Here are answers to many of the frequently asked questions about Families Without Fathers.

Families Without Fathers – Questions & Answers

Q:        What is Families Without Fathers?

A:         Families Without Fathers (FWF) is a California-based non-profit, public benefit corporation that aids and assists women and their children who have suffered the sudden and unexpected loss of a father or step-father.

Q:        What does Families Without Fathers do?

A:         With donor and volunteer support, FWF provides a variety of services for families who have experienced the sudden and unexpected loss of a father.  

Q:        What services does Families Without Fathers provide?

A:         Because every family has special circumstances when dealing with the loss of a father, Families Without Fathers provides a variety of services in an individualized approach to meet these unique family needs. This includes: Child Care, Family and Grief Counseling, Financial Planning, Funeral Assistance, Job & Career aid, Legal Services, Social Support, and other unique, needs-based services.

Q:        Who benefits from Families Without Fathers?

A:         The primary beneficiaries of FWF services are the immediate families that we help.  However, a major beneficiary also includes the communities from where these families reside.  Data shows that children exposed to fatherless families are more likely to commit crimes, engage in drug abuse, commit suicide and suffer from depression. By helping families during their time of need, we also contribute directly to their communities.

Q:        Are donations to Families Without Fathers tax deductible?

A:         Check with your tax planner. FWF is a California non-profit public benefit corporation and is in process of obtaining federal IRS 501(c)(3) status.

Q:        Where does Families Without Fathers help families?

A:         Currently, FWF is in its first phase of development. With our current limitation on resources, FWF can currently help families in northern California. As we grow, so too does our ability to reach out and expand our services. Our vision is to be able to provide services nationwide. 

Q:        Will Families Without Fathers operate outside of the U.S.?

A:         No plans exist at this point to extend FWF services internationally.

Q:        Does Families Without Fathers help families where a step-father has died?

A:         Yes, FWF helps families where the father-figure (this could be an uncle, step-parent, grandfather, or any other male head of household) has died. Our only requirement is that a legally valid marriage existed prior to the father’s death.

Q:        Does Families Without Fathers help families where the parents are divorced?

A:         Yes, as long as there was a legally valid marriage prior to the father’s death, a family unit existed.  Once that family unit is disrupted by the death of a father, FWF is there to help.  Not all services may be applicable, but FWF will help to the extent that it can.

Q:        Does Families Without Fathers help single-mothers who were not married?

A:         Unfortunately, FWF does not have the resources to aid and assist all single-mothers.  Our mission is focused on helping the family unit, and if no family unit pre-existed, we can not fulfill this mission.  Therefore, we are limited to helping only those where a traditional family unit, including a father, existed.

Q:        Why doesn’t Families Without Fathers help families where the mother has died?

A:         As much as we would like to help in situations where the mother has died, the unfortunate facts are that in most cases where a family has lost one spouse, it is the father who more often than not passes away.  As well, in most households the father is predominately the primary wage earner.  The simple economics mean that the loss of the primary wage earner creates a greater, more substantial impact to the family unit.  Lastly, data shows that the loss of a father can have substantially detrimental impact to the children, especially young boys.  

Q:        How does a family get aid and assistance from Families Without Fathers?

A:         FWF is in the process of reaching out to hospitals, church leaders, service providers and the general public to inform them of the organization’s services, and leverage these groups as first line references.  Once a family is referred to FWF, we work directly with them on an individualized basis.

If you have any questions that were not answered here, please send us an e-mail to: Questions@FamiliesWithoutFathers.org