Sponsor a child

Sponsoring a child changes lives — including your own

When you sponsor a child, you open doors for their future. You encourage them as they learn, grow and dream. And you create a powerful ripple effect – fueling local solutions that transform entire communities.

How sponsorship works

Build a meaningful friendship

It all starts with a personal connection with a girl or boy who is waiting for a caring sponsor like you. Your letters, photos and encouragement tell your sponsored child, “I believe in you.” Your friendship encourages them to stay in school, dream bigger and reach their full potential. And that’s just the beginning.

Support community-led solutions

Your $39 monthly donation combines with other sponsors’ support to fund community-led solutions like clean water, education, health care and protection from violence. Together, you help to build stronger schools, safer communities and brighter futures.

Create ripples of change

That’s the power of sponsorship – one friendship creates ripples of change that lift entire communities for generations to come.

"Sponsorship transformed my life and also made a significant impact in the lives of many other children."

Hellen, a former sponsored child from Uganda

Today, Hellen is a Plan project officer supporting refugees with education and safe spaces.

Frequently asked questions

Don’t see your question below? Our Donor Loyalty team is happy to answer any questions you have. Please call 800.556.7918 Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, or email us at [email protected].  

How much does child sponsorship cost?

Child sponsorship starts at $39 a month. You can also pay $117 quarterly or $468 annually.

How are my sponsorship contributions used?

We’ve learned from experience that the best way to create lasting change is to help communities support themselves. Your $39 monthly gift is pooled with other sponsors’ support to create a steady flow of support. We focus on what communities say they need most — like clean water, education and health care.

As a child sponsor, what do I receive?

A welcome package in the mail with photos of, and information about, your sponsored child, their family and their community.
Letters from your sponsored child. If you write a letter to your sponsored child, he or she will write back! Letter writing is a great way to get to know them and see the world through their eyes.
An annual update on your sponsored child, as well as the progress sponsorship communities are making because of your support.
Impact reports and an e-newsletter called SponsorConnect to keep you updated on how sponsors like you are making a difference.
An annual tax receipt.

How do I write to my sponsored child?

Writing a letter is the best way to learn more about your sponsored child! To send a digital letter or postcard, just sign into your MyPlan account, and click on your sponsored child’s photo. You can also send handwritten letters. Mail your letter to us at the address below and we will forward it to your sponsored child.

Plan International USA
P.O. Box 9747
Providence RI 02940-9420

Please remember to apply a pre-printed label (included in your welcome kit) on each piece you would like to send.

Can I send a gift to my sponsored child?

Yes! You will have opportunities to send seasonal gifts to your sponsored child, including:

Sunny Days, Plan’s own fun and educational kids’ activity pack.
Little Treasures, special gifts offered by Plan twice a year.
A free birthday gift sent to your sponsored child on your behalf. (Simply return the card we send you with your well wishes, and we’ll include a free gift with your card.)

We’re happy to forward a small token of friendship from you to your sponsored child, like stickers or a bookmark.

Gifts should:

Fit inside a 4×6 envelope
Weigh no more than 5 oz.
Be relatively flat, to ensure efficiency through customs

Due to international guidelines and cultural differences, we are unable to forward:

Money and gifts that seem expensive
Sharp, dangerous or fragile gifts
Skin and hair care products
Food and plants
Liquids
Clothing

Please attach your sponsor number and sponsored child’s number to your gift to ensure it arrives without delay! Gifts can be sent to the following address:

Plan International USA
P.O. Box 9747
Providence RI 02940-9420

If you have any additional questions regarding our gift policy, please call our Donor Loyalty team at 800.556.7918.

Can I visit my sponsored child?

Yes! We encourage you to consider a trip to visit your sponsored child’s community. It’s a life-changing experience to meet your sponsored child and see first-hand the impact of your support. To begin planning your visit, please contact our Donor Loyalty team at 800.556.7918 or [email protected].

All sponsorship visits must be organized through Plan International USA.

Is my sponsorship contribution tax-deductible?

Yes! Plan International USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your sponsorship contribution is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. You’ll receive an annual tax receipt for your records.

How long will my sponsorship last?

Sponsored children typically graduate from our program on or around their 18th birthday. In some cases, your sponsorship may end sooner than anticipated. Your sponsored child could move away, or Plan could phase out of the area. When it’s clear a community can manage its own development without us, we gradually phase out our participation. This is a cause for celebration, because it means our partnership has been a success!

When your sponsored child leaves or graduates from our program, we’ll contact you to transfer your sponsorship to another child.

We understand that circumstances change. If you need to stop your sponsorship, simply contact our Donor Loyalty team at 800.556.7918 or email [email protected].

Why does Plan focus on girls?

At Plan, gender equality is integrated into all of our programs, including child sponsorship. We focus on girls because they face unique barriers to education and safety. They are more likely to be pulled out of school or forced to marry.
Experience and research have shown clear links between achieving gender equality, fulfilling children’s rights and ending child poverty. Investing in a girl’s future will not only improve her life, but also the economic condition of her family and her community. Gender equality is a benefit to all and a fight we must take on together.

When you sponsor a child, you can choose to sponsor a boy or girl. Children in all their diversity participate and benefit from our sponsorship program.

What is Plan’s Child Safeguarding Policy?

Plan is fully committed to ending violence against children and young people. We acknowledge our duty to promote the gender-responsive safeguarding of children and young people, particularly those with whom we work.

Read our full Safeguarding Policy.

Meet Faith: A sponsored child from Liberia

In this video you’ll meet Faith, a sponsored child who lives in Liberia. She will tell you about life in her community and share how support from sponsors is making a big difference for children like her.