This option has been made available for those individuals who wish to allocate their Khums contributions specifically toward orphan causes in the United States and obtain the required official religious receipt.
Following the guidance of Grand Ayatollah Sayed Sistani's office, IMAM has decided to use half of the Khums funds it receives for the My Orphans project. The other half will go towards meeting other religious needs, as instructed by the Marja. This way, IMAM can support both the My Orphans project and other important religious causes at the same time.
This isn't a new thing you have to do, it's just a way to use the money you already have to give, to help a cause you care about. You're still doing what you're supposed to do with your Khums, and you'll get a receipt to prove it. It's like directing your money to a specific place, while still taking care of your responsibility. You can think of it as a way to make your Khums payment more meaningful, by choosing where it goes, and still getting the official paper that says you've done what you were supposed to do.
Paying Khums is a big responsibility, and you need to make sure you're doing it right. To count, you have to get an official receipt - it's not optional. Sayed Sistani's office has made it clear: if you pay Khums through the wrong channels or don't get a receipt, you're still on the hook for your religious duty. So, it's best to use the proper channel, that way you know your Khums is going to the right people and everything is documented correctly. This way, you can be sure that you've fulfilled your obligation and your payment is accounted for.
The difference between Sayyid and non-Sayyid still matters when it comes to sharing Khums. IMAM takes care of sharing it according to the rules set by Sayed Sistani's office, making sure each part goes to the right people. This way, everyone gets what they are supposed to, following the rules of Khums jurisprudence.