Frequently Asked Questions About Child Sponsorship

General Questions About Save the Children

General Answers:

What is child sponsorship?
Child sponsorship is a unique kind of program that connects children in need with compassionate people like you! Becoming a sponsor means giving children the chance to grow up healthy, educated and safe – forever changing their life and future. You just might find that it changes you, too.

When you become a sponsor, Save the Children does not give your donation directly to your sponsored child, rather we combine your monthly contribution with the support of other sponsors to help aid projects in your sponsored child’s community – creating a “ripple effect” of positive change throughout the entire sponsorship community.

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What types of child sponsorships are available?

• Individual child sponsorship gives you the opportunity to develop a one-on-one relationship with your sponsored child, while your monthly support benefits all the children in your child’s community as well. Individual child sponsors have the opportunity to communicate with their sponsored child via email or postal mail. 
• Lifeline sponsorship is a program where your contributed monthly support is directed to a sponsorship community and you receive updates on one of the children who is benefiting. Lifeline sponsorship differs from individual child sponsorship in that more than one sponsor may be assigned to the same child and you do not correspond directly with that child. Because this sponsorship type reduces operational costs, more of your monthly contribution can be used to support sponsorship programs. This is a great option if you’re interested in learning how an individual child benefits from your sponsorship, but you aren’t able to or interested in corresponding with a child. 
• Program sponsorship drives your contribution of monthly support to our programs in a specific sponsorship country. Program sponsors receive updates and success stories on our overall results in the country, but have no individual child communication or updates. This is a great option if you’re interested in supporting sponsorship programs, but you aren’t interested in receiving individual child updates or writing to a child.

You can sign up for individual child sponsorship or lifeline sponsorship online here. If you’re interested in program sponsorship, please contact your Supporter Experience Center team at 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (EST).

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Why should I sponsor with Save the Children?
Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In the U.S. and around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we’re always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children’s unique needs are met and their voices are heard. We develop pioneering programs that deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach.

With an ambitious vision and a century of leading expertise, we’re one of the most highly regarded charities in the world. We are consistently recognized for our proven program responsibility and fiscal accountability, with nearly 9 out of every 10 dollars going to programs for children and families in need. We earn high ratings from independent services like Charity Navigator and Charity Watch, and we are accredited by the Better Business Bureau.

When you become a Save the Children sponsor, you can be sure you’re joining a growing, global community dedicated to doing whatever it takes for children, transforming their lives and the future we share.

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How does sponsorship work on the ground?
Save the Children selects communities that will benefit from child sponsorship programs based on need. Our local staff work hand-in-hand with these communities to develop and manage child sponsorship programs. All children are offered the opportunity to participate, in consultation with their families or caregivers. When a child receives a caring sponsor like you, he or she is notified by our local program staff.

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Will my sponsorship connect me with an actual child?
Yes. As an individual child sponsor, you have the opportunity to choose a specific child (by region, country, gender and/or age) and to communicate and establish a friendship with your child via mail or email. While you build this one-on-one relationship, your monthly support combined with support from other caring sponsors will benefit the children in your sponsored child’s community.

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What happens once I decide to sponsor a child?
About 10 days after you start your child sponsorship, you’ll receive a welcome kit, with everything you need to begin your sponsor relationship, including a photo and information about your child, helpful letter writing tips, a postcard to send to your sponsored child, and other resources.

When you become an individual child sponsor you will also receive a letter or drawing from your sponsored child soon after, usually within 4-6 weeks. Then you can continue communicating! We ask that no more than 2 letters per year be sent by a sponsor. You can also easily communicate with your child via an email through your online account. Letter-writing is unique to individual child sponsorship. Lifeline and Program sponsors are not able to correspond with their sponsored child.  If you are interested in exchanging letters with a child, we’d love to help! Contact us at [email protected] or 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (EST).

You’ll receive a new photo of your sponsored child, an annual update report and ongoing print, email and mobile updates about the impact of your sponsorship on the community. You can also keep track of the progress happening in your sponsored child’s community through your online account, which will be periodically updated with photos, videos and country program information.

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How will I be kept updated on my sponsored child and his or her community?
Each year, you will receive an annual update designed to let you know how your sponsored child is progressing and the impact your sponsorship support is having in his or her community. Along with your update, you can look forward to receiving a new photo of your child each year.

