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.
What is Child Sponsorship?
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.
Will Donations Be Directed to Help an Individual
Child?
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.
How Are Sponsored Children Selected by the Charity?
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.
Can Donors Correspond With or Visit the Sponsored
Child?
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.
Should Celebrity Promotional Messages Reduce the
Need to Ask Questions?
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.
Is the Sponsorship Dollar Going Directly to the
Sponsoring Charity?
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 reproduced from http://www.give.org/tips/childsponsor.asp
