Child Sponsorship FAQ

In the past few years, we’ve battled numerous global challenges, including a pandemic, food crises, conflict and inflation. In the face of these, we found that our dollars were stretched as thin as they could go. To continue serving the children in our program, we had to make a change.

Prior to this change, we had the longest period without a rate change in Compassion’s history. But our previous rate made it hard to fund effective child development programs. That’s why our rate has now been adjusted to $43.

If you have further questions about this rate change, please see our rate change FAQs here.

We know that your financial circumstances can change. If you need to cancel your sponsorship, your sponsored child will continue to receive care until we find a new sponsor. You can discontinue your sponsorship at any time.

Child sponsorship is donating monthly to a child in need monthly and supporting them through personal messages and prayer. Your donation allows a local church to welcome that child into their program, offering them the essentials they need to thrive, including medical care, food, clean water, education and most importantly, an introduction to Jesus. Your sponsorship of $43 per month will cover these essentials.

At Compassion, we partner with local churches within the community because they know each child personally. This means the child will receive what they need specifically to journey out of poverty. Learn more about how child sponsorship helps.

It’s simple: To sponsor a child in need with Compassion, first select a child from a list of children waiting for sponsorship. After selecting a child, you’ll continue through our self-guided tool to finalize your sponsorship.

A "Compassion Child" is a boy or girl living in poverty who is who is enrolled in Compassion International’s child development Program. This child is 0 to 22 years old and is being offered unique care and opportunities through their local church, empowering them to become mature Christian adults.

Yes! Our Child sponsorship program has continually helped drive down poverty rates affecting children. In fact, research has been compiled that highlights the effectiveness of child sponsorship.

A simple definition of poverty is lacking the resources needed to meet basic needs, such as food, clean water and medical care. However, the true definition of poverty goes deeper.

Poverty is extreme hunger, losing a loved one to a preventable illness and not knowing how to read or write. Poverty is feeling hopeless, powerless and overwhelmed by need in all areas of life.

Our Child Sponsorship Program allows you to support your sponsored child until they reach the age of 18 to 22, depending on the country.

We hope you’ll be able to support your sponsored child until he or she completes the program, but we recognize that circumstances sometimes change. You may discontinue your sponsorship at any time.

It’s important to know that a child’s circumstances may change too. For example, sometimes families move beyond the reach of our program. We’ll let you know if circumstances change for your sponsored child and will give you the opportunity to support another child in need.

It costs $43 per month.

Yes. We encourage sending monetary gifts as a sign of love and support for your sponsored child. These funds, handled by staff and volunteers who know your sponsored child, are used to purchase necessary or desired items that will benefit them most.

You can also give to your sponsored child's family, helping them acquire essential items like furniture, livestock or food supplies. Learn more about gift-giving.

Yes. Each child has only one sponsor, which is why the sponsor's prayers, messages and support mean so much to them. This one-to-one match allows you to show a child that they matter and that someone loves them, which is critical to their well-being.

To cancel your child sponsorship, please call us at 800-336-7676. You may discontinue your sponsorship at any time.

Compassion does sponsorship differently than other organizations. Our sponsorship program is:

• Christ-centered: The hope of the gospel changes everything, especially for children living in poverty. That’s why we share Jesus with every child we serve in a culturally relevant way.
• Church-driven: The local church knows best the needs of the children living in their communities best. We partner with thousands of local churches around the world, equipping them to know, love and protect children in their area.
• Child-focused: We care for the entire well-being of each child. We tailor our support to each child’s unique circumstances and environment so they can heal and grow physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

To sponsor a child’s education with Compassion, you simply sponsor a child of your choice. All Sponsorship funds are used for your sponsored child’s education, health care, food and other basic needs.

Your sponsored child will receive the critical opportunities and care they need to thrive. While support can look a little different depending on each child’s unique needs, every child has the opportunity to:

• Hear the gospel: Each child is introduced to the love of Jesus, giving them life-changing hope amid difficult circumstances.
• Experience physical health: We monitor each child’s health and provide the necessary care to ensure they can grow and develop, from annual medical checkups to regular food support.
• Receive an education: Compassion covers the school fees, clothing and supplies for children to attend school. Programs can also provide tutoring, income generation programs and more to help children reach their full potential.
• Develop self-confidence: The child you sponsor will receive ongoing guidance and encouragement from loving adults who want to see them succeed as self-sufficient adults and leaders in their communities. As a result, they’ll grow in confidence and find their voice, a critical component of breaking the bonds of poverty.

Your prayers are vital for your sponsored child's well-being, education and spiritual growth. Knowing that their sponsors pray for them deeply encourages children. Likewise, many sponsored children and their communities often pray for their sponsors, creating a mutual spiritual support system.

We do not require you to sign a statement of faith or a statement regarding your religious beliefs and practices. However, we seek sponsors who align with our ministry approach and philosophy.

We are an evangelical Christian ministry dedicated to releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name.

In addition to receiving messages from your sponsored child, you’ll also get periodic updates about your sponsored child’s progress and updates about their country and our program there. Through these materials, you'll better understand your sponsored child’s culture and life.

As a sponsor, you can write to your sponsored child, either through physical mail or online through our website or app. Once you become a sponsor, we’ll provide guidance and practical tips about writing to the child you’re supporting.

After you send a message, our field staff will translate and deliver it to your sponsored child. We recommend writing two to six times a year, but you may write to the child you sponsor as often as you like.

Your sponsored child will write to you at least twice a year — and up to six times per year, depending on the frequency of your messages. A tutor or staff member will help children who don’t yet read and write.

You’ll also receive an annual message from a local leader, such as a pastor or staff member, to help you learn even more about your sponsored child’s region.

We ask that your communications align with our shared Christian values. We do not forward content that may:

• Be culturally inappropriate.
• Promote unhealthy lifestyles contrary to biblical teachings.
• Compromise child safety.
• Depict immodest attire.

This includes avoiding materials related to alcohol, tobacco, unlawful drugs or unsafe activities, as well as advocating for non-Christian religious views.

Currently, Sponsor Visit Field Experiences are on hold. Please see the Trips & Visits page for updates.

While we encourage each of our sponsors to write to their sponsored child, you are not required to send messages. Even if you don’t write to your sponsored child, they will write you at least twice per year.

Compassion understands that writing can be a time-consuming process and strives to make your writing experience as easy as possible. We offer both printed and online message templates for your convenience.

Remember, you don’t have to say much to let your sponsored child know you care. Even just a birthday and Christmas card each year can be incredibly meaningful!

Jesus is at the heart of our ministry, influencing our programs and actions. Your sponsored child will have the opportunity to hear about Jesus and be encouraged to develop a relationship with God.

Through our partnership with the local church, children are connected to a local Christian community where they are offered a Bible, learn more about the gospel and can grow in their faith.

Yes, sponsoring a child significantly impacts their future. A study by Dr. Bruce Wydick revealed that children in Compassion’s program are substantially more likely to complete secondary education, graduate from college, and become community leaders. This research compared over 1,860 formerly sponsored children to their 3,704 unsponsored siblings across six countries.

Compassion does not provide child sponsorship in the United States. Instead, we focus on countries with the greatest needs, where our program is most effective. Learn more about where we work.

There is no age limit to sponsor a child. Whether you are 1 or 100, all are welcome!