In addition, you’ll also receive periodic print, email and mobile updates from us to keep you fully informed about how your sponsorship is making a difference.

These updates are our way of helping you connect with your sponsored child, so you can see how your sponsorship commitment is transforming the life and future or your child and his or her entire community.

If you’re a program sponsor, you’ll receive ongoing program and country updates.

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How long will my sponsorship last?
Child sponsorship is a voluntary, ongoing contribution. You decide how long you’re able to help. Many sponsors have supported our work for more than 15 years, and some as many as 50 years!

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Can a child have more than one sponsor?
When you sponsor a child outside the U.S., you will be matched with a child who lives in one of our international sponsorship communities. Due to higher program costs, children in our U.S. and Mexico locations can be sponsored by up to two sponsors. If you sponsor a child in the U.S. or Mexico who has another sponsor, you’re still able to have a one-on-one relationship with your child through writing letters.

For lifeline sponsors, your sponsored child will likely have multiple sponsors, because he or she serves as a representative child for the community. There is no one-on-one relationship or communication with the child, although you will receive regular updates.

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How do I sponsor another child?
After experiencing the joy and seeing the impact of child sponsorship, many sponsors want to help even more children grow up healthy, educated and safe, so they can achieve their dreams. Sponsoring multiple children is a great way to spread your support around the world. All you have to do is select another child waiting for your support. Click here to sponsor an additional child.

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Can I sponsor my child's siblings?
Many siblings are also in need and would benefit from sponsorship. To find out whether your sponsored child’s siblings are available for sponsorship, please contact your Supporter Experience Center at [email protected] or 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (EST).

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Can I adopt a child through Save the Children?
Our work and resources are solely focused on helping children grow up healthy, educated and safe within their own communities. If you’d like to consider adoption, we suggest you visit the U.S. State Department website at http://travel.state.gov and click “Learn about Adopting a Child to and from the U.S.”

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Can I give a gift sponsorship?
We encourage you to share the gift of child sponsorship. When you check out, simply select your child sponsorship as a gift sponsorship and enter your gift recipient’s information. Your gift recipient will receive a card and welcome kit, including information about the sponsored child you selected. There’s no better way to share the joys of child sponsorship than by letting someone you care about experience the impact firsthand.

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Can I set up a sponsorship as part of my organization?
Absolutely! Many organizations choose to make child sponsorship a highlight of their corporate philanthropy program. Sponsorship is an exceptional way to engage employees and build goodwill for your company, while improving the lives and futures of children. For more information, contact Maha Karahamad at [email protected].

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Can I cancel my sponsorship?

Sponsorship is an entirely voluntary, ongoing relationship that supports our critical work with vulnerable children around the world. Before you make the life-changing choice to cancel your sponsorship, it may be helpful to consider all the ways in which your decision can impact children.  Click here to find out

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Will I always be sponsoring the same child?
We work in real communities, with real families, in oftentimes difficult situations. We strive to provide a safe environment for children to learn, grow and play, but sometimes situations change and children have to leave our programs – for example, because the family has moved to a new home in another community. If your child leaves our sponsorship program, your sponsorship will be moved to a new child, so that you can continue helping children in need. Your new sponsorship signifies an important part of our ongoing work and is a sign that we’re reaching even more children, families and communities in need with our sustainable programs. If you sponsor an individual child (vs. a lifeline child), you’ll also have the opportunity to send a goodbye letter to your previously sponsored child. Saying goodbye can be hard, but a letter can help bring a sense of closure to your relationship and let your child know that your care doesn’t end with the program. We’ll make every effort to deliver your letter.

We sincerely hope you’ll see this move as an opportunity to say hello and be a friend and champion to your new child.  If you would prefer to sponsor a child other than the one we’ve chosen for you, you can call us at 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm, (EST). The child we had assigned will continue to benefit from our programs and will become eligible for sponsorship by someone else as generous and kind-hearted as you.

