5 people found this review helpful
ChildFund International
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Featured Review
November 6, 2012
5 people found this review helpful
I started sponsoring Jessica in Ocumicho, Michoacan Mexico 6 months ago. Initially, I was only going to sponsor her every month. However, after just 2 heartwarming letters and pictures from Jessica, I decided to utilize ChildFund's amazing business model and infrastructure in order to "take things to a different level". Some sponsors only do the $28/month and leave it at that. That's fine, because now another child has been sponsored. However, there are so many things a sponsor can do beyond just the monthly sponsorship to have an even bigger impact on their child, their community and the world. Here's are some other things I have started or completed in only the first 6 months of sponsoring Jessica. Regular letters and pictures - hard to explain the feeling, but AWESOME! Scheduled $50 birthday and Christmas monetary gifts. It is amazing to see the impact and joy such a small gift brings to these wonderful children. You are also really moved how the children allocate the money - food, educational tools and always themselves last. This takes the experience to an incredible level most people have never experienced. Send special monetary gifts if possible in addition to the scheduled monetary gifts. Same effect. Amazing! ChildFund processes these monetary gifts for a flat $3.50 handling fee. Such an amazing, cost effective and easy to use sponsor tool to utilize! The money goes monthly to the national offices, converted to local currency and hand delivered to your child. So, where can a sponsor go from there? I have chosen to do 2 other things to help make an impact. I established a university fund for Jessica. $600/year totaling $5,400 when she is ready to attend. It's invested in America Movil stock that is owned by Carlos Slim in Mexico (richest man in the world). Jessica is very excited trying to decide what type of bachelor's degree she wants to achieve. Very, very exciting! Lastly, I decided to "kick it up one last notch". I have created "The Ocumicho Project" plan with the help of the wonderful ladies at ChildFund. The project's goal is finding sponsors for the remaining 45 children in Ocumicho still without sponsors. My coworkers and friends can literally call the ChildFund 800 number, reference "The Ocumicho Project", get set up as a new sponsor and have one of Jessica's classmates immediately moved into their new sponsor account! All I can say is amazing! The journey is just getting started! What other company (profit or non profit) would offer these existing sponsor tools and new opportunities for their sponsors??? Incredible company! Incredible group of people! Get on board or the train is leaving the station without you! :)
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Was your donation impactful?
Definitely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Definitely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
April 12, 2013
I started sponsoring Merlyn from Guatemala when she was a toddler. In fact, the letters I received in the early years were written by her Mother on Merly's behalf. As she grew, the sweet letters and drawings came directly from her. This life changing experience has been so rewarding for me. When I receive a letter, drawing or picture, I feel proud that I am helping in very small way to help her grow each and every day. Every year, I send her extra money for Christmas and Birthday's so that she can buy what she wants or needs. ChildFund takes a picture of her with the items that she has purchased with her "extra" money. I can't tell you how many times I have cried looking at these pictures. There she sits with a big smile and on her lap sits a small stack of undergarments or a pair of shoes and socks. The part of the picture that makes me cry is the large box of Corn Flakes that sits next to her! It breaks my heart to think that she chose cereal over a toy! My beautiful sponsor daughter is now in high school and will celebrate her 16th birthday next month!
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2013
April 12, 2013
2 people found this review helpful
Hello. I have been sponsoring a little girl in Honduras for six years now. At first I was extremely happy with the program she was in. I got regular updates on her schooling, vaccinations, conditions in her village, and pictures of her at school. I also sent her gifts for birthday and Christmas and would receive pictures of her with the gifts I sent. Lately I have become very suspicious that this little girl even exists. I was told about a year ago that she changed programs but I should not worry- that I still would be her sponser, etc. My first red flag was after I sent some birthday gifts was a letter from my sponsored child indicating a picture with her gifts was enclosed. Well, there was no picture- perhaps an oversight? I don't believe so because I recently received a picture of some older lady (I have never seen before) holding the Christmas gifts I last sent saying my sponsored child loved them?! Something stinks here. I have called Childfund and explained I am not happy. Guess what? There's been no return phone call. I will be looking into other higher rated charities. I think I am being scammed and don't appreciate it being done in the name of supporting an innocent child. Shame on you ChildFund!! No wonder you removed Christian from your name- you didn't want to be struck by lightning.
