Why sponsor a child?

Meet Mahesh

Mahesh, from India, is sponsored through the Hope for a Family program. Through sponsorship, children like Mahesh are able to attend school, eat nutritious meals, have access to health care and receive the message "I believe in you" from their sponsors.

Offering hope to families

Mahesh's mother and father work hard to provide for their children. They know that sponsorship can help him achieve his potential and help them achieve their dream of a better life for Mahesh and his sister. Mahesh's parents have graciously invited us into their home so you can see how sponsorship is impacting his life.

When you sponsor a child

When you sponsor a child, you are connected one-to-one with a child in need. You are given the opportunity to develop a friendship with the child through letter writing. You will get to know your friend and your friend's family. You will learn about their reality as well as their hopes and dreams. You will come to understand how CFCA works with the child in the context of the whole family.

Over the years, CFCA has built a relationship of trust with the families in the sponsorship program. They welcome us into their lives and into the lives of their children and allow us to walk with them, as family friends, on their path to self-sufficiency.

What you should know

Your contribution directly impacts your sponsored child

Your sponsorship contribution of $30 per month provides benefits and services to your sponsored child and his or her family. The local project staff works with your child's family to personalize benefits to meet their specific needs. Over time and through a combination of sponsorship benefits, education and development of livelihood programs, the family will begin to rely less on sponsorship benefits and more on their own abilities and income-generating activities to provide for their needs.

93.7 percent of CFCA's expenses go toward program support, and we are highly rated by charity watchdog groups.

View our financials »  

The sponsored child and family do their part—this is not a handout

The primary focus of our Hope for a Family program is creating opportunities for sponsored children and their families to develop their own capacity for personal and economic growth, rather than focusing solely on the distribution of material goods.

The children and their families have responsibilities. Children are expected to stay in school and develop their potential. They are required to write to their sponsors and participate in programs at the local level. Parents of sponsored children have responsibilities within the program as well, and offer support and encouragement to one another.

Filipino community builds water system for others » 

The child's really there

When you select a child to sponsor, we want you to know that your friend is really there. We do not use representational children nor do we use sponsorship just to raise funds. Our project staff knows each child and family and works directly with them on a regular basis.

You will receive at least two letters per year from your sponsored child, as well as an updated annual photo. We encourage you to write your sponsored friend. Through letters, you will have an opportunity to develop a friendship and get to know one another.

Each year, we host more than 30 trips to our projects around the world so sponsors can meet their friends in person. A CFCA trip is an in-depth experience that will introduce you to your friend and the culture, daily reality and heroic struggle of CFCA families.

View our trip calendar »