Renée Kube, Kristen Walthall, and I arrived in New Orleans on a Tuesday afternoon in early December 2024 with the plan to visit our five affiliated sites over the next two days. In New Orleans, Children Incorporated partners directly with Communities in Schools (CIS) Gulf South to help implement our sponsorship program within the local schools, and their Chief Program Officer, Shayne, graciously offered to pick us up and be our tour guide for the few days we would be visiting.
For families living in poverty, this also meant that they could choose which schools to send their children to and were no longer beholden to the school districts in which they lived.
After getting a restful night’s sleep, we woke early on Wednesday morning, ready to meet Shayne outside our hotel to take us to our first school — the Arthur Ashe Charter School. All of our affiliations in New Orleans are charter schools, and in fact, the city is the only one in the country with an entire charter school system in place. While taking the short drive to the school, I took the opportunity to ask Shayne more about the charter school system and how she understood it as being different than the public school system that many of us were more familiar with.
Understanding the Charter School System
Shayne explained that after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, with 90% of public schools destroyed and the city in shambles, it was decided by the State of Louisiana Board of Education that the city of New Orleans would work under the charter school system to address the issue of poor school performance and the lack of trust that many citizens had in how the public schools had been operating before the hurricane.
It was a fresh start for the city’s schools — a way in which to recreate the way the whole city felt about the education system — one in which the schools were autonomous in decision making, yet still publicly funded. For families living in poverty, this also meant that they could choose which schools to send their children to and were no longer restricted to the school districts in which they lived. According to Shayne, when enrolling their children, parents choose their top three schools, and there is an application process for their child to be selected. No matter where the child lives, regardless of how far away, the school provides transportation for that student, which is a huge barrier for parents who already have a difficult time making ends meet.
Getting to Meet with Jamila
When we arrived at the school, located in a quiet Gentilly neighborhood, we met with Maria, the Executive Assistant for Communities In Schools Gulf South, who was waiting outside for us. Maria works closely with Shayne in the CIS Gulf South office and serves as a close liaison between Children Incorporated and the individual volunteer coordinators at each of our affiliated schools in New Orleans. We greeted Maria warmly, and all made our way inside.
Jamila (center) is pictured with Arthur Ashe Charter School staff members Caroline (left) and Kylan (right) during our visit.
Once checked in at the front office and then met Jamila, our volunteer coordinator at the school, who is in charge of enrolling our sponsored children at Arthur Ashe and reporting back to Renee and Kris about how sponsorship funds are really helping kids at her schools. We made our way to Jamila’s office, which is also the resource center for the school and a place where children can also come to receive emotional and physiological support when they are having a tough time at school. Basic needs support is also provided as needed, which is where our amazing sponsors make such a difference.
How Our Sponsors Are Helping
Jamila explained to us that the school has two counselors and a social worker at all times since many of the children in attendance were from impoverished households and faced daily challenges going without their basic needs met. She is incredibly grateful for our sponsors and says that the biggest help to the kids is with winter clothes like long pants and jackets for the students, household items, and hygiene items. See also buys bed sheets and linens for the students as needed, which many of them would go without if it weren’t for Children Incorporated funds.
After talking with Jamila, we had a chance to meet a few of our sponsored children briefly, as we didn’t want to keep them from their classwork for too long, and then we took a tour of the school. We visited a few classrooms, as well as the library and school kitchen, where students had the chance to cook their own food and learn skills that they could use at home and in the classroom.
I was so impressed with how nice the school was — bright, clean and modern — and I couldn’t wait for our other visits coming up later in the day and the next. Now that I was starting to understand the charter school system and had the chance to visit a charter school for the first time, I was excited to hear from our other volunteer coordinators about how our sponsors were helping each of their unique schools in this truly unique city.
You can sponsor a child 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 sponsorship portal, create an account, and search for a child in that is available for sponsorship.
Child sponsorship is one of the most effective ways to help a child living in poverty and it also has many rewards for the sponsor. We want to offer a comprehensive guide on why sponsoring a child has such a lasting effect on impoverished children and how you can get involved in changing a child’s life.
