Your Questions Answered

 

Who is ChildFund?

ChildFund is an aid and humanitarian organisation that for more than 70 years has been dedicated to working with children, families and their communities to help them break free from poverty.  You may know us by our former name CCF.

Where does ChildFund work?

ChildFund helps over 15 million children in more than 50 countries around the world.

Who does ChildFund help?

ChildFund helps the most vulnerable children and their families regardless of their religion, gender or national origin or creed.

How much does it cost to sponsor a child?

It costs $44 a month to sponsor a child, that’s less than $1.50 a day. 

$40 goes to Child Sponsorship and $4 goes to ChildFund’s Future Fund.

How much of my sponsorship donations are sent overseas?

We send at least 80% of your Child Sponsorship donation overseas. See below for how your donations are used.

How do I know my donations really get there?

Each year ChildFund New Zealand is audited by KPMG.  Please click here to visit our Annual Report.  We also have an internal project monitoring team, who are in regular contact with projects.  We receive quarterly reports and visit key projects at least once a year to ensure the project is progressing as planned. Please click here to view our Statement of Accountability.

How does child sponsorship work?

Your regular donation is sent overseas to the community where your child lives.  You help to fund the projects that are most needed in the community.  So you help not only the child you sponsor but also their family and other children living in poverty in their area.

How do you choose which children need a sponsor?

Parent Committees are formed in the community where we work.  They help to identify the children who are the most vulnerable, deprived and excluded and need our help.  The parent committees also choose which projects are the most vital for their children.  For instance, if children do not have clean water to drink, the parent committee could make access to clean water through water tanks, bore holes, piping and pumps as their first priority.

How long does child sponsorship last?

We of course encourage you to sponsor a child for as long as you able to.  But we understand if your circumstances change and you are no longer able to sponsor.  In this instance we will keep supporting that child whilst we find another sponsor.

Is ChildFund a registered charity?

Yes, ChildFund’s registered charity number is CC10081.

Can I claim a tax rebate/credit on my donations?

Yes.  At the end of each year ChildFund will send you a receipt for all your donations in the tax year to enable you to claim your tax rebate.

How can I pay for my sponsorship donations?

You can pay for your monthly gift either by direct debit or via your credit card.  To set up your sponsorship donation online please click here to first choose a child.

Can I choose the child I sponsor?

Yes, you can choose a child from the website or if you are not sure which child to choose please just call our team and we will help you to choose a child.

Can I write to my sponsored child?

Yes, letters are really cherished by sponsored children.  We hear time and time again how much it means to children living in poverty to know that someone across the world cares for them.  You can tell your sponsored child about your family, hobbies, sports and all about New Zealand.  ChildFund takes care of the translation and delivery of letters and we even provide birthday and Christmas cards for your sponsored child.

When should I expect to receive a reply from my sponsored child?

Letters often have a lengthy journey so please don’t be offended if it takes two to three months to receive a reply from your sponsored child.

Can I send gifts to my sponsored child?

Yes, if you want to send an additional gift for your child’s birthday or Christmas you are welcome to do so.  Because New Zealand is so far away and to help support local economies we ask that you send a monetary gift via ChildFund.  That way your child will receive what they really need as well.  Simply call our team on 0800 808 822 to arrange.

Can I visit my sponsored child?

Yes, visiting your sponsored child can be a wonderful experience.  ChildFund will help to arrange for you to meet your child.  We ask that we have three months advance notice of your travel plans to make sure we are able to arrange your visit.  You will be asked to cover any costs of transport / translators etc.

I’d heard that it was the same child that is sponsored, is that true?

No, when you receive the profile of a child, it contains the photo and story of a real child in need who has no other sponsor but you. Hundreds of thousands of children are sponsored through ChildFund. Many more are enrolled and awaiting sponsors.

Exactly how is the money spent and on what?

It costs $44 to sponsor a child. $40 goes to Child Sponsorship and $4 goes to ChildFund’s Future Fund. ChildFund New Zealand has remitted at least 80 cents of each Child Sponsorship dollar overseas since it opened an office here in 1990. No more than 20 per cent of that $40 is retained in New Zealand to help us run our New Zealand office.

The money each sponsor pays for their sponsored child is directed to the project they are enrolled in.  This money is pooled to provide education, health, clean water, nutrition, early childhood centres and income-generation activities for parents and youth.

What is ChildFund’s Future Fund?

Our $4 ChildFund Future Fund is retained here in New Zealand to ensure the consistent delivery of our quality programmes to children in need, to develop additional programmes in new countries, to find more child sponsors for children in need and to educate New Zealanders about eradicating poverty. It is an additional voluntary contribution that helps us to help more children now and in the future.

Are you a Christian organisation?

Despite our former name of CCF (Christian Children’s Fund), ChildFund does not preach Christianity or use funds for Christian mission work. The original name owed much to its founder - a Presbyterian minister. However a decision was made very early in our history not to prostelyse so as to ensure that ChildFund would always be welcome in any community where children were in need.  We help children of all faiths to break free from poverty.

What is ChildFund Africa Orphan Rescue?

For more information on ChildFund's Africa Orphan Rescue programme and how you can help please click here.

 

ChildFund Official Blog

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