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What happens when Save the Children moves out of a community?
Save the Children’s sponsorship programs are structured to remain in a community for 8 to 10 years. This long-term commitment allows us to thoroughly assess the community’s needs and deliver successful sponsorship programs that achieve lasting results. When our teams transition out of a community, we work to carefully transfer ownership of our programs to local community members, so children can continue benefiting for many years to come. This model allows us to move on to help children in other communities, while ensuring our established programs continue.

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What happens when my child grows up?
There will come a time when your sponsored child grows up and “graduates” from Save the Children’s sponsorship program. At that point, we’ll transfer your sponsorship to a different child, so you can continue to create lasting, positive change for children in need. You will be notified via postal mail when such a change takes place and introduced to your new sponsored child. If you sponsor an individual child (vs. a lifeline child), you’ll also have the opportunity to send a goodbye letter to your previously sponsored child. Saying goodbye can be hard, but a letter can help bring a sense of closure to your relationship and let your child know that your care doesn’t end with the program. We’ll make every effort to deliver your letter.

If you would prefer to sponsor a child other than the one we’ve chosen for you, you can call us at 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm, (EST). The child we had assigned will continue to benefit from our programs and will become eligible for sponsorship by someone else as generous and kind-hearted as you.

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Need more help?

If you have any questions that aren’t answered here or need additional help, our Supporter Experience Center will be happy to assist you with anything you may need. Contact us at [email protected] or 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (EST). As an existing sponsor, you can also manage your account through our website.

For sponsors living outside the U.S., you can send an email to our Supporter Experience Center at [email protected] or call +1-203-221-4000.

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Engagement Questions:

Can I write to my sponsored child?

Yes! Exchanging letters with your sponsored child helps build a caring connection that deepens the impact of our work. In light of the coronavirus pandemic, please keep in mind that there may be delays or inability to deliver letters in a timely manner. We will do everything in our power to deliver your message while keeping staff and children safe. Considering the costs to translate and transport letters back and forth to a child’s community, we recommend that you send no more than two letters a year. See the journey of a letter here.

It’s best to limit the number of people who correspond with the child to avoid overwhelming or confusing them. Writing a letter on behalf of your family, or even having your child/grandchild correspond, is a great way to get your family involved in the experience, help them learn more about the world and share in the joy of helping others.

Please note: Lifeline child sponsors cannot correspond with their sponsored child.  If you are interested in exchanging letters with a child benefitting from your support, we’d love to help make that happen! Please contact our Supporter Experience Center at [email protected] or 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (EST).

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What needs to be included in my letter?

All letters should be addressed to your sponsored child’s country office and must include:

• On the envelope: The name and address of your sponsored child’s country office (available below) 
• Within the letter (or email): Your donor ID, your first name, your sponsored child’s Child ID and your sponsored child’s first name.

If you’re sending an email through your online account, this information will be filled in for you. If you can’t find the info you need, you can retrieve it through your online account or by contacting our Supporter Experience Center at [email protected] or 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (EST).

Please note: To protect sponsored children and sponsors like you, Save the Children does not allow unmonitored communication between a child and his/her sponsor. All communications must be sent through our country office staff, so they can check for appropriateness and manage translations and delivery, as necessary. Please do not share personal contact information, like last names, home addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, social media accounts, school name or anything else that could be used to identify or locate you or your sponsored child.

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How long does it take to receive a reply from my sponsored child?

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, we ask that you expect delays in your correspondence being delivered. Letter replies can take several months to reach you depending on local mail infrastructure, translation time and your child’s literacy level, so please be patient. Additional delays can happen during seasons when children may be observing a school break or holiday. See the journey of a letter here.

But the wait will always be worth it! Your sponsored child will cherish your letters for years to come, and we’re sure you’ll cherish theirs just the same.

If you write an email, the delivery time will be substantially shorter, but it still involves translating and delivering, so we also recommend limiting emails to no more than two a year.

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Where do I send my letters?

Please send your letters to the Save the Children office of the country where your sponsored child lives. Your welcome kit includes this information. You can also find your sponsored child's country office mailing address below.

