each organization we support is trustworthy and impactful. We do the research for you to ensure that 100% of your donation goes to the people in need.
Why focus on East Asia?
Extreme Socio-Economic Inequality
There is a large gap between the rich and the poor, especially as economies grow in this region. Countries in East Asia still have a significant percentage of their population living below the poverty line.
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Sources: World Bank
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Need for PhilanthropyNonprofit work is newly developing here, and we want take the opportunity to be a pioneer influencer helping to share best practices in transparency in order to promote philanthropy and address complex social issues.
Need for CredibilityLocal nonprofits in East Asia often lack transparency. Unless they are held accountable, it is difficult to know whether well-meaning donations ever reach the intended recipients.
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China is among the least generous nations in the world. This shows the effect of corruption and scandal often associated with charitable donations in this region.
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This map from Transparency International shows how corruption is still common in East Asia based on the Corruption Perceptions Index 2015. Source
Transparency makes a difference.
Increased Donations
Donors are more likely to contribute to nonprofits that are trustworthy and ethical. We are unique in that we selectively partner only with NGOs that have met our criteria of transparency, so you know your donations get into the right hands.
A study by the Georgetown Institute for Consumer Research showed that “by being more transparent, nonprofit groups may be able to generate trust from the public and increase the amount of donations they receive from regular donors.” Source
A study by the Georgetown Institute for Consumer Research showed that “by being more transparent, nonprofit groups may be able to generate trust from the public and increase the amount of donations they receive from regular donors.” Source
Sustainable Impact
One of the greatest challenges smaller nonprofits face is having sufficient funding. Greater public support leads to a long-term life for the NGO, so their work can keep making an impact for years to come.
How do we empower NGOs?
Capacity Building
The NGOs we support already have good track records but need assistance to fulfill their potential and flourish. Our financial aid, mentorship, and accountability provide the resources to help them grow and improve their results.
Transparency Best Practices
We require our NGOs to regularly report on financials and project progress. These disciplines prove the integrity of their stewardship and the impact of their work. Learn more...
Our support helps underprivileged children and families improve their way of life.
Meet a few of our beneficiaries.
Lina: New Heart and a Bright Future
Lina has a new perspective on life after we helped cure her congenital heart disease. Before she had heart surgery in 2010, the 11th grader in rural China had lost hope for the future. She had suffered 17 years with congenital heart disease, but her family couldn’t afford treatment.
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After the successful surgery we made possible, she became more positive and confident. She even volunteered as a teacher at our summer camp for post-surgery children, paying it forward in gratitude for the support she had received. Three years later, she fulfilled her dream to go to college. Lina will graduate in 2016, which is a significant milestone for a female who has overcome heart disease and impoverished conditions.
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Nguyen Thi Chang: New House for a Young Family
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The Nguyen Thi Chang family in rural Vietnam was living in a temporary shelter because their old cottage collapsed. They don’t own any cultivated land, and the husband is a construction worker doing work for hire. After Sahaya built a brick house for them, they have a suitable house in which to raise their 2 young children.
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Together we can impact more families.
We support capacity building and operations. You fund projects. NGO field partners make it happen.
Our Board of Advisors provide the resources to develop the NGOs and cover any necessary administrative costs. Your donations go 100% to the NGO’s beneficiaries, directly helping people in need. Our combined support helps alleviate poverty, one family at a time.