I don’t know if it’s legit or not, but unfortunately I’ve seen a number of scam organizations. Before I give, I go onto Guidestar and review a couple of years 990’s and I also look to see how they are rated on charity navigator, that way I can get an understanding of what type of fundraising they are doing and how the money is being spent. I also do a google search to look for any scandal associated with the organization and its key staff and reverse search the address. Sometimes you expect to see one thing, but street view will show you something entirely different. I’ve found multiple “charities” funneling millions of dollars through a house in a residential neighborhood, that typically would be a red flag. Some charities turn out to be doing amazing work, others are fronts and simply laundering money and/or completely fake and scamming people. I try to look at the tzedaka I give as a business deal and investment, because it’s really Hashem’s money and I’m just in charge of distribution, so I don’t give to organizations that I can’t check out. Also, in Israel adoption is a bit of an issue. They are very reluctant to let children be adopted, unless they are truly orphaned and they won’t allow international adoption at all, an American couldn’t go to Israel and bring home an Israeli child, they would have to make aliya. It’s complicated and political, imagine a chareidi child going to a secular home or the opposite happening. Many of these types of homes are full of children and needed because the parents are in complicated situations as opposed to deceased (drug addicts, prison, poverty etc.)and can’t care for their children. So the girls might be living their in “foster care” and not up for adoption at all, but they do desperately need the help. Hope this helps you in terms of figuring out who they are.
