Tag Archives: sponsorship

Rachel Luginbuhl | January 12, 2026

Welcome 2026!

We have had such a wonderful time seeing all the letters, cards, and photos that students sent during the holiday season and throughout the year, and we want to share some of the highlights from 2025.

In November we sent $25 for every child enrolled in Children Incorporated, in a direct effort to combat the increase in food insecurity. The responses were overwhelming, and the hard work of our volunteer coordinators ensured the resources were used to their fullest potential.

Throughout the year we saw gardens growing, birthdays celebrated, food distributed, and children all around the world being provided with what they need to succeed.

When a child has shoes, food, encouragement, and supplies, they have less barriers, and are better able to thrive at school. It is because of each and every one of you.

Thank you from Children Incorporated, you are changing these children’s lives!

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Josh is still waiting for a sponsor and needs someone to help make his school year a success. He is friendly and happy, and would love to just spend his time outside or helping others. At home with his family he makes sure to keep his room clean, and although he is the youngest of his siblings, Josh makes sure to be as helpful as he can.

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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 a real person in our sponsorship department
email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org
go online to our sponsorship portal and search for a child that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Children Incorporated | January 8, 2026

Thank you for your interest in changing a child’s life, and your own, through sponsorship. Whether you’re a part of the Children Incorporated family or just beginning to explore how sponsorship works, we’re glad you’re here.

Below, you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions about becoming a sponsor. We strive to make every step simple, transparent, and authentic, so you can focus on what matters most: giving a child the chance to learn, grow, and dream.

Together, we’re building a brighter future, one child, one sponsor, and one act of kindness at a time.

What Is Sponsorship?

Sponsorship connects a caring donor with a child in need through a monthly gift of $35. Your support provides essentials such as food, clothing, school supplies, and healthcare. In addition, your act of care provides encouragement and kindness to the sponsored child.

Start Sponsoring a Child ›

Why Sponsorship Matters

In addition to financial assistance, sponsorship builds hope. Many children treasure the relationships they form with their sponsors just as much as the assistance they receive. Every letter, photo, and exchange reminds a child that they are seen and valued.

WILL I RECEIVE UPDATED INFORMATION ON THE CHILD I SPONSOR?

Yes! You’ll receive an annual update and photo of your child, along with information about their school progress, interests, and achievements. These updates let you see how your support is changing lives over time. All children will write at least one letter a year to their sponsor, but of course you are welcome to have a written communication with them anytime!

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 site. 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 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?

Writing to your sponsored child can be simple, heartfelt, and fun. The most important thing is to be genuine, kind, and respectful; your sponsee will be excited to hear from you no matter how short or simple your letter is. You can find a detailed description of a guide to writing to your child here.

Can I send packages to the child I sponsor?

For U.S. children: You may send packages directly to your sponsored child’s site address. Please send monetary gifts directly to our North Chesterfield, Virginia office, as our site coordinators are not able to process checks or cash. We recommend using a tracking service, if possible, when shipping a package to the child you sponsor.

For international children: Please send monetary gifts only, as mailed packages can be delayed or lost.

You’re always welcome to send extra financial gifts for birthdays, holidays, or special needs. YOUR additional gift directly benefits your sponsored child and their community.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO VISIT MY SPONSORED CHILD?

Depending on the child’s location and local site policies, visits are sometimes possible. If you’re interested in planning a visit, please contact us for details specific to your child and their site. If the location does allow visits, reach out at least 45 days in advance so we can help with arrangements.

A member of our sponsorship team will guide you through the process. We will ensure that you can complete our visit request forms easily and we’ll make you aware of our child protection policy, which requires a background check (at the sponsor’s expense).

We’ll do everything we can to help make your visit a safe, positive, and unforgettable experience for both you and your sponsored child.

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.

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.

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?

Sometimes, children graduate or move out of program areas. If that happens, we’ll notify you immediately and share another child’s story so you can continue making a difference.

