How to Donate to Colombia and Get a US Tax Deduction

Your gift to Una Luz Foundation is the answer to a mother's prayer in Cartagena, and it remains fully tax-deductible right here at home. Here is exactly how it works, what you can deduct, and why your generosity stretches so much further in our neighborhood.

The Short Answer

Yes. When you choose to support our kids at Una Luz Foundation, you can deduct that gift on your US taxes. We're a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the United States, meaning your generosity qualifies for the exact same deduction as a donation to your local food bank or church. That's the part most people miss. You get to be the vital link for families in Cartagena, Colombia, and you still receive a standard US tax receipt for your records.

How It Works

Una Luz Foundation is incorporated and registered right here in the United States. We aren't a foreign charity. We're a US nonprofit, but our hearts and our daily programs are rooted entirely in Cartagena. Here is what happens when you decide to partner with us.

First, you donate through our website, which runs on a secure platform called Givebutter. Next, you receive an automatic tax receipt via email with all our legal organization details. Finally, you claim the deduction on Schedule A of your federal tax return, just like any other charitable contribution you make.

If you're giving stock or other non-cash assets to support the foundation, those same rules apply. We always recommend chatting with your tax advisor for specific guidance on those beautiful gifts.

Why This Matters

So many people want to help children overseas but worry about losing the tax benefit. If you write a check directly to a local organization in another country, the IRS typically won't recognize that deduction. That's where you and Una Luz come together. Because we're a US entity, your generosity receives the full tax benefit while reaching the very families who have been praying for a breakthrough. You bridge the gap and make this work possible.

Your Dollar Goes Further Than You Think

There's something truly special about giving to Colombia. The cost of living in Cartagena is roughly four to five times lower than in the US. That means your financial support stretches in ways it simply can't domestically.

Here is what $50 actually looks like in our neighborhood.

School supplies for one child for an entire semester. That covers the notebooks, the pencils, and the sturdy backpack they proudly wear on their walk to class.

Daily meals for one person for an entire month. Our community kitchen prepares fresh, beautiful lunches every single day so our neighbors feel seen and loved.

A month of vital teacher support. That helps us cover a fair salary for the local educators who show up for these kids every morning with unending patience.

A $16 monthly gift feeds one person every weekday for a full month. A $50 monthly gift sponsors a child's complete journey through our school. These aren't just hypothetical numbers. They're the real, daily costs you help us meet to keep our doors open.

Why a Small Nonprofit, Not a Big One

You've probably seen the work of giant international organizations, and they do good things. But giving to Una Luz is a deeply personal experience.

You know exactly where your money goes. We know the names of the 30 children in our school and the 100 families who sit down at our kitchen tables. There's no massive overhead and no layers of administration between your gift and the child it helps. If you want the full picture, read our transparent breakdown of where every dollar goes. When you give $50, it becomes $50 worth of fresh food, textbooks, or teacher time.

You can see your impact directly. We share real updates, unpolished photos, and honest stories straight from the ground. You'll hear about Profesora Judith teaching math this morning, rather than reading a vague statistic about children served.

Your gift is never just a drop in a bucket. At Una Luz, your single donation changes the atmosphere of our whole building. We currently have 232 children on our waiting list. Every time you choose to give, you help us take one more step toward welcoming them inside.

How to Give

The simplest way to join us is through our donate page. You can make a one-time gift or become a monthly supporter who sustains our daily work. Every donor receives a tax receipt automatically.

If God is leading you to discuss a larger gift, a stock transfer, or a corporate match, please reach out to us directly at admin@unaluz.org. We're a small, grateful team, and we'd be honored to provide whatever documentation your accountant needs.

One More Thing

We're sometimes asked if it's truly worth it to invest in a small organization so far away. If you could see what life looks like in these neighborhoods, the tired mothers who find rest at our kitchen every day, the kids who walk to our school because it's the only safe place in their neighborhood, and the teachers who stay for years because they believe God is doing something special here, you'd know the answer. It's absolutely worth it. Your tax deduction is just one more practical reason to say yes to this beautiful community. Thank you for believing in them.