Introduction to Child Sponsorship
Child sponsorship involves pairing a supporting donor with a child in need. The donor (who we refer to as the sponsor) donates monthly to support their sponsored children with basic needs such as food, clothing, hygiene items, and educational assistance such as tuition or school supplies.
When a family doesn’t have to worry about a child’s basic needs being met, they can concentrate on working towards improving their situation, which is essential to breaking the cycle of poverty.
Child sponsorship is one of the most effective ways to help end child poverty. For $35 a month, you not only meet the child’s most immediate basic needs but also provide them with an education that will allow them to pursue higher education or obtain employment in the future.
The sponsorship relationship enables a sponsor to help support an impoverished child through monthly contributions and the exchange of correspondence with the sponsored child if the sponsor so desires. A sponsor’s friendship and encouragement are priceless to a child in such circumstances. Indeed, many children value the relationships they establish with their sponsors as much as they appreciate the financial support they receive from them. There is also an opportunity to build a profound relationship between a sponsor and a child.
Child sponsorship has a direct impact on the children that are supported. Children have an overall improvement in their confidence, resilience, and well-being. Child sponsorship also can break the cycle of poverty, creating lasting change for individuals and their communities.
When you choose to sponsor a child, you transform not only their life, but the lives of everyone in their community. That’s because the most effective way to make sure positive changes have a lasting impact is to empower them to make a lasting impact for their families and their communities. Although your donations to your sponsor child go directly to them, and are not shared with their families or the community at large, when you help an individual child succeed, they are then able to help their own families and their own communities. Sponsors help children develop confidence and resilience, which can help them overcome challenges and break the cycle of poverty.
The sponsorship relationship enables a donor to support a child by means of monthly contributions and, if the donor so desires, through the exchange of correspondence. A sponsor’s friendship and encouragement are priceless to a child in such circumstances. Indeed, many children value the relationships they establish with their sponsors as much as they value the financial help they receive. Our current monthly sponsorship rate is $35, and it goes toward providing basic necessities, such as school supplies and fees, food, clothing, and access to healthcare, among other services.
Frequently Asked Questions About Child Sponsorship
Founded in 1964, Children Incorporated is an international nonprofit organization that assists impoverished children in the U.S. and abroad. Working with already-established schools, orphanages, and childcare centers, we facilitate child sponsorships, manage special projects, and maintain special funds for emergency needs that arise for the children we serve.
Children Incorporated provides resources for children in need in the United States and abroad because we passionately believe that children everywhere deserve education, hope, and opportunity.
Our administrative office is located just outside Richmond, Virginia, in North Chesterfield. We work with 225 affiliated sites in 8 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and 19 foreign countries.
Roughly 10,000 children are enrolled in our sponsorship program each year, and Children Incorporated has assisted more than 300,000 children since our founding in 1964. Moreover, thousands of additional children receive aid each year as a result of contributions from our donors.
Children Incorporated is an independent charity with no religious or political agenda. Our goal is to assist as many impoverished children as possible, and we respect each child’s religious and cultural heritage.
That being said, the affiliated sites with which we partner are existing NGOs, and, in some countries, these include childcare facilities that are managed by religious organizations. For example, we support children who live at the Puente Piedra Girl’s Home, an orphanage in Peru that is run by Catholic nuns.
When choosing a child sponsorship organization to support, certain criteria are important in determining which organization is right for you. We want to provide a quick reference guide to choosing a charity that is reputable so that you can know that your donations are doing the most good to help a child or children in need. Ensure the organization’s mission aligns with your values and goals for giving. Children Incorporated provides life-changing resources to children around the world because we passionately believe that every child deserves education, hope, and opportunity.
Children Incorporated provides life-changing resources to children around the world because we passionately believe that every child deserves education, hope, and opportunity.