Rest assured: the positive impact of your generosity on each child, as well as on his or her community, endures for a lifetime!

What if I Need to Cancel My Sponsorship?

You can cancel your sponsorship whenever you need; you never have to worry about being locked into a long-term agreement. Sponsorship is flexible, because life and finances can change.

If you need to stop your monthly contributions:

You may cancel at any time.
Please let us know of your decision so we can find a new sponsor for the child you currently support.

Your past gifts have already made a meaningful difference in that child’s life, and we are deeply grateful for your generosity.

Other Ways to Stay Involved

If you’d like to remain connected but cannot commit to a monthly gift:

You can explore other ways to give that do not require ongoing sponsorship.

One-time donations, special project support, or other forms of involvement can still provide vital help to children and communities.

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Ready to Make a Difference?

Sponsorship changes lives, both yours and the child you choose to support. With a small monthly gift of $35, you can help provide education, nourishment, and hope where it’s needed most.

Every sponsorship begins with one simple step.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Thank you for believing in a world where every child has the opportunity to thrive.

Children Incorporated | January 7, 2026

your sponsorship is more than just financial, it is a path to changing lives

We are so excited you are considering the life changing opportunity of child sponsorship. For around the same amount as a “pizza night” you can provide clothing, food, healthcare needs, and most importantly: hope. Many children living in generational poverty see the greatest impact when they know someone out there believes in them – and that is what a sponsor provides.

Sponsoring a child with Children Incorporated is a very simple process! For $35/month the needs of a child are provided by your contribution. You can begin sponsoring 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
go online to our sponsorship portal and search for a child that is available for sponsorship.

Where are you able to sponsor?

We are currently in over 30 countries around the world providing life changing support to children. For a full breakdown of all of the countries we are affiliated with you can scroll and search here. We partner with already-established schools, group homes, and community centers to address the specific needs of the children they serve, offering each child basic needs every month. The wonderful part of our program is when you chose a child, you are the only person sponsoring them – they know you are their sponsor and you are able to write to them, receive letters and updates, and stay informed of their progress.

When searching for a child on our database

For each child, his or her photo (if international), name, country in which he or she lives, and birthday and age will display by default. You may view additional details about a specific child (such as his or her current grade level and favorite school subject or color) by hovering your mouse over his or her “About [Child Name]” link. Unfortunately, photos of children in the United States are not displayed on our website. This is due to the abundance of caution within our child protection policy. But rest assured, if you chose to sponsor a child in the United States, you will receive a physical photo of them with your welcome packet.

To narrow your search to a specific age range, gender, and/or country, please use the corresponding dropdown fields, located along the left side of the screen, to select your preferences and then click “SEARCH”.

Once you have found a child you’d like to sponsor, click the child’s “SPONSOR ME” button. Then, to finalize the sponsorship process, click the heart-in-cart icon within the popup window that appears OR located in the top right corner of the screen.

It is very easy to sponsor a child by going to our website, calling our office, or emailing Children Incorporated.

Lastly, if you have not already logged into or created your Children Incorporated web account, the site will prompt you to do so now. Then/otherwise, you may select your desired frequency for recurring sponsorship contributions (monthly, yearly, etc.), select or add a method of payment, and click “CHECK OUT”.

Congratulations! Once you have completed these steps, you will receive a confirmation email, and, within a few business days, you will also receive a sponsorship welcome packet containing additional details about your sponsored child or children!

DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR GIVING

Outside of sponsoring a child, we also have other ways in which you can donate to help children in need. Donations to our special funds help children, families, and communities in need by offering support beyond sponsorship, often due to unexpected emergencies. These funds include our Clothing Fund, Back to School Fund, Mosquito Net Fund, Hope In Action Fund, and Feeding Programs Fund.

You can also donate to our Special Projects, which allow our donors to support construction projects, expansion projects, community and school gardens, and other efforts to help improve our affiliated sites around the world. Throughout the year, our volunteer coordinators inform us about Special Projects at their particular sites. You can donate directly to these Special Projects online through our Hope In Action Fund. If you would like to receive additional information about our current Special Projects to make a donation to a particular type of project, please contact us today.

