Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How severe is the malnutrition problem in the world?

A: According to UNICEF, ”Every day, on average more than 26,000 children under the age of five die around the world, mostly from preventable causes…In up to half of under-five deaths an underlying cause is under-nutrition, which deprives a young child’s body and mind of the nutrients needed for growth and development.” (State of the World’s Children 2008) If only a small percentage of the population was willing to contribute two meals per day, millions of lives could be saved.

Q: What is the relationship between Nourish the Children and the Nu Skin Force for Good Foundation, which also contributes product and resources to charities?

A: Nu Skin Enterprises created the Nu Skin Force for Good Foundation in 1996 with a mission to improve the lives of children by offering hope for a life free from disease, illiteracy, and poverty. The Nu Skin Force for Good Foundation is a registered non-profit 501(c)(3) private foundation in the United States. Nu Skin Enterprises provides for all overhead and administrative costs of the Nu Skin Force for Good Foundation, ensuring that donations go directly to those receiving aid.

In addition to the company’s non-profit foundation, Nu Skin established the “Nourish the Children initiative” (NTC). NTC is a for profit social enterprise that applies business principles to address the problem of hunger in a sustainable manner.

VitaMeal is a nutrient-dense food containing 25 vitamins and minerals that is designed to provide a nourishing meal. Distributors and customers can purchase VitaMeal for their own use, or they can choose to donate it to charitable organizations that specialize in distributing food to children in need. Since 2002, Nu Skin and its distributors, customers and employees have donated millions of meals to malnourished children throughout the world.

Q: What is the business relationship between Nourish the Children and Nu Skin Enterprises?
A: Nourish the Children is an initiative of Nu Skin Enterprises. The food products used to feed malnourished children under the name VitaMeal are manufactured by Nu Skin Enterprises in company-owned or in contracted facilities.

For every donation via the five-bag option, Nu Skin donates one bag, feeding an additional child for 30 days. For every eight bags donated via the one and two-bag options, the company donates one bag.

Q: Is NTC registered with the government and do distributors need to be registered?
A: Nu Skin Enterprises is not a charity and therefore does not register with the government as a charity. In the U.S., Nu Skin Enterprises has a relationship with reputable public charities referred to as a "commercial co-venture." While most states have Charitable Solicitations Acts, only a handful of them require registration of commercial co-ventures. We have registered wherever necessary as a commercial co-venture and Nu Skin Enterprises will continue to work with regulators to ensure compliance in each of the states. Distributors are not authorized to solicit cash donations but are authorized to sell food and invite purchasers to donate part of their purchase to an authorized charity.

Q: How does Nourish the Children select the charities that receive its products and confirm that VitaMeal donations reach children in need?
A: Nourish the Children only partners with organizations that have a demonstrated ability to work effectively with local governments and to get food to those with real needs. Through Nourish the Children's "report back" agreements with its humanitarian relief partners, the company helps to ensure that the food donated is delivered to those in need. To see a summary where the VitaMeal donations were sent quarterly, go to company’s CSR Quarterly Reports. An online version of these reports can be found by clicking on Smiles Reports on the NTC website.

Q: How does your automatic delivery program work?
A: The automatic delivery program is intended to provide consistent food donations to help agencies feed children on a sustainable basis. Participants authorize Nu Skin to charge a credit card monthly for purchases of VitaMeal that are donated through NTC to charity partners. Participants can cancel at any time and can ask for a refund within 30 days.

Q: Can donors designate where their donations will be distributed?
A: Charity partners own and control the VitaMeal donated to them and ensure that the proper personnel and infrastructure exist for distribution. It would not be feasible or responsible for them to send small quantities of food to every destination indicated by donors.

Q: Is VitaMeal Kosher and Halal -certified?
A: Nu Skin Enterprises has consulted with appropriate clergy to ensure the products are Kosher- and Halal-certified for US produced product only.

Q: How do Nourish the Children products fit into the Nu Skin Enterprises compensation plan and company profits
A: Just like any other Nu Skin product, distributors earn commission for purchasing and selling VitaMeal. VitaMeal is the only product that offers a 10% PV bonus per unit. The average percentage of commission on all products is approximately 42 percent of the wholesale price.

Q: What legal guidelines should distributors follow as they participate in the Nourish the Children Initiative?
A: Things to be included and emphasized in every Nourish the Children presentation:

Nourish the Children (NTC) is NOT a Charity

• NTC is a for profit venture
• NTC is an initiative of Nu Skin Enterprises
• NTC provides a mechanism for Distributors to contribute products, including VitaMeal to charity

NTC works in tandem with partner charities

• Partners are registered charities
• Never portray NTC in the context of a charity, either directly or indirectly
• NTC’s affiliation with the partner charity should be emphasized in every presentation

Primary Focus on Nu Skin Enterprises

• NTC should never be presented as a stand-alone business opportunity
• NTC is merely a subcomponent of what Nu Skin Enterprises does and should be presented as part of a presentation which includes Nu Skin and/or Pharmanex
• Customers and distributors should be provided the opportunity to buy other products in addition to VitaMeal

No Solicitations

• NTC, Nu Skin Enterprises, or its Distributors may not solicit cash donations or contributions for NTC, rather distributors should encourage others to purchase VitaMeal
• Distributors may also disclose that NTC will make a matching contribution to partner charities as well as facilitate any donation of VitaMeal made directly to partner charities.

 

Q: Are purchasers who choose to donate VitaMeal through the Nourish the Children initiative able to take their donations as a tax deduction?
A: Distributors are making an in-kind charitable contribution when making donations of VitaMeal products through the Nourish the Children initiative. In the U.S. donors receive a receipt from Feed the Children, a registered 501c3 charity. We do not give tax advice and we do remind them to consult a tax adviser before making a determination as to whether or not the donation may be the basis for a personal tax deduction. In other countries, check with your local office or tax authority.