How can I help?
Answer: The sky’s the limit. We would love to have you help in any (or all) of the following ways - donate to our lifesaving programs in central Africa which are protecting vulnerable citizens from violence, spread the word to your network by becoming an Invisible Children fundraiser, or joining Citizen to ask your leaders to take action.
Does Invisible Children only focus on the LRA conflict?
Answer:
We remain committed to bringing an end to LRA violence and will continue to do so until all affected communities are safe. Although we have seen a 90% reduction in LRA violence since Invisible Children expanded its programs into central Africa, the LRA still remains the greatest threat to communities in the tri-border region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, and South Sudan. Most of the other international NGOs working in the region have closed up their offices and gone home, leaving affected communities with little support from the outside world. Joseph Kony and his top commanders are still out there and we know that, if given the opportunity, they will regroup, rebuild their ranks through the abduction of more children, and wreak havoc by committing unspeakable violence once again.
However, the LRA is not the ONLY issue that Invisible Children addresses. We have seen over the years how the same vulnerabilities that first attracted the LRA to this region of the world are being exploited by other violent armed groups, including poachers and wildlife traffickers taking advantage of the porous borders, lack of governance and protection actors, and the rich biodiversity in the area. We have also seen how our approach to program implementation and our strong and trusting relationships with communities may be adapted and expanded to address those others.
Invisible Children will continue to work alongside the communities of central Africa to find innovative and sustainable solutions to ending the violence of the LRA, but we will also go beyond that to support them until they have the full safety they need to really flourish.
Where do you work?
Answer: We work in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Central African Republic (CAR), South Sudan, and Uganda. We have field offices in Obo, CAR; Bangui, CAR; and Dungu, DRC, and we have community program partners in Western Equatoria, South Sudan and Kampala, Uganda.
What did KONY 2012 achieve?
Answer: In short, a lot. Find out more HERE.
Are you politically affiliated?
Answer: No, thanks for asking.
Is Invisible Children a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization?
Answer: Yes, we have our 501(c)(3) non-profit status. That means any donation you make to Invisible Children is tax deductible.
Can I see the organization's financial statements?
Answer: Of course. As always, you can look at our third-party audited 990 financial documents and annual reports from our entire history. See all financials.
I thought Invisible Children closed down at the end of 2014?
Answer:
By the end of 2014, Invisible Children - like many other international NGOs working on the LRA conflict - was struggling to raise the funds necessary to maintain all of its global operations due to the success achieved in reducing LRA violence and other crises around the world demanding the attention of donors. Despite this difficulty, we knew we could not abandon the communities that we had been working alongside for so long. So we dug in our heels and made tough decisions, ultimately restructuring the organization and reducing our U.S. operations by 67%. In the end, we were able to sustain nearly all of our programs in central Africa.
So, no, we did not close down at the end of 2014. In fact, we emerged from that period of transition with a greater clarity of vision and determination to stay the course. And most importantly, we developed even stronger, more trusting relationships with the community leaders who watched us fight for our programs while so many others left.
But we do look a little different these days. We no longer have a huge mass media department, we no longer tour the country in large 15-passenger vans, and we do not host global events. Our U.S.-based programs achieved historic success in thrusting the LRA issue to the front of global consciousness and catalyzing international action, but they are no longer what is needed.
We also sound a little different these days. We have seen that as long as the vulnerabilities that allow for violence and exploitation exist, these communities will not be safe. Therefore, we have embraced the opportunity and the responsibility to evolve our mission and expand our work to include threats beyond the LRA conflict.
What has happened to Invisible Children's community recovery programs in Uganda? (Schools for Schools, Legacy Scholarship Program, Livelihood, Mend, Functional Adult Literacy, Sanitation and Health Training, Rehabilitation)
Answer: Since 2015, Invisible Children Uganda has been operating as an independent organization. We are excited about this change, as it allows the community leaders in northern Uganda to carry these programs forward. Invisible Children Uganda will independently seek out future funding through private and institutional donors to support these community recovery programs in northern Uganda. Invisible Children U.S. provided a gift of $115,000 to Invisible Children Uganda through this transition, which helped to ensure that the Legacy Scholarship commitments made at that time would be fulfilled through the end of that school year.
Why is Invisible Children's Charity Navigator ranking what it is?
Answer: In the two categories that Charity Navigator evaluates, Invisible Children currently has 4 out of 4 stars in “Accountability & Transparency” and 2 out of 4 stars in “Financial Performance.” The 100% score in “Accountability & Transparency” essentially means that they have verified that we spend donations the way that we say we do and that we have legal procedures in place to protect our donors, beneficiaries, and employees. The 2 out of 4 stars in “Financial Performance” is based on our working capital ratio being .14 years. To translate, this means that Charity Navigator feels that the amount of financial capital Invisible Children has is insufficient. We would agree with that assessment, which is why we took the course of action to dramatically downsize Invisible Children operations in the U.S. in early 2014.
