Frequently asked Questions

Why does United Internet cooperate with UNICEF?

The decision to primarily support UNICEF with an own foundation is based on several reasons:

UNICEF improves the conditions of children lastingly. According to the “help to self-help” approach UNICEF develops country-wide programmes worldwide with the focus on education, health, HIV/AIDS and child protection. UNICEF closely involves the population in the development work and supports them in a way such as to enable them to care for themselves and for their children.

UNICEF helps in the long term, but it is also a fast-reacting and reliable partner in emergency aid. In the aftermath of earthquakes, floods or in post-war situations UNICEF supplies clean drinking water and medicines to children, provides emergency schools and psycho-social care. In this work, UNICEF can benefit from its many years of experience and worldwide presence.

The use of donations is subject to strict supervision at UNICEF. UNICEF offices in the programme countries as well as the local partners are regularly audited in order to make sure that the funds are used exactly as intended.

How can I donate?

You can donate online comfortably (via direct debit or credit card). Your data is exclusively transmitted in code (SSL code, 128 bit) so that maximum safety is guaranteed. Your personal data are not made available to third parties.

How is my donation used?

The foundation guarantees that your donation will be used properly! All donations are passed on 100 per cent – without any deduction! About 90 per cent are allocated to the German Committee for UNICEF. About ten per cent are allocated to other international humanitarian relief organizations.

Do I get a tax exemption certificate?

Yes, for donations of 25 € up you will promptly receive a tax exemption certificate which you can present to your tax office. Pledge donors will receive an annual tax exemption certificate. For donations of less than 100 €, your bank statement is sufficient as voucher.

Where does the money for UNICEF’s work originate and how is its use supervised?

UNICEF is financed exclusively by voluntary contributions from private donors and governments. The National Committees contribute about one third of the funds for the international UNICEF work. Two thirds of the funds come from voluntary government contributions.
The headquarters in New York supervise the UNICEF offices in programme countries. Besides this internal audit, the Executive Board, UNICEF’s supreme monitoring body consisting of 36 government representatives, supervises its work. In the programme countries, the UNICEF staff themselves regularly review the work of the local partners in order to guarantee that the funds are not used for anything but their intended purpose. Regular detailed reports are prepared on each programme.

Are administrative costs incurred with the United Internet for UNICEF Foundations?

No, all staff of the foundation are volunteers. The project work itself is very efficiently carried out by UNICEF.

Does UNICEF accept donations-in-kind?

UNICEF Germany regrets that it cannot accept donations-in-kind. The entire purchase of goods for relief programmes is done by the central purchasing department of UNICEF. It compares the offers worldwide and tries to buy a large part of the relief goods locally or have them produced there. Additional material is provided and dispatched via the central UNICEF warehouse in Copenhagen. Interested corporate enterprises can contact UNICEF under www.unicef.org./supply.

Does UNICEF offer sponsorships for or negotiate the adoption of foreign children?

UNICEF does not offer sponsorships for individual children but sets other foci: It is the aim of UNICEF to improve the conditions of as many children in developing countries as possible in the long term and in a sustainable way. UNICEF offers you the chance to commit yourself as long-term pledge donor or project partner.

Also the negotiation of adoptions is not a part of UNICEF’s tasks

For UNICEF, the support of children in the countries comes first. Only when no other suitable care or foster families for the children can be found in their home country, an adoption abroad may be considered. But UNICEF is of the opinion that the adoption of a child by foreign persons must only be arranged via governmental authorities or via organizations which have been authorized by the government. The rights of the child have to come first, the The Hague Convention on Foreign Adoptions has to be followed.

Does UNICEF support relief projects in Germany?

We do support children in Germany – but not financially. Child rights are the same for all children. That is why UNICEF also refers to such problems as poverty, discrimination and violence against children in industrial countries. Germany, however, has sufficient resources and institutions to properly care for her children. UNICEF therefore financially supports children and adolescents in emergency and developing countries only. As a member of the “Aktionsbündnis Kinderrechte” (Child Rights Alliance) (UNICEF, Deutscher Kinderschutzbund and Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk) as well as the National Coalition, a broad alliance of German children’s and adolescents’ agencies UNICEF increases awareness also in Germany of child rights violations and supports politicians in improving the situation for the children.

UNICEF and other child organizations therefore call for including children’s rights in the German Constitution. The government should also appoint a Federal Ombudsman for Children. Together with competent partners UNICEF organizes own events and press conferences in order to increase awareness of the difficult situation of many children in Germany.