Many donors share an abiding interest in needy children, and prefer to devote a significant share of their charitable giving resources to organizations with programs that are specifically directed toward youngsters. A major challenge, not just for children's groups, but for any charity operating in today's highly competitive environment, is personalizing the link between its donors' support and the accomplishments of the organization. One approach some charities have developed as a means of attracting the interest of donors is the "child sponsorship" program. To help answer questions on child sponsorship groups received by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and Better Business Bureaus across the country, the following tips are offered for consideration.

Child sponsorship involves soliciting funds to assist needy children within a specified community in another country or in the United States. One distinguishing feature from other contribution situations is the expectation that donors will make more than a one time gift and will contribute a certain amount on a monthly or periodic basis. Child sponsorship solicitations also focus on the needs of a specific child and may also invite the sponsor to communicate with the youngster.

One commonly misunderstood aspect of child sponsorship groups is that, in most cases, sponsor contributions are pooled with other donations and used to support project(s) designed to benefit the local community where the child lives as opposed to being conveyed exclusively to the child. These community projects may include schools, medical care, disaster assistance, construction of water wells, and/or food distribution activities. Although some organizations do allocate a certain amount of the sponsor's contribution as a cash grant to the sponsored child's family, this type of sponsorship is far less common than the one described above. How does a contributor know which situation applies to the group they are considering? Potential donors should read the charity's literature carefully to identify the nature of the child sponsorship program asking for their support. For example, child sponsorship programs typically send contributors a profile and photograph of a needy child and promise to provide periodic updates on the youngster's progress. These materials should clearly explain how the program works.

Children that are featured within a sponsorship program are usually nominated by the charity's field staff, or by projects of local welfare agencies the organizations help subsidize. Sometimes sponsorship charities ask donors for their preferences concerning the country and gender of the child they wish to sponsor.

Most sponsorship charities help arrange and encourage correspondence between their participating sponsors and children. Ordinarily, letters must go through the organization rather than sent to the child directly. If the child speaks a language other than English, translation of letters is performed either at the headquarters of the charity or by a member of its local field staff. Although visiting sponsored children is generally neither encouraged by child sponsorship charities nor financially practical for most sponsors, there have been instances where this has occurred. Those interested in pursuing a visit should contact the charity about this possibility.

No. Whether or not a celebrity is involved in helping to promote a particular child sponsorship organization, donors should not hesitate to raise the same questions that they would have for any other sponsorship organization. As groups differ in their operations, it would be wrong to make assumptions solely because a famous personality is involved.

In almost all cases, individuals are contributing directly to the child sponsorship charity. However, one relatively new fund raising approach involves a for-profit marketing company that promotes sponsorship through in-person presentations and receives a commission for obtaining new sponsors. In such instances, the amount of the sponsorship dollar that goes to the charity will likely be less than a direct donation to the group.

Other questions a person may wish to answer prior to taking on the responsibility of sponsoring a child include:

• Have I researched the child sponsorship organization? For example, do I know what portion of my contribution will be spent on programs to assist needy children versus the charity's fund raising and administrative expenses?
• How is the program operated? How exactly does the child benefit [e.g., through a community development project operated directly by the charity or through an endeavor affiliated with a group it helps fund]?
• Am I in agreement with the overall philosophy of the organization in its approach to assisting communities? For instance, do I agree with the religious focus a program may have?
• Have I asked the opinion of other persons currently sponsoring a child through this program in order to get a sense of their overall satisfaction?
• Am I willing to accept the fact that the child may live in cultural and economic conditions different from those to which I am accustomed?
• If the program involves correspondence with the sponsored child, am I willing to make a commitment to regular communications and am I prepared to be able to tolerate and allow for potential delays in mail?

The BBB Wise Giving Alliance (the Alliance) encourages donors to carefully read information received from charities to ensure they have a clear understanding of the programs supported through their generosity. Furthermore, if a donor has a particular organization in mind, check out the national charity reports on the Alliance’s Give.org website.

Although the majority of those contacting the Alliance about charities are inquiries as opposed to complaints, the Alliance also handles complaints about national charitable organizations and follows up on potential concerns about the charities that are brought to its attention. If, for any reason, donors have a problem with a child sponsorship organization, they are encouraged to contact the Alliance for help by either sending a letter or going to the complaint form located at http://www.give.org/inquire/complaint.asp.

© 1997 Revised, 2006 BBB Wise Giving Alliance