Why hasn't Kony been caught yet?
Answer: That's the million-dollar question and there's no simple answer. Here are some considerations: He’s operating in some of the densest jungle and most remote regions in the world, where there is very little infrastructure and where pursuing him is extremely challenging. Regional governments lack the military capacity to track him down, and are additionally are dealing with other rebel groups and instabilities. Kony has also been able to take advantage of ‘safe havens’ such as Sudan, where the counter-LRA forces cannot pursue him.
Where is Kony right now?
Answer: It’s highly likely that he’s in Kafia Kingi, a Sudanese controlled ‘enclave’ bordering South Sudan and the Central African Republic. It’s a place where Kony has been able to return time and time again to take refuge, from which he’s been able to continue to direct his fighters to attack civilians in neighbouring countries, and an area where African Union-led forces (assisted by U.S. advisers) cannot go.
How did the LRA conflict start?
Answer: The LRA was an evolution of the ‘Holy Spirit Movement’, started in 1986 supposedly to free northern Uganda from government oppression. Learn more about the history of the conflict HERE.
How many soldiers are currently in the LRA?
Answer: There are around 200 combatants, which doesn’t count women and children used as ‘wives’ and porters. This is the smallest the group has ever been, but they have a disproportionately large impact. Learn more about the LRA HERE.
Isn’t that a fairly low number - why don’t you just accept that as success?
Answer: While a 90% reduction in the size of the LRA over the last ten years is a huge achievement, Kony has shown that he is a master of regeneration. If we remove the pressure, it is likely that he will take the chance to regroup and grow his force back to it’s former strength. Plus, ending a war doesn’t mean ending 90% of it.
Where is the LRA active now?
Answer: The LRA is spread across an area approximately the the size of California, operating across the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, and South Sudan.
Why has Invisible Children simplified the LRA issue in some of your media?
Answer: We’ve often simplified the history of the LRA conflict in our media in order to make the issues involved more accessible to someone completely unfamiliar with the conflict, or with issues of human rights. We believe that those individuals have a powerful capacity to care if they are given the opportunity and the invitation. We see our media as the entry point to a further conversation that offers more layers and nuance as a person desires to dive deeper. This allows people who have never before been interested in these types of issues to take that first step of involvement through Invisible Children. From there, we support them in the journey of maturing and growing as an activist.
Where do you get your statistics?
Answer:
Does Invisible Children only focus on the LRA conflict?
Answer:
We remain committed to bringing an end to LRA violence and will continue to do so until all affected communities are safe. Although we have seen a 90% reduction in LRA violence since Invisible Children expanded its programs into central Africa, the LRA still remains the greatest threat to communities in the tri-border region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, and South Sudan. Most of the other international NGOs working in the region have closed up their offices and gone home, leaving affected communities with little support from the outside world. Joseph Kony and his top commanders are still out there and we know that, if given the opportunity, they will regroup, rebuild their ranks through the abduction of more children, and wreak havoc and commit unspeakable violence once again.
However, the LRA is not the ONLY issue that Invisible Children addresses. We have seen over the years how the same vulnerabilities that first attracted the LRA to this region of the world are being exploited by other violent armed groups, including poachers and wildlife traffickers taking advantage of the porous borders, lack of governance and protection actors, and the rich biodiversity in the area. We have also seen how our approach to program implementation and our strong and trusting relationships with communities may be adapted and expanded to address those.
Invisible Children will continue to work alongside the communities of central Africa to find innovative and sustainable solutions to ending the violence of the LRA, but we will also go beyond that to support them until they have the full safety they need to really flourish.
How can I donate to Invisible Children?
Answer: You can make an online donation HERE. Alternatively, you can send a check to P.O. Box 73295, Washington, D.C. 20056.
When I donate, where does my money go?
Answer: Donations fund our critical advocacy work and life-saving programs in central Africa. Learn about them HERE.
What percentage of my donation goes towards programs?
Answer: We are committed to making supporter’s donations go as far as possible in supporting a permanent end to the LRA crisis. We've worked hard and thought very critically to ensure that all donations fund our most essential operations and critical programs. Find a detailed break down of how your money is used HERE.
How do I give monthly?
Answer: It’s quick and easy to sign up online HERE or give us a call on 619.562.2799 and we’ll help get you set up.
I’m a monthly donor, and some of my information has changed - how do I update it?
Answer: Give us a call on 619.562.2799, or send an email to [email protected] - we would love to get you updated.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Answer: If you’re in the U.S., yes. You’ll get your tax receipt automatically emailed for online donations (so you might want to check we’ve got the correct email address for you). For offline donations, we’ll snail-mail your receipt. If you have any questions, or haven’t received a tax receipt and think you should have, email [email protected]. Sorry international supporters - we love you just as much, but you can’t claim back tax on your donations.
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