Afghanistan
Save the Children in Afghanistan
[email protected]

Bangladesh
Save the Children in Bangladesh
House CWN (A) 35, Road 43
Gulshan 2, Dhaka 1212
Bangladesh
[email protected]

Bolivia
Save the Children in Bolivia
Av. Oquendo (casi esq. Colombia, Edificio Virgen del Carmen N° 164 Piso 2)
Casilla 4317
Cochabamba, Bolivia
[email protected]

Egypt
Save the Children in Egypt
42, Road 17, Off Port Saied Street
Maadi Sarayat
P.O. Box: 580 Al Malek Al Saleh
Cairo, Egypt
[email protected]

El Salvador
Save the Children in El Salvador
Apartado Postal 05 (95)
San Salvador, El Salvador
[email protected]

Ethiopia
Save the Children in Ethiopia
P.O. Box 387
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
[email protected]

Haiti
Save the Children in Haiti
18 Rue Emeric, Impasse Lajoie,
Bourdon
B.P. 15665
Petion-Ville, Haiti
[email protected]

Save the Children India
3 / 221, Vinay Khand
Gomti Nagar, Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh-226010
India
[email protected]

Indonesia
Save the Children
Jalan Gelora 
RT 12 RW 6
Kelurahana Pada Eweta
Kelurahan Kota Waikabubak
Kabupaten Sumba Barat
Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Barat
Post code 87211
Indonesia
[email protected]

Malawi
Save the Children in Malawi
Private Bag 66
Zomba, Malawi
[email protected]

Mali
Save the Children in Mali
BP 3105
Bamako, Mali
[email protected]

Mexico
Save the Children in Mexico
Francisco Sosa #24
Col. Villa Coyoacán
Coyoacán, 04000
Mexico City, México
[email protected]

Mozambique
Save the Children in Mozambique
Caixa Postal 1854
Maputo, Mozambique
[email protected]

Myanmar
Save the Children in Myanmar
126/A, Dhammazedi Road, Corner of Dhammazedi Rd &
Shwegondaing 1st Lane Bahan Township, Yangon 11201, Myanmar

Nepal
Save the Children in Nepal
P.O. Box 3394
Airport Gate, Sambhu Marg
Sinamangal, Kathmandu, Nepal
[email protected]

Niger
Save the Children in Niger
Quartier Plateau PL 54
Rue des Lacs
BP 12670, Niamey, Niger
[email protected]

Philippines
Save the Children in the Philippines
P.O. Box 4448
Manila Central Post Office
Liwasang Bonifacio
Metro Manila, Philippines
[email protected]

Uganda
Save the Children in Uganda
Plot 2163 Dadiri Close
Muyenga
P.O. Box 12018
Kampala
Uganda
[email protected]

United States
Save the Children, U.S. Programs
Attn: Sponsorship Dept.
800 Corporate Dr., Ste. 100
Lexington, KY 40503
[email protected]

Vietnam
Save the Children in Vietnam
Level 4, Mercury Building
444 Hoang Hoa Tham Street,
Tay Ho District, Hanoi
Vietnam
[email protected]

Zambia
Save the Children in Zambia
Kalulushi Office
Plot 3778 North Kalengwa Rd,
P.O. Box 260295
Kalulushi, Zambia
[email protected]

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How much will postage cost?

Postage costs will vary based on the size and weight of your letter or package and the destination. Please visit the USPS website to calculate postage.

Of course, sending an email is free! Consider emailing your child through your online account. Your email message will be printed, translated and delivered by our country office staff to your sponsored child.

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Can I email my sponsored child?
Yes, you can email your sponsored child through your online account (see “Write to me”). Your email message will be printed, translated and delivered directly to your sponsored child by our country office staff, which means your child still has a written keepsake to treasure. Although administrative costs are lower than for letters, we still recommend that you send no more than two emails a year.

You’ll receive a written reply via postal mail from your sponsored child. If you prefer to receive email replies from your child, please email the country office and provide your preferences.

Email is a quick and easy way to communicate with your sponsored child. And because costs are lower, it means your sponsorship support goes farther for children.

Please note: Lifeline child sponsors cannot correspond with their sponsored child.  If you are interested in exchanging letters with a child benefitting from your support, we’d love to help make that happen! Please contact our Supporter Experience Center at [email protected] or 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (EST).

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What do I write to my sponsored child?

