What Makes a Good Child Sponsorship Organization?

I want to note, here, that this page is in the "Soapbox" section of my web site. The information presented here is based upon my experiences. These opinions are not made lightly, nor are the set in stone, but they are based upon a great deal of personal research and experience. However, they are my opinions. On some issues, you'll surely find others who disagree.

The program must be set up in a manner that encourages independence rather than dependence.
Education must be a key component to any comprehensive development program.
The organization's local staff should have regular contact with every child that they serve.
Child Sponsorship should be viewed by the organization as more than simply a fund-raising tool.
There's nothing wrong with administrative costs!
The organization should be "transparent".
Check the credentials of the organization.

• The program must be set up in a manner that encourages independence rather than dependence. A system of "handouts" can do more harm than good. There is loads of evidence showing that people in desperate poverty must be given the opportunity to do for themselves. It's not easy to do this. The folks running the organization must know what they're doing. Whether or not we "feel good" by providing things that we think people want or need really makes no difference. Sponsorship feels good, but if we make ourselves feel good and foster dependence at the same time, we're doing a disservice to everyone. Return to top.

• Education must be a key component to any comprehensive development program. It is well-documented that the single most effective intervention in dealing with desperate poverty is education. Any sponsorship program that does not guarantee education for the children is missing the point.

  That said, education should not be the only focus of such an organization. A child who is malnourished, drinking unsafe water and living in unsafe sanitary conditions, and who has no access to appropriate medical care will not be able to benefit from the education he/she deserves. Return to top.

• The organization's local staff should have regular contact with every child that they serve. One of the greatest benefits of sponsorship is assurance. As sponsors, we can be confident that there is at least one child who is guaranteed an education, clean water, decent nutrition, medical care, dignity... The children can know that they have an advocate far away who is keeping an eye out on them. The sponsorship organizations are our "eyes & ears on the ground" of our sponsored child's life. In order to be able to do this, they must have regular contact with the child. Return to top.

• Child Sponsorship should be viewed by the organization as more than simply a fund-raising tool. One of the strongest intangible benefits of sponsorship is the connection between sponsor and child. As a sponsor, and has someone who has visited with literally hundreds of sponsored kids, I can guarantee the significance of this connection to the kids. Often they don't quite "get it". Does someone far away really love them that much? They're not quite sure why, and they need reassurances (in the form of letters, sponsors!), but they know that it feels really great. Viewing sponsorship as simply a fund-raising tool is denying one of the strongest tools against the indignity and hopelessness of desperate poverty. Return to top.

• There's nothing wrong with administrative costs! They must be kept in check, of course, but it takes money to run an organization. It's important that the organization runs well. These are the folks that we're paying to help take care of our darling kids, after all. I want experts working for my kids! Return to top.

• The organization should be "transparent". You should be completely free to ask any and all questions. You cannot expect the folks "on the front lines" to know the answer to every question or concern, but you can expect that they take your question seriously and refer you to the proper place to get the information that you need. Return to top.

• Check the credentials of the organization. There are several ways to do this. One is to check to see if they are a member of InterAction, an alliance of organizations working for international development. InterAction has strict requirements of its member organizations, put in place to ensure that the best interests of all are served. You should also take a look at the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance page on child sponsorship. Check out their "Charity Reports". Return to top.