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SPONSOR A CHILD

Liz Collins | December 12, 2025

As 2025 draws to a close, I am writing to you with a heart full of gratitude and a deep sense of commitment. Though I officially stepped into the role of CEO of Children Incorporated in August, I have already been profoundly moved and inspired by the unwavering dedication of our staff, the incredible work happening on the ground through our volunteer coordinators, and, most importantly, your extraordinary generosity.

A Year of Transformative Projects

Your contributions have powered life-changing projects in communities both here in the U.S. and overseas. Here are just a few ways you helped us all make a difference:

A New Home for Community in the Philippines: We successfully funded the building of the Visayans Community Center. This new center is now a bustling hub, providing over 250 children and their families a dedicated place to learn, share meals, hold community meetings, and connect with vital resources.
Creating Safe and Empowering Spaces:
- In New Orleans, we helped launch a vital leadership program for eighth-grade girls, helping them build confidence and skills for the future.
- In Kentucky, we funded the creation of a much-needed “calming space” in an elementary school, offering children a safe haven to process and work through trauma they have experienced.
Nourishing Minds and Bodies: Your support led to the distribution of new library books, essential recess equipment, and the creation of multiple community vegetable gardens in both the U.S. and abroad, promoting health and sustainable food access.
Opportunity Realized: We purchased team jerseys for a few of our Native American children, ensuring they could join their classmates and play for their school team and not miss out on the opportunity to participate.
Fundamental Necessities and Comprehensive Care in Lebanon: Through your generosity, our support extended to the most fundamental necessities: providing hearing aid batteries, food vouchers, educational books, critical psychological care, and reliable transportation for vital medical appointments.
Addressing Food Insecurity: Recognizing the critical need, your immediate response enabled us to send over $100,000 of additional assistance to address escalating food insecurity both here in the US and overseas.

The Impact of Sponsorship: Your Hand in Their Story

The cornerstone of our mission is sponsorship, and the ripple effects of these personal connections have been immense this year:

Basic Necessities and Rising Attendance: Your sponsorship dollars provided more than 10,000 children with access to basic necessities such as food, clothing, healthcare, and education. School attendance is increasing as a direct result of this assistance.
Moments of Joy: We saw the profound excitement of children at the book fair, thrilled to pick out their very own books because their sponsor sent funds for this special opportunity.
Moments of Dignity: One of our volunteer coordinators was able to purchase waterless bath wipes for a sponsored child and her sister who do not have running water at home. This practical solution allows them to maintain their hygiene, health, and confidence on the days they cannot travel to a relative’s house to shower.
Removing Social Barriers: A near straight-A student was feeling self-conscious about the dirty, peeling tape on his insulin medical sensors. Sponsorship funds purchased specialized waterproof covers, removing a source of embarrassment so he can focus on his education, not his appearance.

Honoring the Past, Building the Future

On a personal note, I was deeply moved by the outpouring of support and congratulations from our sponsors and donors who honored our outgoing CEO, Ron Carter, with generous donations to our Hope In Action Fund. This gesture speaks volumes about the community we have built together.

As I step into this role, I pledge to continue the legacy of service and dedication that Ron established, while looking forward to expanding our reach and deepening our impact in the years to come.

This year has been one of significant milestones, growth, and, above all, impactful change in the lives of children around the world. Every single achievement is a direct result of your trust and support.

Thank you for making 2025 a year of true hope and action. Because of you, children are learning, thriving, and building better futures.

With profound appreciation,

Liz Collins

CEO: Children Incorporated

Considering End of Year Giving?

From our Hope In Action Fund to the Feeding Program to Clothing and Shoes, donations from you provide direct and tangible impact to children around the world. If you are considering giving to a worthy organization by the end of 2025, we hope you consider Children Incorporated. We look forward to seeing what we all can accomplish in the year ahead!

