Stewardship & Integrity

Is Compassion International Legit?

Compassion International is a legitimate 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. As a Christian charity, we’re dedicated to releasing children from poverty through our child sponsorship program and other cause-based initiatives.

Compassion International has been a trusted charity since 1952. We’ve provided hope and relief from the burden of poverty to millions of children across 29 countries and counting.

We were a founding member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, which provides high standards for ensuring your gifts and donations are stewarded well. We also meet every standard of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance, ensuring Compassion is an organization you can trust. Compassion also receives consistently high ratings from CharityWatch and other organizations.

Where Does Your Money Go When You Give to Compassion?

We’re serious about financial accountability, stewarding your donation to make the biggest impact.

Every penny of your support goes toward releasing children from poverty. Here’s a more specific breakdown.

Almost all your gift, at least 80%:

• Empowers our local church partners to run child development centers where children come for physical, emotional, mental and spiritual care.
• Covers the cost of that care, including medical checkups, education, nutrition support, hygiene training, child protection and so much more.
• Introduces children to the hope only found in Jesus in a culturally relevant and age-appropriate way.

But what about the other percentage?

We’re on a mission to change the lives of many more children by providing the care and hope they need to rise above poverty. That’s why the smaller portion of your donation helps children in a different way — by paying for administration, marketing and fundraising so we can grow to reach even more children in need.

You can trust that every dollar we receive is prayerfully used to reach as many children as possible with life-changing care and the hope of the gospel.

What Do Children Receive Through Our Child Sponsorship Program?

Release from poverty doesn’t happen overnight. For children to experience brighter futures, they need consistent care as they grow.

When you choose to become a sponsor, you help us provide the consistent physical, emotional, mental and spiritual care children need to become thriving adults. This includes meeting their right-now needs, such as for nutrition and medical care, as well as preparing them for the future by offering education and vocational training.

97% of Compassion program participants surveyed in the Dominican Republic said they were released from poverty in Jesus’ name.

See the Impact of Compassion

At Compassion, we’ve witnessed children being released from the chains of poverty time and time again. See what saying yes to being the hands and feet of Jesus through sponsorship does for the most vulnerable.