When you choose to sponsor a child through Children Incorporated, your support goes exactly where it’s needed most — directly to the child you’re helping. In fact, over 85% of every dollar we receive goes straight to program services, and often even more. That means your monthly sponsorship is making a real, personal impact — not filtered through layers of red tape or spread across unrelated programs.
Your sponsored child receives those funds each month to meet immediate needs like food, clothing, and school supplies. And while we also work hard to support families and communities through our Special Funds and Projects, your sponsorship remains focused on the child you chose to help — and only that child. That’s our promise, and it’s a promise we’re proud to keep.
How we implement programs
Our program runs directly within the schools we are affiliated with, because of a dedicated team of volunteer coordinators. All of our coordinators are teachers, social workers, guidance counselors, school principals, or other childcare professionals. We have found that they are in the best position to meet the unique needs of each child. They interact with the children enrolled in our sponsorship program on a daily basis, and they observe firsthand the circumstances of each child’s life.
Working with volunteers allows us to keep our programs highly efficient. We benefit because we employ only a small number of paid staff members. This allows us to devote a higher percentage of our funds directly to the children enrolled in our program. Meanwhile, our volunteers benefit because our program helps them to improve the lives of the children in their care.
maintaining our transparency
We maintain transparency is by participating in independent charity rating platforms. These third-party organizations provide clear insight into how nonprofits manage their finances—highlighting income, expenses, fundraising costs, and how efficiently donations are used.
We know that for donors, this information is key. It shows them how much of their donations will be used to support charitable causes vs. what portion of them is dedicated to the charities’ operating expenses. Additionally, it lets donors know how financially stable and self-sustainable charities are. If an organization isn’t financially stable or transparent, there’s a risk that donations won’t reach those in need—making it all the more important to choose charities that are both effective and accountable.
Researching Charity Reputation
Look for reviews, ratings, and testimonials, and use resources like Charity Navigator or GuideStar. You can find out charity ratings below:
HOW ARE CHARITIES RATED?
Charity rating websites help people know which organizations they can trust. These independent groups look at how well a charity manages its money, how honest and open it is, and how much of each donation goes to helping others instead of covering overhead.
Information from charity rating organizations also tells donors how much of their donations will be used to support charitable causes and what portion of them will be dedicated to the charities’ operating expenses.
All non-profits are (and should be) held accountable by the IRS. They use tax forms and other public information to determine their authenticity — like how much a charity spends on programs, how stable their funding is, and whether or not charities make it easy for donors to find critical information about their operation. This helps you, as a donor, make sure your money is going to a good place.
AccountabIlity on our Website
Children Incorporated believes in full transparency of our financial management. This protects the trust that you place in us as stewards of your generosity. For more information about our financial status, accountability, and transparency, visit the Accountability page of our website to find our most recent Form 990s and financial reports, as well as other administrative documents.
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How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?
You can sponsor a child with Children Incorporated in one of three ways: call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with one of our staff members; email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org; or go online to our donation portal, create an account, and search for a child that is available for sponsorship.