It is a fair question, and one every thoughtful donor should ask: where does my money go, and what does it actually accomplish?
At St. Mary's Global Foundation, we believe that transparency is not optional — it is fundamental to the trust that makes this work possible. So let us answer that question directly.
How We Allocate Funds
Our funding allocation reflects our priorities and our commitment to putting maximum resources into direct program delivery:
- 65% — Direct Programs: Education support, health services, clean water, and community development. This is the work that reaches children and families directly.
- 20% — Staff and Operations: The local team members, coordinators, community health workers, and teachers who execute our programs. These are people — not overhead — and they are the reason our programs work.
- 10% — Capacity Building: Training, skills development, and community leadership programs that ensure our work becomes self-sustaining over time.
- 5% — Administration: The minimum necessary for financial management, reporting, communications, and governance.
What Different Gift Levels Achieve
We want donors to have a clear picture of what their contribution makes possible. Here is how gifts at different levels translate into real outcomes:
$25 provides school supplies — notebooks, pencils, and basic materials — for one child for an entire school year. In communities where families cannot afford these basic items, this gift is the difference between a child attending school or staying home.
$50 covers one month of a community health worker's essential supplies — the thermometers, rapid diagnostic tests, oral rehydration salts, and educational materials that allow her to serve 30 to 40 families in her community every month.
$100 supports two prenatal care visits for expectant mothers in underserved communities — connecting them to skilled care at a time when access to support can literally save lives.
$250 funds a full month of educational support for a class of 30 students — teacher stipends, learning materials, and the operational costs of keeping a community learning center running.
$1,000 provides clean water access infrastructure for a household that previously relied on contaminated sources — a one-time investment with health benefits that compound for years.
$5,000 funds the construction and setup of a community learning space, giving a neighborhood its first dedicated, safe place for children to gather and learn.
The Compounding Effect
Individual impact is real and worth celebrating. But the more important story is the compounding effect of sustained investment in a community over time.
When a child completes primary school, the probability that her own children will attend school rises significantly. When a community health worker trains her neighbors on nutrition, the reduction in malnutrition among children under five produces cognitive and developmental benefits that last a lifetime. When families gain access to clean water, they redirect the time and money previously spent on illness treatment toward productive activity — including keeping children in school.
These effects layer on each other. A dollar invested wisely in education or health today generates returns for decades. That is the logic behind sustained commitment, and it is why organizations like ours focus on building community capacity rather than delivering temporary aid.
Accountability You Can Trust
We report our impact metrics publicly and update them regularly. Our team in Juba conducts regular program monitoring and evaluation. We maintain detailed financial records and are committed to sharing them with funders and major donors upon request.
We are building toward formal third-party verification of our impact data as our organization grows. Transparency is not a box to check — it is a core organizational value that shapes how we operate at every level.
Ready to Make a Difference?
If you have been moved by what you have read — about the education crisis, about the health challenges, about the children and families working hard to build better lives in South Sudan — the most direct thing you can do is contribute.
Every donation, at every level, goes to work immediately. Visit our donation page to make a contribution today. And if you have questions about our programs or how your gift would be used, reach out through our contact page — we welcome the conversation.
Thank you for considering St. Mary's Global Foundation as a partner in this work. Together, we are building a better future for the children of South Sudan.