Frequently Asked Questions


Volunteering

How can I get involved?

There are several ways to get involved in with the Somaly Mam Foundation. The most common include starting/joining a chapter, hosting an awareness-raiser, or committing to the $2/month campaign and recruiting others to do the same. You can learn more about this by clicking the "Get Involved" tab on the links section at the top of each page.

What are the requirements for volunteering in Cambodia?
We require the following of our Cambodia volunteers:

  • 3 month minimum stay
  • Completed or completing undergraduate degree
  • Work/internship experience in nonprofit, nursing, psychology, or business is preferable

Can I send supplies to the shelters?
Please do NOT send supplies for the shelters. While we appreciate your generosity, shipping and customs makes this more costly than buying the materials locally so the items will not make it to the shelters efficiently.


Donations

How can I make a donation?
In the top, right corner of the website is an orange button labeled "Donate Now." This will lead you to a page explaining how you can donate to SMF. You may set up a monthly contribution, or make a one-time donation via credit card.

How do I cancel a monthly donation?
In the top, right corner of the website, click on the orange button labeled "Donate Now." At the top of the donation page, there is a hyperlink leading to a form you may fill out if you wish to stop a payment from your credit card. It is located just below the statement "DONATE TO THE SOMALY MAM FOUNDATION."

How can update my credit card information?
Click the orange "DONATE NOW" button. At the top of the donation page, you will see the statement "DONATE TO THE SOMALY MAM FOUNDATION" written in orange. Immediately underneath that line, you will see a link allowing you to cancel your donation. Click the link and fill out the form including as much payment information as possible so that our accountants may easily locate and cancel your current donation. Then go back to the donation page and sign up for a new donation with your updated credit card information.

How can I receive a donation receipt for tax purposes?
Your email confirmation of the donation will serve as your receipt. If you require any additional information, please email info /at/ somaly /dot/ org with the subject "Tax Donation Receipt."

What is your Employer Identification Number (EIN)?
26-0392207


Website/Store

Are transactions on your website secure?
All of our transactions are transmitted securely over SSL (Secure Socket Layer) using 256-bit encryption. Our server certificate is issued and verified by Thawte, one of the leading trusted content sources in the world. The Somaly Mam Foundation takes internet security very seriously, and does not store any credit card information on our servers.

What can I do if I receive an error message when trying to set up a username and password for the SMF store?
If you experience problems with your payment information or username and password when completing a transaction at the SMF store, you may email your payment information/desired username and password to info /at/ somaly /dot/ org with the subject "SMF Store Error."

How long should I expect to wait before receiving my order?
Orders may take up to 3 weeks to reach the recipient as we ship via media mail. If, after 3 weeks,you have not received your item, please contact us at info /at/ somaly /dot/ org with the subject "Order Not Received."

How can technical problems, website glitches, etc be addressed?
If any part of our website seems broken, or if you're having trouble placing a donation or using our store, please send an e-mail to support@somaly.org. Be sure to include your computer's operating system, the browser you are using (version is also helpful), and a thorough description of the problem. You'll be contacted as soon as possible to resolve the issue.

What is your phone number?
For questions regarding customer support, please send an email to support /at/ somaly /dot/ org, or fill out our contact form on the website. If, for any reason, you must contact us via phone, you may reach our voicemail at: 310-295-1712.