What is my financial commitment for a child sponsorship?
We ask you to commit to a $42 monthly contribution. This allows us to work with our host organization to plan for monthly expenditures and is the easiest way for us to manage sustained sponsorships. Your sponsorship costs less than a weekly takeout pizza, and is automatically payable by credit card or by check.

Is my sponsorship tax-deductible? Yes. Global Volunteers is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.

How is my financial contribution allocated to help children?
Your entire contribution is fully dedicated to the health and well-being of the child(ren) in our host community. The first 80 percent ($400) is allocated to monthly community partner support efforts for the education, housing and care of the child or students you specify. The balance ($100) is directed toward continuing outreach to new volunteers who will serve the children in the host community. In this way, we both respond to the immediate needs of the sponsored children as well as continue to build the on-going network of care ensuring the host organization's support and stability. This financing structure is modeled after the industry standard for sponsorship programs.

Does my sponsorship underwrite the same expenses at each program location?
We work on annual plans with our program hosts to maximize the benefit of donations in each community. Therefore, the specific uses of the donations vary by community. For instance, in India, the sponsorship funds cover all of the needs of the children we serve. This includes food, clothing, shelter, health care, books, school supplies, teachers, uniforms, and toys. In Poland, the sponsorship funds offset the costs of the students at Cisie Elementary school which include school books, school supplies, food and staff. In Tanzania, the sponsorship funds offset the costs of the students at Pommern and Ipalamwa Secondary schools which include school books, school supplies, food, lodging, uniforms, sports equipment,and tuition.

How can I personalize my sponsorship?
We encourage sponsors to participate on a service program, so that they can meet and work with their sponsored child or classroom. If you are part of a group sponsoring program, depending on the size of your group, you may choose to participate on a program which is open to other volunteers, or you could request an exclusive team. Please note that there are age restrictions for participation in some of our programs. Please contact Global Volunteers at (800) 487-1074 to discuss the options for your group.

May I send gifts to my sponsored child?
Global Volunteers' "no personal gifts" policy strictly prohibits volunteers and sponsors from showing any form of favoritism, so personalized gifts are not allowed. If you would like to send additional money for a holiday or birthday, at their discretion the host may choose to conduct a small celebration in which all of the children could participate, in your name, on a day that honors your child or the students in the sponsored classroom.

Will my sponsorship be exclusive?
Sponsorships, while directed to specific children and classrooms, are combined at the local level to maximize the benefit of the program. We've learned through the early years of this program that funding this way greatly improves the total program delivery effort of the host organization. In this way, your donation is multiplied several-fold to benefit your sponsored child, the classroom, and all the children which the host organization serves.

How can my classroom, school, church group or synagogue support children this way?
We invite your group to sponsor one or several children or students. Your group may collect the sponsorship fee among yourselves or conduct a fundraiser for this purpose.

How many children can one class or person sponsor?
The number of children that you or your group sponsors depends on your own fundraising goals. For instance, school have chosen to both sponsor one child per class and also have raised funds to sponsor several children in a school. If your class chooses to pair with another class in order to raise your sponsorship(s), you may submit your sponsorship together and as a group.

How much individual information will we receive about each sponsored child or classroom?
The act of reaching out to sponsor children around the world is a very personal gesture. We try to honor your desire to connect in a personal way to the children you support through your sponsorship. Our ability to provide personal detail depends upon the circumstances in the host community. In most cases, we can provide you general reports on the benefits you provide sponsored children, which will be updated regularly. In some cases, we can match you directly to children in our host community.

You're Not Just a Sponsor: You're a Lifeline. Do you have additional questions? Please call us at (800) 487-1074