Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

What is Randomactsofkindness.org?

Randomactsofkindness.org is the website of the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. The site has developed into one of the Web’s leading resources for people involved in doing acts of kindness. Randomactsofkindness.org is the main resource for kindness events, ideas and materials. More than 50,000 people subscribe to our daily tweets, and our website receives more than 1,000 unique visitors each day.

Besides searching for opportunities and information that matches their interests and talents, Randomactsofkindness.org users take advantage of resource materials, lesson plans and program activities on topics from pay-it-forward to volunteerism, read our action-inspiring blogs and publications, and use online tools to connect with each other and launch community projects.

Who uses Randomactsofkindness.org?

Individuals, organizations, teachers, schools, universities, communities, agencies and companies use Randomactsofkindness.org to locate materials, communicate about kind acts and ideas, share information and research, obtain curricula and program resources, find inspiration and network with like-minded groups. Randomactsofkindness.org has a special focus on youth, students, educators and schools.

The people who use Randomactsofkindness.org are diverse, but they have one thing in common: They are committed to performing kind acts. Randomactsofkindness.org attracts energetic, compassionate people who have witnessed or experienced the simple or profound power of kindness in their relationships and daily lives.

Does it cost to be a member of Randomactsofkindness.org?

No. Randomactsofkindness.org is the website of The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, a nonprofit organization devoted to encouraging acts of kindness worldwide. Anyone may join the online community here.

What happens when I share information and material on randomactsofkindness.org?

We protect the privacy of our members, while sharing their comments and stories with our kindness community. For details, see our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

What is a RAK Week celebration?

RAK Week is held the second full week of February each year. Random Acts of Kindness Week is designed to give those who are either not currently aware of Random Acts of Kindness or those who wish to call attention to the value of kind actions a chance to experience the joy of passing along kindness. The week’s purpose is to raise awareness about kindness and to invite people to give and receive kindness daily.

In addition, educators often request a particular week during which they can focus their efforts on one theme. When schools celebrate RAK Week around Valentine’s Day, they can be sure that all students are included in the celebration — not just those who are friends or sweethearts.

Celebrations vary widely. An individual may celebrate kindness by performing anonymous kind acts all week long. An educator may lead a discussion about kindness and involve students in a brief kindness activity. Some celebrations are school wide. Some celebrations are community-based rather than school-based. The choice is up to you. For hundreds of ideas, consult our Kindness Ideas resource, or the Educators and Community sections on this website.

Of course, our goal is for everyone to practice kindness 365 days a year! Thousands of people have already caught this vision and actively communicate to us concerning how kindness has improved their school, workplace and community year-round. We invite you to use our resources and join in our kindness community.

Questions About Downloadable Materials

How do I download materials from your website?

To view and print our materials, you must first have a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader. To download this free software, you may click on the link provided in the previous sentence or on any one of the Adobe Acrobat icons on our website.

If you have any difficulty downloading Adobe Acrobat Reader, please contact your own system administrator (or the individual who set up your computer system).

I don’t have a printer. How can I access your materials?

Most libraries have computers with Internet access that you can use. You can print our materials from there. If you work in a school, a computer may be available there as well.

Can I use the Random Acts of Kindness name, logo, digital images and other materials without violating existing copyrights?

For legal reasons, we must protect the use of our logo carefully. The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation logo may not be used on letterhead, on T-shirts or other promotional items, or displayed in any way unless authorized by The Foundation. Our name and logo may not be used to promote or advertise a business or for personal or monetary gain.

Quotes from the series of Random Acts of Kindness books may be used. Please credit The Foundation with this phrase: “Reprinted with permission from The Random Acts of Kindness™ Foundation.”

Questions About the Foundation

Are you a religiously affiliated organization?

The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation does not have religious affiliations. We encourage the practice of kindness in all sectors of society, among all people around the world.

Some of our participants are involved in faith groups and some are not. We hope that people of all beliefs will be inspired to share with others the core human value of kindness.

Whatever your life principles are, we welcome you into the Random Acts of Kindness movement. Every act of kindness you share brings more good into the world.

How are you funded?

The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation is funded by a private donor who wishes to remain anonymous. This person’s sole purpose in supporting our foundation is to bring more kindness into the world.

Can I contribute financially to The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation?

The Foundation does not accept donations, grants or membership dues of any kind. If you have money you would like to contribute, we encourage you to share it in your own community as an act of kindness.

Does The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation give money to worthy causes? Can we apply for a grant?

Our charter does not permit us to offer grants or other financial assistance. We encourage people to contact their local community foundations for grants or charitable aid.

Questions About Getting Involved

How can I volunteer for The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation?

Our “volunteers” are everywhere—all across the country and around the world, encouraging kindness in their schools and communities. We do not currently have office or website volunteers. We believe people can achieve more lasting and positive change by taking the initiative to share and encourage kindness in their own communities. All of our materials are created to help people spread kindness every day, right where they are.

Do you send out email newsletters or updates?

Yes! It is free to become a member of the Foundation. On our website, simply become a member. Select the option that allows us to add you to our email list, and we will send you our quarterly update.

You can also join the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation community online on Facebook or Twitter.

If I share my contact information with you, will you sell it to others?

We do not share or sell contact information with anyone.

If you wish, you may choose to make your contact information known on our website when you become a member. The choice is up to you.

Occasionally, local or national media personnel call us and ask for kindness contacts. We will not share your information unless we contact you first and get your permission to do so. Moreover, we will not contact you about media coverage if you did not choose to share your information when you became a member.

If you would like to edit your membership information on our website, go to My Page, log in and click the "edit profile" link.

Questions About About Kindness

What should I tell people who are skeptical about kindness?

If you meet someone who has doubts about the effectiveness of kindness, mention that Random Acts of Kindness is a way to bring about important systemic change. We currently encounter various signs of disrespect among adults and children—road rage, adult-to-adult intimidation, school bullying. While violence can demoralize a community, kindness can empower and uplift it. Kindness is one of our most important human tools in connecting with one another, enhancing the emotional climate around us and bringing good into the world.

Kindness is fundamental to human experience and is essential to the success of human relationships. We all need kindness shown to us, and we all need to express it. Kindness connects us to one another and inspires hope within us.

Kindness also transcends those boundaries we place among ourselves—boundaries of religion, race, gender, culture, age. Kindness encourages friendship, reciprocity and healing among individuals and groups of people. To be kind is to call forth the best of our humanity.

Check out Inspirational Quotes on this website. Many of the world’s great thinkers and leaders have recognized and championed the power of kindness.

What about people who say kindness shouldn’t be random?

The words “Random Acts of Kindness” are a response to the widely used phrase “random acts of violence” that we hear all too often in our world today. The word “random” does not necessarily mean “unplanned,” any more than random acts of violence are unplanned.

As you will see in our materials, our foundation promotes both unplanned and planned acts of kindness. There are times when we are aware of someone’s need, and we plan a way to help out. Other times a stranger needs a bus pass, and we spontaneously hand over an extra pass of our own. Some kind acts require significant planning, and some require nothing more than momentary inspiration. All are valuable.

In addition, the word “random” encourages us to look beyond our circle of friends and family. It is sometimes those completely unexpected gestures to or from total strangers that have the most impact on our lives. Practicing kindness is raising our awareness to those people surrounding us every day—at home, at work, on the street, in the subway—any one of whom may need an act of kindness.

At our foundation, we encourage Random Acts of Kindness as positive acts that bring all kinds of people together. Among our thousands of participants, some are more likely to offer spontaneous acts of kindness, some choose to create planned activities and some do both. We honor them all, because these people are living kindness, and they are truly changing the world.