Because many sponsored children are developing their reading and writing skills, short and thoughtful messages are best. To get to know your sponsored child, you may wish to ask about his or her daily life, family and friends – and share the same about yourself. As time goes on, and your relationship grows, you may want to ask about family or community traditions and significant events in your sponsored child’s life. Please avoid discussing any political or religious matters or other culturally sensitive topics.

Overall, your messages serve as a special reminder that you care about your sponsored child. We know from many years of experience that sponsored children cherish their sponsor’s letters, often for years to come. Click here for letter writing tips that you can print and keep as a handy resource.

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What if my sponsored child is too young to write?
If you sponsor a younger child, you’ll receive updates about your child from a special person in his or her life – typically, a family member, teacher or caregiver. As time goes on, you’ll experience the joy of seeing your child develop through the letters and drawings he or she sends you – knowing that your sponsorship support and encouragement is helping make your child’s development a reality!

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What if my sponsored child doesn’t write well?
Some kids are shy. Others have never written a letter before. And in the disadvantaged places where we work, some children have missed out on years of schooling – that is, until Save the Children started working in the community. So don’t worry if your child’s letter isn’t as long or as detailed as you would expect. Be assured that your sponsorship is making a profound difference in your child’s life – an investment in his or her future.

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Do I have to write to my child to receive letters?
When you first sign up for an individual child sponsorship, you will receive an introductory letter from your child. Each year following, your sponsored child will send an annual letter updating you on what is happening in his or her life. If you wish to communicate with your child more regularly, we encourage you to write back to your child’s letters – two letters a year is recommended – to further develop your relationship. Your sponsored child will love to hear from you!

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Can I send a gift to my sponsored child?

Please do not include any gifts, such as stickers or small books, when sending letters to your sponsored child. This will help us create a positive experience for all children in the community, including those without a sponsor, and reduce processing costs so we can invest more in programs. The best gift you can give is to share an uplifting letter that lets your sponsored child know that you believe in them. You can also include a photo of yourself so they can put a face to your name. Please ensure photos are age and culturally appropriate and do not highlight any personal information such as where you live or your last name. Thank you for your understanding and support.

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Can I send cash directly to my sponsored child?

Because cash can make children a target in some of the economically deprived areas where we work, sponsors cannot send money directly to children. However, additional monetary gifts to support our work in your child’s community are always appreciated. These valuable funds will support the programs that benefit your sponsored child and his or her community – helping us to make an even bigger difference in their lives and futures.

If you wish to help your sponsored child’s community with an extra gift, please visit the “My Child Sponsorship” page of your online account and click “Make a Special Donation to Sponsorship.” You can also contact your Supporter Experience Center at 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (EST).

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Can I visit my sponsored child?

To keep children safe and allow staff to prioritize our program work, sponsors are not able to visit their sponsored child. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected] or 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (EST). Thank you for your understanding and continued support of our life-changing work for children in need.

Can I share my sponsored child’s story via social media?

In today’s digital age, children are exposed to new risks. While you may have good intentions in sharing about your child, there are people who could use that information to cause harm. For your sponsored child’s protection, please do not post any information online that could be used to identify or locate your child, such as last name, school name, community name or photo.

We do encourage you to post on social media to share about your experience (and hopefully inspire others to join the Save the Children family!), but to do so in a way that ensures the safety and protection of all sponsored children. For example, you can say, “I just received a letter today from Anna, my adorable sponsored child from Uganda! She’s learning to read and loves to play jump rope.” Or, “Becoming a child sponsor has meant the world to me. I love knowing a child will have a better life and a brighter future because of me.”

Thank you for helping us keep children safe!

Click here for more details on what you can share online.

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What do I do if my sponsored child contacts me directly?

If you are contacted by your sponsored child or his or her family outside of communications sent by Save the Children, we ask that you refrain from responding and immediately contact our Supporter Experience Center at [email protected] or 1-800-7283, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (EST).

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How does Save the Children protect the identity of sponsors?

To protect the identity of our sponsors, we don’t share your contact information directly with your sponsored child.

If you are contacted by your sponsored child, his or her family or a community member outside of communications sent by Save the Children, we ask that you not respond and immediately contact your Supporter Experience Center at [email protected] or 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (EST).

Our utmost goal is to protect the children we serve, as well as the generous sponsors who make our work possible. Thank you for partnering with us to achieve this goal.

