2 people found this review helpful
Plan International USA, Inc.
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January 7, 2013
2 people found this review helpful
I started giving to this organization when it had a different name, many years ago. I sponsored children and received letters from them, wrote back, etc. After a while I agreed to let my monthly donation be p[aid directly by my credit card. After that the letters dried up, and I no longer knew w ho or where my money was going. After several years of this, my credit card expired and I got a letter asking for the new information. I wrote back saying I had decided not to renew my msupport.
Surprise! I immediate received two different letters from children in Africa - the actual country was not specified - one wrote thanking me for "choosing me to be your chld". I feel I am being subjected to emotinal blackmail - I never agreed to resume if the organization started arranging for letters again, but I feel terrible about not anwering these letters! and of course, there is an envelope enclosed so I can send my gifts by electronic funds transfer.
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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?
Unsure
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2013
November 18, 2012
We have been donating to Plan International for nearly two decades and we feel like we've created a meaningful relationship with the organization and the community that they support.
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Was your donation impactful?
Likely
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
1 person found this review helpful
June 29, 2012
1 person found this review helpful
I have been a donor for over 50 years. The child that is assigned to you till they are 18 writes a letter about every 8 weeks and I have ALWAYS RESPONED. I have had letters from around the world. So far the high point was visiting "our" child n China
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Was your donation impactful?
Definitely
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
1 person found this review helpful
May 26, 2012
1 person found this review helpful
Reading these reviews, many people seem to be disappointed with the sponsorship program. You need to understand YOU ARE NO SPONSORING ONE CHILD! Plan makes it very clear that they work on COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. This means that your sponsor child is just a symbolic link to the COMMUNITY you're supporting. They don't receive any more aid than another child in the community. This might be why they don't have as strong of a connection with the donor as you might have hoped. Additionally, people seem to be concerned that 1. administrative costs are increasing and 2. that communication is less than they'd like, without recognizing that you need admin to better communication. I recently had the opportunity to visit my sponsor child and her community, and I'm must say, I was incredibly impressed. The local staff was efficient and friendly, and Plan organized the logistics of my visit for me. I got to see the school, water access points, sanitation facilities and health care units that had previously been sent to me in photographs, so I know all correspondence I had with the community was accurate.
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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
December 17, 2011
My experience with Plan International USA is wonderful thus far. The organization keeps me well informed of their activities and innovative programs. I like the way Plan International USA focuses in on building communities at the local level through programs for children and collaboration with local (NGO) Non-Governmental Organizations. I have been sponsoring a girl in Kenya since the summer of this year. I received communication from the girl's father a few months after beginning sponsorship. The girl is only five years of age, and I was not expecting to receive written letters from her. I was very excited to receive communication from her father though, as he expressed the gratitude of their family. I just sent a second letter this morning. I look forward to becoming more involved with Plan International USA.
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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?
2011
September 15, 2011
I have been a donor since 9/11 when I decided that we as a nation need to be doing more internationally to bridge the gap between the have's and the have nots. Since I did not want to go with a religious organization, and I wanted to have some interpersonal contact, and possibly go to visit my sponsor child, I researched hard and decided on PLAN. I am so glad I did. I have now sponsored, and also visited, two girls from different parts of Guatemala.
On both visits I was extremely impressed with the local staff and what they were doing in the very rural communities we visited. They are having a huge impact on many communities and many many children and families. It is one of the best things I have done in my 60 years and has culminated in a strong and permanent connection to Guatemala for me personally.
Like some of the other reviewers, I found it hard to have as much personal contact with my sponsored child as I would have preferred via letters. But after actually being in the communities, I realize that much of that is because we are dealing with different languages and cultures that do not have the kind of literacy we have in the U.S. I think it is more important for the staff to be out there helping people than figuring out how to communicate in a different language with someone from a different culture. And I'm not just talking English/Spanish, in my case with Guatemala, but one of the 22 different Mayan languages spoken in rural Guatemala. I am sure this is the same in most of the other countries PLAN operates in. They are doing a great job. Go see for yourself!
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Guatemala; two different communities where PLAN operates.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Give it more funds to work in more communities.
June 27, 2011
I began as a sponsor for this organization in the early 1970's when it was Foster Parents Plan. At the time, I had little money and wanted to make sure it went where it would do the most good. FPP had an extremely low administrative overhead, and I appreciated the blunt tone of their manually-typed correspondence. They were open about where my money was going, gave recommendations as to whether the family I was sponsoring would benefit from additional funds, and communicated clearly what they were doing to keep administrative costs down. Communications from the organization had the feel of coming from someone who really cared and was probably not being paid very much him/herself.
Although nearly 30 years later I am still sponsoring multiple families through what is now Plan International, over time the organization has become increasingly "slick" in their communications, and that their administrative spending has been increasing relative to their program spending. This trend appears to be accelerating in the past few years. While I am continuing with the families I sponsor, my new donations are going to other organizations. As the current children I sponsor age out of the program, I will not renew with Plan.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Communication from caseworkers was once (1970's and 1980's) detailed and specific to the family; periodic letters from sponsored children (usually parent of sponsored child) continue. The first family I sponsored, I got a detailed analysis of what they needed, which children should be sent to school if I was able to send additional funds, etc.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Look carefully at where the money is going, and whether they are doing the most good they could with their revenue. Especially determine what has gone wrong with the rapidly increasing administrative expenses.
More feedback...
Was your donation impactful?
Likely
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
What specific problem, purpose, priority, or project prompted your gift?
Just wanted to help struggling families in the world. When I started, the monthly sponsorship was a stretch for me, and I did enough research to decide that FPP would make the best use of my money. That is no longer true.
Why did you make your donation at this time?
Continuing to sponsor the children/families I have committed to
What would you tell others about this organization?
It was once a great way to contribute, but now there are better options
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
March 6, 2011
I am not fully satisfied with my sponsorship with Plan USA. I began sponsoring just over a year ago. I also have sponsored with several other organizations and developed my own case study. There are others that I like more than this one.
I have been sponsoring for 1.5 years and I have received one communication from my child. I feel as though I am blindly sponsoring this child.
I know that most of the reason to sponsor a child is for what the organization has to offer, but I feel that there are other things that my child may need, and communicating with her sponsor is one of them that may encourage her not to marry at age 13 like her mother. She is about 10 years old already.
What I do like is that this is the only organization that I have found that sponsors children in China. Although, my child is not in China, I would like to sponsor a child in China in the future.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I have not experienced results yet.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
I would like for the staff to be more informed on what is going on in the field and not respond with a blanket statement that does not answer my question every time I email.
More feedback...
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?
Unsure
What specific problem, purpose, priority, or project prompted your gift?
A late night television add.
Why did you make your donation at this time?
I would like to inspire children.
What would you tell others about this organization?
There are other organizations that I feel may be a better option.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
January 15, 2010
Plan USA does a great job of communicating how they utilize your funds, and the impact that they have. I was pleased to know that they have a large staff on site at Haiti already, and that anything I give can be immediately put to use to help with the earthquake crisis. Money donated is money well spent.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
personalized communications and an ongoing interaction.
More feedback...
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About once a year
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
October 20, 2009
Plan USA does wonders for the needy children in India, along with many other countries. In addition to helping small kids, I am able to be in constant touch with them and their families, through timely letters and photos. Their volunteers are really helpful if we have any problem with any of our dealings with Plan USA. Overall, I would rate them the highest among the non-profits, not only for India but for children all around the world!
More feedback...
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
keeping in touch with children and families through letters..
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every six months
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
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