CIS depends on donations to do our community empowerment and solidarity work.

Most of our administrative costs are covered through revenue-generating programs including delegations we host, the language school, and solidarity crafts.

We have maintained some programs, but have lost a majority of programs revenues during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We ask you to choose from these programs:

DONATIONS TO THE EMERGENCY FUND (Human Rights Program) go to the following. CIS will decide the priority based on funds available and priorities:  

• $1,000 LEGAL REPRESENTATION

• $100 FOOD BASKET OR REINTEGRATION PACKET

• $150 TRANSPORT FOR ISLANDERS TO HEARINGS, MEETINGS, INTERVIEWS

• $1,000 PER MONTH ARCHIVISTS AND DOCUMENTATION.

• $250 PER MONTH FOR MEDIA WORK AND/OR PRESS CONFERENCES   

• $450 FAMILY SUPPORT PACKET - to cover transport to prison two times per month, necessity packet for prisoner monthly, health issues when a prisoner is free (anemia, malnutrition, scabies, amoebas, etc.), released person must transport and lose work two days per month to check in with judge for an indefinite period.   

In addition to donations, we encourage supporters to visit and experience the El Salvador reality to get firsthand testimony from victims of human rights violations.  We also ask that you share CIS posts on social media or learn how to become active on social media. The government responds to popular opinion, and it is important to raise awareness of the issues.   

General Fund:

• $2,000 for one year of basic health insurance and benefits for one CIS employee. ($170 per month)

Clean Water and Environment Fund:

• $75 for a filter system and training that provides a family with clean water for 8 years, training sessions on hygiene, health practices and the environment.

Dignified Housing Fund:

(Prices of building materials have increased)

• $6,500 to build a dignified home with government subsidy.

• $10,000 to build a dignified home without government subsidy.

CIS General Youth Scholarships and Leadership Development

If you belong to a faith congregation, institution or community group that supports CIS education scholarships, please continue to give through that program.

If you are not participating in an existing program, your donations here will provide scholarships to students in communities without an ongoing partnership with a donor community abroad.

• $25 per month ($300 per year) for a primary or secondary school scholarship for one child or young person

• $100 per month ($1,200 per year) for a university scholarship for one young person

• $125 for a student’s food, transport and lodging expenses at our annual retreat.

• $200 for a student to participate in our 6-month leadership development course

Gender Human Rights Scholarship and Empowerment

• $25 per month ($300 per year) for to enable a son or daughter of a woman unjustly imprisoned for an obstetric emergency to attend primary or secondary school

• $100 per month ($1,200 per year) for a victim of gender discrimination to attend university

• $50 for a health and hygiene kit for a woman in prison for an obstetric emergency or released from prison after being unjustly imprisoned.

Women’s Enterprises and Empowerment

In our experience, women’s microbusinesses take an average of 9 years to be self-sustaining. 

• $100 for a business evaluation and planning session.   

• $3,000 for one year of business planning and training for one microbusiness or for seed money to start a small business.

Election Observation Fund (Scholarships for Salvadoran Observers and Mission Expenses)

• $350 for partial scholarships to election observers who cannot afford their program fees.

CIS English Language Scholarships

• $60 for a 9-week English course (at the CIS language school) for students with economic need, including due to lost income during COVID-19.