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Can I keep in touch with my child after s/he leaves the program?

No, we do not allow ongoing communication between sponsor and child after the child has left the sponsorship program. Our number one priority in sponsorship is to ensure the children in our programs are safe. Save the Children acts as an intermediary in the sponsorship experience, reviewing all child and sponsor letters to ensure the communication will not be harmful to the child. With social media and global travel at our fingertips, allowing ongoing communication between sponsor and child after the child leaves the program could be a risk to children. We recognize that most sponsors do not have malicious intent. We hope you understand this important child protection measure.

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Financial Questions:

How much does child sponsorship cost?
You can become a child sponsor for just $39 a month (or about a dollar a day). We have found that the most effective way to help children is by combining your contributions with those of other sponsors, rather than giving them directly to the child you sponsor. This allows us to more effectively distribute resources to the communities we work with around the world to enable stable funding, long-term support and high-quality programs.  

If you can afford to provide support of more than $39 a month, or you can sponsor multiple children, you’ll help us achieve even more and ensure the long-term sustainability of our child sponsorship programs. If you’re interested in increasing your support on behalf of yourself, your family or your organization, please contact our Supporter Experience team at 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (EST).

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Will my sponsorship always cost the same amount?

Not necessarily. Many sponsors choose to upgrade their gift periodically (Thank you!), allowing us to do even more for children around the world. There are also instances where we prompt this upgrade due to the rising cost of supplies in the countries where we work. We do this to ensure that our programs remain unaffected by economic ebbs and flows. Please know that these small increases pooled together make a HUGE difference for kids. Every cent you give makes change for children. We can’t thank you enough for your ongoing support!

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Is my support tax deductible?
Yes. When you sponsor a child (individual, lifeline or program), you will have access to an online history of your recurring giving. For specific, tax-related questions about your charitable giving, we encourage you to contact your tax advisor.

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How will my child sponsorship support be used?
Your child sponsorship support gives children a healthy start in life and continues to support them as they learn and grow in a safe, supportive environment. We work hand-in-hand with children, families and communities to develop innovative, sustainable solutions that meet the unique needs of children in that community.

The most effective way to help children is by combining your contributions with those of other sponsors, rather than giving them directly to the child you sponsor. This allows us to more effectively distribute resources to the communities we work with around the world to enable stable funding, long-term support and high-quality programs. Your sponsorship is truly an investment in children’s lives and futures!

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What’s the best way to pay for my sponsorship?
You can pay for your sponsorship in a variety of ways, including through a bank transfer, recurring credit card gift, wire transfer or personal check. We recommend setting up an automatic (or recurring) bank transfer, because it saves us on the significant processing fees associated with credit card and check payments. We want to ensure as much of your support as possible goes to the children who need it most.

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How do I change my payment type?
To change your method of payment, simply contact our Supporter Experience Center at 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (EST).

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How do I update my credit card number?
You can update your credit card number by logging into your online account and clicking “Manage My Giving.” From there you can find your sponsorship gifts on the right column and can update your credit card number by selecting “Update Credit Card”. If you need assistance, call our Supporter Experience Center at 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (EST). To ensure the security of your information, we do not recommend sending credit card information over email.

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How will I be notified if my support is interrupted?
If your sponsorship contribution is unable to be processed (when, for example, your credit card account number changes), you will first receive a notification letter by mail and then a printed statement each month. In addition, you will receive an email or mobile alert and a phone call from a Supporter Experience Center Representative to help you update your payment information.

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How do I change from monthly support to annual or quarterly support?

Your Supporter Experience Center can assist in changing your contribution frequency and can be reached at [email protected] or 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm, (EST).

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How do I increase my sponsorship support?
If you’re ready to provide even more support to your sponsored child and his or her community, you can easily update your contribution amount online in the “My Giving” section of your online account. Your Supporter Experience Center is also happy to assist you and can be reached at 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (EST).

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Will I receive a tax receipt for my sponsorship support?
Each February, you will receive an official tax receipt for all of your sponsorship gifts made during the previous calendar year.

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Where can I find Save the Children’s financial information?