Children Incorporated is an independent charity. We have no religious or political agenda. Our goal is to assist as many impoverished children as possible, and we respect each child’s religious and cultural heritage. That being said, the affiliated sites with which we partner are existing NGOs, and, in some countries, these include childcare facilities that are managed by religious organizations. For example, we support children who live at the Puente Piedra Girl’s Home, an orphanage in Peru that is run by Catholic nuns.
Researching Charity Reputation
Look for reviews, ratings, and testimonials, and use resources like Charity Navigator or GuideStar. You can find out charity ratings below:
Children Incorporated frequently shares testimonials from our coordinators and sponsors as well, such as:
“There are many fine agencies to choose from, but my personal favorite is Children Incorporated… The experience has brought tremendous joy and satisfaction to my entire family.”
DR. RICHARD CARLSON – THE LATE AUTHOR,
EXCERPT FROM “DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF”
“The personal attention to the children and programs is exceptional and rare, but what is really unique about Children Incorporated is that they know who they are. They have a vision for their best, most productive self – one that retains their uniqueness and effectiveness – and they are acting on realizing that vision. You can trust them. You will know you are truly helping real children in real-time, and you will know how every penny you give is spent. I know this from thirty years of experience with Children Incorporated.”
ROSANNE CASH, GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING ARTIST
Financial Transparency and Accountability
We believe in full transparency of our financial management, which protects the trust you place in us as stewards of your generosity. Please contact us if you have any questions about these documents or seek any additional information about our accountability or your contributions. Your generous donations to Children Incorporated are tax deductible and offer tax benefits.
Our sponsorship program is managed by our staff in our office and our 300 volunteer coordinators at our affiliated sites in 20 countries around the world. Our volunteer coordinators work closely with our sponsored children to ensure their particular needs are met and relay those needs to our sponsors.
Sometimes our sponsors chose a child based on age or location, or they chose a child who has been waiting the longest for a sponsor. The decision is yours. We work in 21 countries with children from ages 5-20 years old who are enrolled in schools worldwide. We would love to work with you to match you with a sponsored child that will give you both a meaningful relationship.
Ideally, a child is sponsored throughout their school years leading up to higher education or when they leave our sponsorship program between 18 and 20 years old. However, due to the transient state of many families and the difficult circumstances of the regions where they reside, we cannot always guarantee how long a child will remain enrolled in the Children Incorporated sponsorship program. However, we make every effort to provide services to children for as long as possible.
Sponsoring a child with Children Incorporated is a very simple process. You can sponsor a child 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 sponsorship portal, create an account, and search for a child that is available for sponsorship.
We believe in full transparency of our financial management, which protects the trust you place in us as stewards of your generosity. Please contact us if you have any questions about these documents or seek any additional information about our accountability or your contributions. Your generous donations to Children Incorporated are tax deductible and offer tax benefits. Below are some commonly asked questions about tax deductions for contributions made to our organization.
DOES MY contribution QUALIFY FOR A TAX DEDUCTION?
Children Incorporated has been a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization since 1964. Contributions, therefore, may be eligible for tax-deductibility status. We strongly recommend that you consult with your tax advisor when making such determinations.
Your generous donations to Children Incorporated are tax deductible and offer tax benefits. Below are some commonly asked questions about tax deductions for contributions made to our organization.
receiving an annual donation statement
At the end of every fiscal year, Children Incorporated issues annual donation statements through mail and e-mail to every donor who has contributed during the calendar year. You will receive your donation statement either in the mail or by email within the month of January of the preceding year in which you made a donation. Subsequently, you will also receive a donation statement each month of the year that you make a contribution to our organization. If you need a donation statement, please contact our office so we can assist you.
what documents are needed
You will receive a written acknowledgment of your annual donation with the following information.The annual donation document will be needed to claim your tax deduction.
name of our organization and contact information
amount of annual contributions
description/purpose of annual contribution/contributions
WHAT TYPE OF CONTRIBUTIONS are accepted?
We accept various different types of donations that all support children in need and/or help us operate our organization to its fullest capacity. Donations to one of our many special funds go to supporting community needs, covering operational expenses for Children Incorporated, and helping families in times of crisis. You can read more about these funds and how they are changing the lives of those in need by visiting our donation portal on our website.