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Was your donation impactful?
Unsure
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Unlikely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Unlikely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2013
March 31, 2013
I agree that the focus should be on helping someone else, not geting something in return. I get mail from Ethiopia all the time, but if I didn't, it would not matter. Knowing someone, and their family, is getting a better chance is reward enough.
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Was your donation impactful?
Definitely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Definitely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2013
March 26, 2013
3 people found this review helpful
The problem I have with this charity is that I sought to sponsor a particular boy, Diep, in Vietnam. CFI took $28.00 from my credit card on Jan. 16, 2013. I thought everything was fine. A few weeks went by and I still hadn't received my information packet. Meanwhile, I get a letter from CFI asking me to sponsor another boy, Carlos, at a cost of $35.00 per month. After communicating with Richmond, I finally got the information packet for Diep but there was no more personal info than was online when I first decided on him. Very scanty info indeed. At some point, CFI decided to stop making the monthly withdrawals--not in Feb. nor Mar. And I never received a letter or report from Diep or a field worker. This experience plus the many negative reviews online caused me to decide to resign my sponsorship and ask for a refund of the $28.00. As of this writing, CFI has not replied to these messages
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Was your donation impactful?
No
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
No
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
No
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2013
February 15, 2013
I have sponsored a boy in Honduras for 8 years. I read so many reviews, and people cry about this or cry about that. Well I guess you can find fault in anything. My sponsorship brings joy to me every day of my life. I thank God for Childfund. I share the little bit I have with children that have so much less than me or you. Stop listening to the crybabys. Look in your heart. Do you really want to help a small child or complain about Child fund? Its up to you.. The letters I recieve from my boy are priceless. Would you like to recieve some great letters?
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2013
12 people found this review helpful
December 14, 2012
12 people found this review helpful
You know, I want you all to know, while it's great that you are donating to these nonprofits, you need to realize that they turn away many needy families in America. I am a disabled mom of 2 great girls. At this very moment I have 1/2 jar of mayonnaise, and some peanut butter in my cupboard. THAT"S IT! I know hat you are thinking..."go on welfare ( I tried and was denied), go to food banks (there is one in my area, and it gives 1 box of food every 4th saturday), contact a church (I have, I am on 3 waiting lists).I have contacted all the big charities and they all say the same thing, "We do not service your area". OK what AREA do they serve? I was working 2 jobs until I was in a terrible wreck, I now have osteomyelitis and will probably lose my leg. I was working when I wrecked, so I get workmans comp, $489 every 2 weeks. When I have $600 mortage, $100 insurance, $225 utilities....I am already over what I earn...Did you notice...my list does not even include groceries...because I do not have any money left for groceries. I know everyone has it hard sometimes, I have donated to "Feed The Children and Salv. Army for years....BUT when I need help...I have no one to help me. My kids and myself are literally STARVING IN AMERICA> If we just had enough to eat, it would be a special Christmas..it's heartbreaking when your kids want a big Christmas dinner for their "wish" list to Santa. Next time you want to donate..look around. That lady in the check-out line at the grocery store, frantically searching thru the lint and crumb covered bottom of her purse for loose change, in order to afford a half gallon of milk...is probably me...and MAY one day BE YOU! God Bless
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Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?
No
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
None
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
8 people found this review helpful
Review from CharityNavigator1 previous review
April 24, 2012
I donated to ChildFund for many years, including a trust donation of $25,000. I was supporting five children. One of my supported children moved out of the area. I was not informed. The child's mo... more
November 30, 2012
8 people found this review helpful
I am a former donor. I just want whoever reviews these organizations to know that I keep looking in to see if there has been an improvement. I stopped sponsoring my five children because I felt the field offices mismanged the money for one of them (kept collecting though child left area) and my inquiry led to what I beleive to have been dissembling both at the local and the central office level.
