Frequently Asked Questions

What will my contributions be used for?

Contributions will go directly toward initiatives helping families and communities our Surge Fellows and Alumni serve. Surge Relief Fund dollars will go toward providing meals, instructional support, technology support for youth, educators, and families to be safe and supported during these uncertain times.

Will my donation be tax-deductible?

Yes. Because Surge is a 501(c)(3) organization, your contribution will be tax-deductible.  We are passing 100% of dollars raised during this effort directly to schools and other 501(c)(3) organizations.

How long will it take the payments to get to students, families, and communities?

Urgency is one of our Surge values in everything we do, and this is no different.  We will close the window for donations on April 30, 2020. We will close the application for funding requests from Surge Fellows and Alumni on April 30, 2020.  We will review funding requests the first week of May, and all funding will be distributed electronically by May 15, 2020.

How is this fund different from other COVID-19 relief funds?

The goal may be the same — to help generous and caring people get resources to people who can help students, families, and communities. The differences are that all funding will go directly to organizations employing Surge Fellows and Alumni—who are all emerging leaders of color in education—and 100% of your donation will be distributed for these efforts.

Can I specify what I want my donation to go to (i.e., meals, teacher support, mental health)?

Due to the varying needs brought out by the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot in good faith provide the option for donors to choose what efforts certain sums will support. We can, however, promise that all funds will be distributed to Surge Fellows and Alums toward specific and documented efforts serve youth, families and communities impacted by COVID-19.