Updates and correspondence
A programme may offer letters, drawings or progress reports. Check what is offered, how often, and how the organisation manages contact.
Education guide · Child sponsorship
Understand child sponsorship.
Compare your options.
Sponsorship programmes differ. Learn where contributions go, how children and communities are involved, and what to ask before deciding.
A connection with a child can support a wider community
In the programmes below, a sponsor is connected with a child, while contributions help fund work beyond that child alone. The connection and the funding model are different parts of the programme: a child's photograph does not mean that monthly payments are handed directly to that child.
World Vision describes combining sponsors' contributions for community work. Plan International describes community development projects. ActionAid describes the sponsored child as a representative of their community, with funds supporting community work and other programme costs. Read each provider's explanation in the comparison below.
How resources are shared
Ask whether money supports a particular community, wider programmes or a combination, and how administration and fundraising costs are covered.
Other ways to participate
Sponsorship is one option. You can also explore organisations' education and community programmes, learn about volunteering, or share reliable information.
Explore the differences
Three programme examples to research
These summaries reflect each organisation's own published information. The examples are listed alphabetically; they are not a ranking, an exhaustive directory or an independent assessment of impact.
On a small screen, swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Organisation | Published approach | Connection and updates | A useful question |
|---|---|---|---|
| ActionAid UK | Describes children as representatives of their communities. Sponsorship funds support community activities as well as other work and programme costs. | Aims to provide two messages from the child each year, plus staff updates. Read ActionAid's FAQs ↗ | How is funding divided between the child's community, wider work and running the programme? |
| Plan International UK | Describes funding community development, with children involved in planning projects that can benefit their wider community. | Offers correspondence and annual updates. Staff screen communications with children. Read Plan's FAQs ↗ | What happens to the sponsorship and allocation of funds if a child leaves the programme? |
| World Vision UK | Combines contributions for community programmes; money is not paid directly to the sponsored child or family. | Describes a welcome pack, progress updates and messages through its sponsorship account. Read World Vision's explanation ↗ | Which activities benefit the wider community, and how are local priorities and progress assessed? |
Six questions to ask before choosing
- Who operates the programme?Check the organisation's identity, registration, latest annual report and complaints route using its official website and the relevant charity register.
- Where will the money go?Ask for a clear explanation of restrictions, shared funding, administration and fundraising costs. Consider the quality of the work alongside cost figures.
- How do children and communities take part?Look for an explanation of how priorities are chosen, how children and families agree to participate, and how their feedback changes the work.
- How are children kept safe?Read the rules on correspondence, images, gifts and visits. Plan describes screening messages; ActionAid asks sponsors not to post children's photos on social media without its approval. Follow the specific programme's guidance.
- What evidence and updates will you receive?Ask about reporting on the wider programme, progress against objectives, setbacks and lessons learned, as well as personal updates.
- What commitment are you making?Confirm the current amount, frequency, cancellation arrangements and what happens if the child moves or the programme ends. Discuss any country-specific tax questions with the provider.
Common questions
Is sponsorship the same as adoption?
No. Sponsorship does not make you a child's parent or guardian. Plan International explicitly distinguishes its programme from adoption. Read Plan's explanation.
Which programme is best?
This guide does not award a best-provider rating. Use the questions above to compare programme design, safeguarding, accountability and the commitment that suits your circumstances. Provider descriptions alone do not establish which programme has the greatest impact.
Do I need to make a payment to use this guide?
No. You can read, compare the sources and share this guide freely. There is no payment or sponsorship enrolment form on this page.
Read the original sources
Programme details can change. The sources below were checked on ; check the provider's latest information before making a commitment.
- ActionAid UK: how to sponsor a child FAQs — funding, updates, participation and image-sharing guidance.
- Plan International UK: child sponsorship FAQs — community projects, correspondence, safeguarding and programme changes.
- World Vision UK: how child sponsorship works — shared funding, community activities and sponsor updates.
For further background, explore our child-protection resources.
Help someone make an informed choice
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