Save the Children has a proven track record of program responsibility and fiscal accountability. You can be assured that Save the Children uses the valuable resources sponsors provide in the most efficient, cost-effective ways possible.

Our independently audited financial statements consistently show that nearly 9 out of every 10 dollars we spend goes to programs and services for children and families in need. Click here for more financial information.

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Coronavirus Updates:

Children around the world face growing health, education and safety risks due to coronavirus. That’s why Save the Children is working to ensure children and families affected by coronavirus, including all of the children in our sponsorship programs, receive the support they need to keep healthy, continue learning and stay safe. In response to some of the questions raised by our community of sponsors, here’s how our teams are working to address the specific needs of sponsored children. 

How is coronavirus affecting children, including those children in sponsorship communities? 

Coronavirus is a global pandemic that threatens children’s rights in countries around the world, including those countries where Save the Children has sponsorship programs. The coronavirus pandemic will have far-reaching impacts, not only on the health of children, families and their communities, but also on education, protection, food supplies and social interaction.

Visit Coronavirus Outbreak: Facts and Figures to learn more about the virus and Save the Children’s global response. 

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How is my sponsorship donation contributing to Save the Children’s global response to coronavirus? 

Thanks to the support of sponsors like you, our teams were able to mobilize immediately to provide support to the most vulnerable regions impacted by coronavirus.

As Save the Children’s response continues to grow, your sponsorship gifts will continue to help us support children and communities affected by coronavirus. Your ongoing support allows us to address the new and evolving needs children face during this global pandemic

Thank you so much for your ongoing support – support that is more important than ever. Without you, our work for children and families impacted by coronavirus would simply not be possible.  

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How are sponsorship program operations being impacted by coronavirus? 

Save the Children supports sponsorship programs in several states and many countries that are being impacted by school and business closures — proven measures to slow the spread of disease and, in turn, save lives. As a result, we have paused some of our sponsorship activities, including distributing   gifts to sponsored children.

We recognize that our sponsorship programming will be affected and, wherever possible, we hope to redesign activities and outcomes to make them coronavirus-sensitive. Please check back for more updates as we have them – we can’t wait to share with you how we’re adapting to help address coronavirus with your help!

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Can I send a gift or letter to my sponsored child?

After briefly pausing letter writing activities for the safety of all staff and children, sponsors can once again send a letter to their sponsored child! We thank you for your patience in this, and look forward to delivering your words of encouragement. Please expect delays to this process, as postal services around the world have varying degrees of operation as they continue to adapt to the coronavirus pandemic.  

At this time, gift-giving activities continue to be paused until further notice. 

If you sent a letter to your sponsored child and it was successfully delivered to our sponsorship office, you should receive a confirmation email or a letter in the mail. We ask for your patience as there may be delays in responding at this time.  

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When will I be able to engage with my sponsored child again?

Once we can fully ensure the safety and health of our sponsored children and staff, traditional sponsorship activities like letter writing will resume. To sign up to receive important child sponsorship program updates from our teams, visit savethechildren.org/signup. 

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Can I visit my sponsored child?

To keep children safe and allow staff to prioritize our program work, sponsors are not able to visit their sponsored child. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected] or 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (EST). Thank you for your understanding and continued support of our life-changing work for children in need.

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What if I have questions about my sponsorship?

We understand that this crisis is affecting families in the most challenging of ways. If you need to make any changes to your gift, please call your Supporter Experience team at 1-800-728-3843. Our team is happy to help you and can provide you with many options.

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How can I continue to help children and families impacted by coronavirus?

Thank you for all you do to support children in the United States and around the world! Your sponsorship support is critical to the work we are doing to help children and families impacted by coronavirus.

If you’d like to increase your support, here are a few opportunities:

1. Sponsor another child or increase your sponsorship donation. Your additional support at this time will help ensure children and families affected by coronavirus, especially those most vulnerable, receive the support they need to keep healthy, continue learning and stay safe.
2. Share the joy of sponsorship with your friends and family. There’s no greater advocate for sponsorship than you – our sponsors! If your friends are looking for ways to help children in the U.S. and around the world impacted by coronavirus, encourage them to become a sponsor today.
3. Donate. Your donation today supports our important work to meet the health, education and nutrition needs of kids in other countries impacted by coronavirus.

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