When you make a contribution to your sponsored child, those funds are designated for the child specifically. Additionally, you can make a contribution to that child above the $35 a month for general needs, birthdays, and holidays. Children Incorporated welcomes your generous contributions for the benefit of your sponsored child/children, which will be disbursed with regular monthly subsidies to the child/children’s site. To enable our affiliated site volunteers to have even more purchasing power for the needs of the child, any contributions made in the amount of $5 or below will be accumulated over several months and forwarded twice a year.
Details on eligibility for tax deductions based on location
To find out information about eligibility for tax deductions within your state, please visit the link below:
Children Incorporated consistently provides more than 85% percent of all donations directly to the child or children you are supporting. Even with administrative and management costs fluctuating year after year, we often donate as much as 88% of all donations to our programs. Your sponsored child directly receives your sponsorship donation every month — our efforts to support families, healthcare, and community initiatives are made through contributions to our Special Funds and Special Projects. Your individual sponsorship donations are not shared among family members or community members. You can rest assured that your donations are going directly to your sponsored childrne for their immediate needs only.
As Luis Bourdet finishes his visits to our affiliated sites in India, he travels to Bangalore to the Parikrma Home. Here, standard educational practices are combined with Montessori school practices, and the overall success rate of students is incredibly high.
Visiting Parikrma
“I arrived in Bangalore, a city full of trees and gardens, and perhaps the city with the most order when driving that I had been to in India on this trip. Driving is truly chaotic and challenging in India for those who have not traveled there. Most people walk on the streets, and thousands of bikes and mopeds move without any order. Even animals are common on most boulevards and streets within the city limits,” said Luis.
“The school has a very efficient format for learning and a success rate of graduation above 95%, which is much better than the national average of 8-24%.”
“Our affiliated site, the Parikrma Foundation, operates in this city. They have four schools (Kindergarten-12th grade) within slum areas of the town and a Junior College (a school preparing students for skill training programs and professional university careers). The system of education they utilize in those schools is very distinct, unique, and compelling. It combines Montessori and the typical Indian public school system curriculum. The school has a very efficient format for learning and a success rate of graduation above 95%, which is much better than the national average of 8-24%. Most students come from slum areas and, therefore, are migrants from different states, for which the Foundation implemented all English education. This favors their students, as most higher education is done in English.”
Remarkable Schools for Children in Need
“The system was introduced to some public schools in the area after great success with the support of the local government. The children I met were very confident and well-educated. Although they keep some common Indian customs, primarily due to space, of sitting children on the floors during the early years of school, older children have desks.”
“The school has modern equipment in labs, video communication for class interactions, and classes taught for mental, physical, emotional, and psychological development. They also teach the children to support the community through opportunities like cleaning the little lake in the neighborhood, protecting street dogs, supporting issues at slums, and assisting other people in need,” said Luis.
Our sponsorS helping
“These schools are truly remarkable. Children in India do not usually interact with adults, but not at Parikrma. During my visit, children were assigned to take me through the facilities and coordinate presentations. I learned during my time that families could not afford to take the children to school daily, or they may live too far from the school, so they solicit that their child live in the hostel, and our sponsors really help with the children having their basic needs met at the hostel.”
“The sponsor support ensures that children boarding at the hostel have food, hygiene items, school supplies, and sufficient bedding. The children appreciate this opportunity because they live under challenging circumstances with their own family and in a slum area, where housing is under standards and very poor,” said Luis.
You can sponsor a child 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 sponsorship portal, create an account, and search for a child in that is available for sponsorship.
I turned 66 years old on December 2, 2024, and quite frankly, while I do not feel all that old, I have to admit I have many years behind me. My hope and prayer is that I have accomplished good things in my lifetime and that I have somehow positively impacted the lives of those who have walked life’s journey alongside me.
Help us honor our founder, Jeanne Clarke Wood, and her legacy. We, in exchange, will work diligently to improve as many children’s lives as we possibly can.,
Children Incorporated also has a lot of years behind it; sixty, in fact. The organization was founded in 1964, when I was just six years old, by an incredible woman, Jeanne Clarke Wood, whom I was blessed to meet and know many years later. Following Mrs. Wood’s vision for the past sixty years, Children Incorporated has been changing and improving the lives of children and families all around the world.
For sixty years, Children Incorporated has provided food, clothing, educational assistance, and a host of other resources to those who otherwise would have struggled or gone without. For sixty years, our loyal donors andsponsors have entrusted us with their generous contributions, allowing us to use those funds to provide backpacks filled with food to hungry children on weekends and during breaks from school, buy new shoes and school clothes for youngsters whose parents have been unable to afford them, and to construct housing projects, childcare centers, and dormitories in remote parts of the world.
For sixty years, we have strived to be open, honest, and transparent in how we do business. Our efforts have paid off with exceptional ratings from Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance, GuideStar, and other nonprofit monitoring groups. For sixty years, we have honored Mrs. Wood by continuing the good work she started and so valued, and we have, indeed, been offering education, hope, and opportunity to thousands upon thousands of children and their families.
As 2024 comes to a close and Children Incorporated begins its sixty-first year of accomplishing good things and making positive impacts on innumerable children and families, we ask that you consider making a year-end contribution to our 60th Anniversary Fund. Help us honor our founder, Jeanne Clarke Wood, and her legacy. In exchange, we will work diligently to improve as many children’s lives as we can.
Founded in 1964, Children Incorporated is an international nonprofit organization that assists impoverished children in the U.S. and abroad. Working with already-established schools, orphanages, and childcare centers, we facilitate child sponsorships, manage special projects, and maintain special funds for emergency needs that arise for the children we serve.
Children Incorporated provides resources for children in need in the United States and abroad because we passionately believe that children everywhere deserve education, hope, and opportunity.
WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED?
Our administrative office is located just outside Richmond, Virginia, in North Chesterfield. We work with 225 affiliated sites in 8 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and 19 foreign countries.
HOW MANY CHILDREN DO YOU SERVE?
Roughly 10,000 children are enrolled in our sponsorship program each year, and Children Incorporated has assisted more than 300,000 children since our founding in 1964. Moreover, thousands of additional children receive aid each year as a result of contributions from our donors.
DO YOU HAVE A RELIGIOUS OR POLITICAL AFFILIATION?
No. Children Incorporated is an independent charity with no religious or political agenda. Our goal is to assist as many impoverished children as possible, and we respect each child’s religious and cultural heritage.
That being said, the affiliated sites with which we partner are existing NGOs, and, in some countries, these include childcare facilities that are managed by religious organizations. For example, we support children who live at the Puente Piedra Girl’s Home, an orphanage in Peru that is run by Catholic nuns.
HOW MANY STAFF MEMBERS DO YOU EMPLOY?
Children Incorporated employs fourteen paid staff members at our administrative office in North Chesterfield, Virginia. Additionally, more than 225 volunteers manage our affiliated sites around the world, administering our services to children in their care.
WHAT SORTS OF GIVING OPPORTUNITIES DO YOU OFFER?
Children Incorporated provides for the needs of impoverished children through two primary approaches: child sponsorship and special funds and projects.
Sponsorship provides an underprivileged child with basic and education-related necessities such as food, clothing, healthcare, school supplies, and tuition payments. This vital support allows impoverished, vulnerable children to develop to their full potential – physically, emotionally, and socially. Sponsors positively impact the lives of the children they sponsor through the simple knowledge that someone cares about their well-being. This gives children in need hope, which is powerful.
Our policy is to consider the needs of each sponsored child on an individual basis. In contrast to other child sponsorship organizations, our volunteer coordinators personally shop for the children enrolled in their respective schools, orphanages, homes, and community centers on a regular basis, as they are familiar with each individual child’s circumstances and needs.
Roughly 10,000 children are enrolled in our sponsorship program each year, and Children Incorporated has assisted more than 300,000 children since our founding in 1964.
Donations to our funds and special projects support feeding programs, income-generating projects, health and education assistance programs, as well as critical projects like school expansions, medical clinic repairs, housing improvements, and more. 90% of all such donations are used to meet the needs of the children, families, and site locations that we serve. Just 10% is maintained internally for project implementation and oversight.
WHY DO YOU RELY ON VOLUNTEERS TO IMPLEMENT YOUR PROGRAMS?
First, because all of our volunteers 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.
Second, 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.
HOW DO YOU CONFIRM THAT YOUR VOLUNTEERS ARE IMPLEMENTING YOUR SERVICES CORRECTLY?
Each volunteer must submit reports verifying that he or she has appropriately managed the Children Incorporated funds. All affiliated site reports are carefully audited at our Richmond, Virginia office. Additionally, our staff routinely visits our affiliated sites to ensure that every volunteer is correctly implementing our program.
Our coordinators volunteer with Children Incorporated because we help them to help their children. Our volunteers take great pains to uphold the integrity of our programs, and we are very grateful to them for all that they do.
MAY I VOLUNTEER WITH CHILDREN INCORPORATED?
Our only regular volunteers are the on-site program volunteers who manage our affiliated sites around the world, yet we do accept volunteers to translate letters at our Virginia headquarters. Please call our office at (800) 538-5381 or email us at hello@childrenincorporated.org for more information.
About Sponsorship
WHAT IS SPONSORSHIP, AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
The sponsorship relationship enables a donor to support a child by means of monthly contributions and, if the donor so desires, through the exchange of correspondence. A sponsor’s friendship and encouragement are priceless to a child in such circumstances. Indeed, many children value the relationships they establish with their sponsors as much as they value the financial help they receive. Our current monthly sponsorship rate is $35, and it goes toward providing basic necessities, such as school supplies and fees, food, clothing, and access to healthcare, among other services.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO VISIT MY SPONSORED CHILD?
It is possible to visit sponsored children; however, since we work with a network of volunteers and sites, and circumstances vary from area to area, we cannot guarantee that all affiliated sites are open to sponsor visits. If you are interested in visiting a sponsored child, please contact us for specifics relating to the child and the location.
If your child’s affiliated site does allow visits, we ask that you contact us at least 45 days prior to your planned visit. One of our sponsorship managers will assist you in making arrangements with the affiliated site, parents, and site volunteers. Children Incorporated has forms to request the visit and a child protection policy that we ask sponsors to follow. This includes a background check at the sponsor’s expense.
HOW LONG CAN I SPONSOR A PARTICULAR CHILD?
We hope that you will assist your sponsored child until he or she leaves our program. This typically occurs when a child graduates from high school or moves out of our service area. Due to the transient state of many families and the trying circumstances of the regions where they reside, we cannot predict or guarantee how long a child will remain enrolled in the Children Incorporated sponsorship program, although we make every effort to provide services to children for as long as possible.
WHAT IF I NEED TO CANCEL MY SPONSORSHIP?
Sponsorship is not a binding agreement, and you may cancel your child sponsorship at any time. We recognize that circumstances change, and you may be unable to continue your regular contributions. We simply ask that you notify us of your decision so that we may find a new sponsor for the child you sponsor. If you would like to continue supporting Children Incorporated, there are many ways you can help that do not require a monthly contribution. Please see “Other ways to give” for more details.
WILL I RECEIVE UPDATED INFORMATION ON THE CHILD I SPONSOR?
Yes. We will send you updated information and an updated photo about once a year, although the frequency may vary depending on the child’s location. The typical progress report includes information on the child’s grade level in school, hobbies, and interests.
HOW DO I PAY FOR MONTHLY SPONSORSHIP?
Sponsorship contributions may be made by check, money order, credit/debit card, or ACH transfer (debit from a checking or savings account). Please call us or visit our website if you would like to set up automatic recurring contributions on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or yearly basis.
MAY I SEND PACKAGES TO THE U.S. CHILD I SPONSOR?
Yes! Sending a gift can be a great way to give your sponsored child extra help at certain times of the year or to simply let the child know you are thinking of him or her. Here are some suggested guidelines: Please send monetary gifts directly to our North Chesterfield, Virginia office, as our site coordinators are not able to process checks or cash. Packages of already-purchased items should be mailed directly to your sponsored child’s site address. We recommend using a tracking service, if possible, when shipping a package to the child you sponsor.
MAY I SEND PACKAGES TO THE INTERNATIONAL CHILD I SPONSOR?
Due to high customs duties and the likelihood of loss, we do not recommend sending packages to our sites outside of the U.S. Children Incorporated cannot guarantee receipt of any packages you send internationally.
MAY I WRITE TO THE CHILD I SPONSOR?
Yes! Corresponding with your sponsored child can be a wonderful experience. Our site volunteers will translate your letter, if necessary, and deliver it to your sponsored child. You will find the affiliated site’s mailing address in your child’s information brochure.
Children Incorporated provides resources for children in need in the United States and abroad because we passionately believe that children everywhere deserve education, hope, and opportunity.
WHAT SHOULD I WRITE ABOUT?
The children enjoy learning about the lives of their sponsors. Writing about your own family (children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, etc.) is always a good place to start. The children also like to learn about your part of the world, what you do for a living, your hobbies and interests, and any pets you may have.
WHAT IF I HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS REGARDING THE CHILD I SPONSOR?
Please call us at 1-800-538-5381 or email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org. Depending on the nature of a child-specific question, we may need to contact our volunteer coordinator at your sponsored child’s affiliated project. We will get the requested information to you as soon as possible, as long as it does not violate the child protection and privacy laws to which we adhere.
MAY I SEND ADDITIONAL GIFTS FOR MY SPONSORED CHILD (FOR BIRTHDAYS, HOLIDAYS, BEGINNING/END OF SCHOOL YEAR NEEDS, ETC.)?
Yes. Contributions beyond regular monthly sponsorship amounts are always welcome, and there are no minimum or maximum amount restrictions.
With these additional gifts, the needs of the child you sponsor will be addressed first and foremost, and any remaining funds may be shared among other children in need at the same affiliated site at the volunteer coordinator’s discretion. Children Incorporated will designate 10% of your additional contribution to cover our administrative and processing costs; this means your sponsored child and possibly other children at the same affiliated site will benefit from 90% of the total you send as an additional monetary gift.
ARE THERE DEADLINES FOR SENDING ADDITIONAL MONETARY GIFTS FOR THE CHILD I SPONSOR?
Yes. It takes time to process a gift and send it to the child you sponsor, particularly if your child lives in a foreign country. To send additional monetary gifts to your sponsored child, please ensure the gift arrives in our Richmond, Virginia office at least sixty days before the date you would like it to be received by the child.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE CHILD I SPONSOR LEAVES THE PROGRAM?
When a child leaves our program for any reason, our policy is to promptly notify you by mail and provide you with information on another child who is equally in need of your support and encouragement in the hopes that you will accept him or her as your new sponsored child. If, in the event that your sponsored child leaves the program, you would like for us to contact you before sending information on another child, please let us know by telephone or email.
Unfortunately, we usually lose contact with children once they leave our sponsorship program. Rest assured: the positive impact of your generosity on each child, as well as on his or her community, endures for a lifetime!
Your Contributions
DOES MY GIFT QUALIFY FOR A TAX DEDUCTION?
Children Incorporated has been a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization since 1964. Contributions, therefore, may be eligible for tax-deductibility status. We strongly recommend that you consult with your tax advisor when making such determinations.
WHAT TYPE OF CONTRIBUTIONS DOES CHILDREN INCORPORATED ACCEPT?
We accept various different types of donations that all support children in need and/or help us operate our organization to its fullest capacity. Donations to one of our many special funds go to supporting community needs, covering operational expenses for Children Incorporated, and helping families in times of crisis. You can read more about these funds and how they are changing the lives of those in need by visiting our donation portal on our website.
When you make a contribution to your sponsored child, those funds are designated for the child specifically. Additionally, you can make a contribution to that child above the $35 a month for general needs, birthdays, and holidays. Children Incorporated welcomes your generous contributions for the benefit of your sponsored child/children, which will be disbursed with regular monthly subsidies to the child/children’s site. To enable our affiliated site volunteers to have even more purchasing power for the needs of the child, any contributions made in the amount of $5 or below will be accumulated over several months and forwarded twice a year.
I WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE CHILDREN INCORPORATED IN MY ESTATE PLANS. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS?
There are many options, including bequests, IRA/401(k) designations, annuities, and charitable remainder trusts. For more information, please contact us at 1-800-538-5381. We will work with you to create a plan that best meets your needs.
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HOW DO I SPONSOR A CHILD WITH CHILDREN INCORPORATED?
You can sponsor a child 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 sponsorship portal, create an account, and search for a child that is available for sponsorship.
When choosing a child sponsorship organization to support, certain criteria are important in determining which organization is right for you. We want to provide a quick reference guide to choosing a charity that is reputable so that you can know that your donations are doing the most good to help a child or children in need.
Evaluating the Charity’s Mission and Values
Ensure the organization’s mission aligns with your values and goals for giving. Children Incorporated provides life-changing resources to children around the world because we passionately believe that every child deserves education, hope, and opportunity.
Children Incorporated provides life-changing resources to children around the world because we passionately believe that every child deserves education, hope, and opportunity.
Children Incorporated is an independent charity. We have no religious or political agenda. Our goal is to assist as many impoverished children as possible, and we respect each child’s religious and cultural heritage. That being said, the affiliated sites with which we partner are existing NGOs, and, in some countries, these include childcare facilities that are managed by religious organizations. For example, we support children who live at the Puente Piedra Girl’s Home, an orphanage in Peru that is run by Catholic nuns.
Researching Charity Reputation
Look for reviews, ratings, and testimonials, and use resources like Charity Navigator or GuideStar. You can find out charity ratings below:
Children Incorporated frequently shares testimonials from our coordinators and sponsors as well, such as:
“There are many fine agencies to choose from, but my personal favorite is Children Incorporated… The experience has brought tremendous joy and satisfaction to my entire family.”
DR. RICHARD CARLSON – THE LATE AUTHOR,
EXCERPT FROM “DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF”
“The personal attention to the children and programs is exceptional and rare, but what is really unique about Children Incorporated is that they know who they are. They have a vision for their best, most productive self – one that retains their uniqueness and effectiveness – and they are acting on realizing that vision. You can trust them. You will know you are truly helping real children in real-time, and you will know how every penny you give is spent. I know this from thirty years of experience with Children Incorporated.”
ROSANNE CASH, GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING ARTIST
Financial Transparency and Accountability
We believe in full transparency of our financial management, which protects the trust you place in us as stewards of your generosity. Please contact us if you have any questions about these documents or seek any additional information about our accountability or your contributions. Your generous donations to Children Incorporated are tax deductible and offer tax benefits.
Understanding Program Reach and Impact
Consider the charity’s history, scope of programs, and measurable impact on communities.
In 1964, after personally witnessing the deprivation of children in Guatemala, our founder, Jeanne Clarke Wood, established Children Incorporated out of her home in Richmond, Virginia, by writing letters to seek assistance for the 95 children she met on her travels. The support her friends and family provided for these children formed the first Children Incorporated project.
Thanks to our supporters around the globe, we currently serve over 20,000 children annually. To date, over 300,000 children have been provided opportunities for growth and education and have experienced the support and encouragement our program provides.
Checking for Tax-Exempt Status
Children Incorporated has been a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization since 1964. Contributions, therefore, may be eligible for tax-deductibility status. We strongly recommend that you consult with your tax advisor when making such determinations.
You can sponsor a child 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 sponsorship portal, create an account, and search for a child in that is available for sponsorship.