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When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
April 24, 2012
5 people found this review helpful
I donated to ChildFund for many years, including a trust donation of $25,000. I was supporting five children. One of my supported children moved out of the area. I was not informed. The child's mother wrote to thank me for the Christmas gift and told me that her daughter had moved to another island. I received contradictory explanations as to how it happened that a child left the program and CF did not know or chose not to inform me. I was first told there was a computer glitch and then that it was decided at the local level to continue to give the donation to another member of the same family. I did not find the first explanation truthful and the second indicated to me that CF was not in control of its finances. I withdrew my support.
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Was your donation impactful?
Unsure
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
No
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
No
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
3 people found this review helpful
November 23, 2012
3 people found this review helpful
I started sponsoring a child at the beginning of the Spring and was initially concerned because it took many months to get my first letter - almost four. Because my child was located in the US on a reservation, I knew it was not taking very long for mail to arrive. Recently, however, I've started to receive a lot more letters and correspondence from him (I did have to complain once that I was not getting letters). As far as the huge assessment of 20% on monetary gifts, I just sent my sponsored child some Christmas money and paid only $3.50 so it seems they've changed their policies on that front. I have to say that now that I am getting regular letters, this is a wonderful feeling - to personally impact one person's life. I can see that internationally this would be much more challenging for a whole slew of reasons - but you can choose to send a gift within the US!
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Was your donation impactful?
Likely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Likely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
2 people found this review helpful
November 23, 2012
2 people found this review helpful
It bothers me, for reasons I can't explain, to see little ones lacking basic necessities, especially for such small amounts of money. I will never be able to give as much as I would like, but we're lucky - we have a little money now - so I can share with people who really need it. I haven't always been in a position to be able to help in such a fashion, but things have evened out for me, financially speaking, and I've been thinking about sponsoring a child for some time now. There are a lot of different organizations out there, and I'd venture to say that many of them do the job as well as ChildFund, but I liked that there were other ways to help various communities, and ways to help individuals get started to have a better life in tangible ways, things they can do for themselves. And so I signed up to sponsor a little girl on ChildFund; her name is Jasmine, she'll be 10 in December, and she lives in Oklahoma. She and her older brother currently live in a small rural area with their parents, who are unemployed; she likes riding her bike and running track. She likes to read (especially the Barbie books) and her favorite subject at school is computer lab. It's such a small amount to sponsor a kid.
Because I agreed to sponsor a child, I've begun getting the occasional gift catalog from CF. It's both interesting and disheartening paging through it; one can do so much with nearly any amount of money, ranging from $25 for things like fruit trees or vegetable seeds or fruit seeds, to buying gardening tools, sheep, goats, pigs, rabbits, or camels, all the way up to $1,267 for a yoke of oxen and a plow. (Often, one can buy a share of the more expensive things; for example, for about 10% of the amount, in this case $127, one can buy a share of a yoke of oxen and a plow.)
One can send a bicycle for $100 (for girls who travel long distances to school in India or Sri Lanka), clean water (for $50, $100, or $200); a starter farm for $325 (each farm includes a pair of goats, a pair of chickens, seeds, and farm tools); restocking a health station or buying medicine for mothers and children in Liberia; a mattress for a family in Ethiopia or Uganda; a set of winter clothes for a kid in Vietnam; wash kits for preschoolers in Vietnam; a set of four tables and chairs for preschoolers in Sri Lanka; a mama kit, which contains supplies for a pregnant woman to use during and after delivery, and is combined with education for expectant mothers in Uganda - there are really a lot of options.
I think that each month I'm going to find something to donate, however small. This month I chose the following, but I found it hard to choose:
In India, 30 orphans and children affected by HIV/AIDS live full-time at the Namma Makkala Dhama orphanage. Food is scarce, and when a child is malnourished furing the first two years of life, the child's physical and mental growth and development can be affected for the rest of the child's life. [$120 will feed 30 orphans in India for a week.] In India, the gift of fresh milk will help the physical, cognitive, and intellectual growth and development of an undernourished child. By adding supplemental nutrition now, the milk you provide will help prevent long-term problems for the children, increasing their ability to develop into healthy, independent adults. [$64 will provide milk for one month for 30 children in India.]
More feedback...
Was your donation impactful?
Definitely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Definitely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
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