At Shepherd, we realize that your gift may be a sacrifice, and so we thank you even just for considering a donation. So what makes Shepherd stand out? Why should you give to Shepherd? Here are a few reasons why we believe that your donation will be used well here.

We’re local: We’re not a national organization with a lot of overhead or administrative layers. We’re much more of a grass roots organization, and many of our staff members live in the neighborhoods we’re trying to help, and some of those we've helped have become staff members. Our offices are in the same buildings we use to serve our neighbors; and any time we are open, you are welcome to come and see the work for yourself.

We’re accountable: In the first century, the church in Corinth sent a donation to Paul the Apostle. He in turn, sent a letter to instruct and thank them, writing, “We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.” At Shepherd, that’s our approach too. To that end we’re a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, and must have our records are audited every year to adhere to their very strict standards. That audit is available to anyone who asks.

We’re official: Shepherd Community Center is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization, which simply means that you if you itemize deductions on your federal tax returns, you may be able to include contributions to Shepherd as a deduction.

We’re efficient: A good rule of thumb is that a charity should spend no more than 35% of related contributions on fund-raising. In our 2008-09 fiscal year, we spent only 10% on fund-raising. The remaining 90% was used directly for programming and administration.

We’re respected: Several of the largest churches in the Indianapolis area have chosen to partner with us to break the cycle of poverty. And several other not-for-profits have chosen to work alongside Shepherd. National organizations have studied and advised us, and national media have reported on us. Shepherd is a BBB Accredited Charity, and adheres to all twenty of the BBB's standards for charity accountability.

Ready to donate? Just click on one of the links at the top of our page.