- Hands Across the Water commenced its work in 2005.
- At that time, 100% of donations went directly to the children of Baan Tharn Namchai.
At Hands Across the Water, we believe in being transparent about donor funds. We have always sought to maintain open communication with you about your donations, which are being used to build a brighter future for our children. Below is a timeline of our financial position and the approach that we have taken to ensure that every donation we receive is used effectively and efficiently to make a positive impact on the lives of the kids.
“Our generation does not want its epitaph to read, ‘We kept charity overhead low.’ We want it to read that we changed the world.”
– Dan Pallotta, Entrepreneur, Author, and Humanitarian Activist
2005
2011
- As Hands Across the Water was growing in its support, the board established a social enterprise, Hands Group, to generate a revenue stream that would cover the administration and fundraising costs for the charity.
- Hands Group's mandate was to be self-sufficient and ensure that 100% of donations continued to support the children and communities of Thailand.
2020
- The global pandemic hit, and Hands Across the Water experienced a 75% loss of fundraising income due to the cancellation of events.
- With 12 months of operating expenses in reserve following the advice of a Board Member, the charity could maintain the operations of the homes during this challenging period.
2021
- In April 2021, the Board of Hands Across the Water resolved that a small percentage of charity funds would temporarily be used to support Hands Group, thereby ensuring the charity's survival through COVID-19.
- Up until this point, $25M had been raised and 100% went to the homes.
2023
- Hands Across the Water received tax deductibility status in Thailand in July 2022.
- A social enterprise was set up in Thailand to provide an income stream to cover the administration and fundraising initiatives of the foundation in Thailand.
- The Board resolved that up to 15% of donor funds would still need to be used for administration and fundraising to support the global expansion.
2024
- We are reviewing our strategy to ensure our children have access to a brighter future. This includes evaluating all costs across the organisation, including our programs, fundraising support and campaigns, awareness and profiling, sustainability, and governance. We acknowledge that without investing in proper resources, we would limit the potential of the charity to see a greater impact.
- Our commitment remains that we will always be transparent with our donors about the use of funds.
We are grateful for the generosity of our donors, and we want to assure you that your contributions are being utilised in the most effective and efficient way possible.
We will continue to provide updates as our strategy evolves. You can always view our up-to-date audited financials on the website.