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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 a real person in our sponsorship department
email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org
go online to our sponsorship portal and search for a child that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Ben Scandlen | November 28, 2025

You’ve probably seen child sponsorship programs before and wondered: does this actually work? Does my money really reach a specific child, or does it disappear into an administrative black hole?

Those are fair questions. And for Children Incorporated, the answers are yes, yes, and here’s exactly how.

For $35 a month, you’re matched with a real child — a specific boy or girl living in poverty in one of 20 countries, including the United States — and you stay connected to their life as they grow. If you’ve been looking for a way to give that feels personal and real, here are ten reasons child sponsorship with Children Incorporated might be exactly what you’re looking for.

1. Your $35 Goes Directly to One Child

This isn’t a donation that gets pooled and distributed across thousands of programs. Your monthly gift is tied to a specific child. It pays for their school uniform, their medicine, their shoes. When you sponsor a child with Children Incorporated, you know exactly whose life you’re changing — because it’s one life, not an abstraction.

2. You Watch Them Grow Up

Sponsorship isn’t a transaction. It’s a relationship that unfolds over time. Every year, Children Incorporated sends you an updated photo and a progress report on your child — their school performance, their interests, their milestones. You’ll see their face change from year to year. That’s not something most charitable giving offers you.

3. They Get What They Actually Need — Not a Generic Package

Here’s what makes Children Incorporated different from a lot of child sponsorship organizations: they don’t send identical pre-packaged boxes to every child in every country. Instead, they work through local volunteer coordinators — teachers, principals, social workers — who know your child personally. Those coordinators use your sponsorship funds to shop for your child individually, based on what that specific kid actually needs right now. The right size shoes. The specific medication their doctor prescribed. The school supplies their classroom requires. It’s personal in a way that generic aid programs simply can’t be.

4. You Become Proof That Someone Cares

For children growing up in severe poverty, one of the most painful experiences is feeling invisible — like the world doesn’t know they exist. When a child learns that someone in another city, another country, knows their name and chose them specifically, that matters in a way that goes beyond the material support. Your sponsorship tells a child: you are seen. That message is powerful, and it’s one only you can send.

5. You Help Break a Cycle That Can Last Generations

The most lasting thing Children Incorporated provides is education. And education is permanent — once a child learns to read, write, and think critically, no one can take that away from them. Your sponsorship keeps a child in school, stable, and supported through the years when it would be easiest to drop out. That investment doesn’t just change one life. It changes the lives their children will live, too.

6. Your Letters Give Them a Reason to Learn

Sponsors and children exchange letters. For a young student still building their reading and writing skills, that correspondence isn’t just heartwarming — it’s a real-world reason to practice. Local volunteer coordinators help with translation and delivery, but the motivation is yours: a child working hard on a letter because they want their sponsor to be proud of them. It’s one of the more quietly remarkable things about this program.

7. You Support the Whole Child, Not Just Their Schoolwork

True support doesn’t stop at the classroom door. Your sponsorship addresses your child’s full development — physical health through nutrition and medical care, emotional wellbeing through the consistent encouragement of having a sponsor who shows up every month, and social development by giving them the stability to simply be a kid alongside their peers. Children Incorporated thinks about the whole person, not just the test scores.

8. You Can Actually Meet Them

This one surprises people. With proper planning, a background check, and coordination through Children Incorporated’s child protection process, you can arrange an in-person visit with your sponsored child at their school or community center. Very few sponsorship organizations offer this. The experience of meeting a child whose life you’ve been part of — in person — is something sponsors describe as genuinely life-changing.

9. You’ll Feel It Working

There’s no guessing whether your money is doing anything. When a handwritten letter arrives from your child, or when the new annual photo shows a kid who looks healthier and happier than the year before, you don’t have to take anyone’s word for it. The impact is right in front of you. That kind of feedback loop is rare in charitable giving, and it’s one of the reasons sponsors tend to stay sponsors for years.

10. One Child’s Success Ripples Outward

When a child grows up supported, educated, and believing in their own potential, they don’t just improve their own life — they go on to uplift their families, contribute to their communities, and often become the kind of adults who help other children. Your $35 a month isn’t just an investment in one kid. It’s a small bet on a better world, placed one child at a time.

Frequently Asked Questions About Child Sponsorship

How does child sponsorship work at Children Incorporated? You’re matched with a specific child living in poverty. Your $35 monthly gift is used by a local volunteer coordinator to individually purchase clothing, school supplies, healthcare, and other necessities tailored to that child’s needs. You exchange letters and receive annual photo updates throughout the relationship.

Is $35 a month enough to make a real difference? Yes. Because Children Incorporated works through existing local networks and volunteer coordinators rather than building separate infrastructure, your monthly gift goes directly toward your child’s needs with minimal overhead.

Can I choose the child I sponsor? Yes. You can browse children available for sponsorship on the Children Incorporated website and choose a specific child to support.

What countries does Children Incorporated work in? Children Incorporated operates across 20 countries, including the United States, working with 225 affiliated sites in 8 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and 19 foreign countries.

Can I visit my sponsored child? Yes, with proper planning and a background check, Children Incorporated will work with you to arrange an in-person visit at your child’s affiliated school or community center.

Is Children Incorporated a reputable charity? Children Incorporated is an independent, nonreligious, nonpolitical 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has operated since 1964 and has assisted more than 300,000 children worldwide.

Ready to Meet Your Child?

Thousands of children are waiting for a sponsor right now. Browse the children currently available and find the one you’d like to support — then begin a relationship that will matter to both of you for years to come.

Find a child to sponsor at Children Incorporated →

Rachel Luginbuhl | November 12, 2025

Whether the children are in the United States or another country, they all deserve to be properly fed, clothed, and cared for, and with your help and through your kindness and generosity – Children Incorporated is steadily working to improve their lives. Whether during the busyness of the school year or the calm of summer days, all children deserve to receive a good education, live with a sense of hope, and pursue opportunities for their future.

The Book Fair has Arrived!

If you went to public school anytime after 1982 you may remember the scholastic book fair – a traveling company that allows students to purchase books, posters, journals, pens, and all things educational. When students are given the autonomy to make decisions in what they’re reading it feels less like an assignment or a chore and more like an opportunity. In fact, a 2013 study by the University of Rochester found that elementary-age students, given the choice of what they brought home to read over the break, had less of a summer learning slide than those who did not.

It’s a well loved time. Journals, books, and pens all provide needed outlets for students, and the feeling of inclusion does incredibly powerful things for a child’s mental health.

Update in the Philippines

Recently areas of the Philippines were hit by Typhoon Kalmaeg. The coordinator at the Visayans Center, one of our affiliates and location where possible damages was expected, had indicated that the new center building, provided last year with support from CI, was being used as a shelter for families in the area.
The building is a secure structure, and it was the first time experiencing an emergency! We are so grateful to be able to provide protection for people, all because of your giving.

Despite the difficult weather situations that have been occurring in the Philippines, our coordinators are always working hard to make sure students have what they need.

Giving Tuesday is coming up!

From our Hope In Action Fund to the Feeding Program to Clothing and Shoes, donations from you provide direct and tangible impact to children around the world. If you are considering giving on this upcoming Giving Tuesday, we hope you consider Children Incorporated. We look forward to seeing what we all can accomplish on December 2nd!

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Meet Maya*, a bright sixth grader from Bolivia who dreams of a peaceful world and hopes to become a military officer one day. She’s a good student who especially enjoys physical education and spending time with her friends. In her free time, she loves drawing, watching anime, and listening to movie soundtracks. At home, she helps her mother by keeping her room tidy in their small brick house. Sponsorship would mean the world to her, it would give her the support and encouragement she and her family need to build a brighter future.

*Name has been changed.

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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 a real person in our sponsorship department
email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org
go online to our sponsorship portal and search for a child that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD