1. Why are you increasing the sponsorship commitment level at this time?
2. Why did you go to $30?
3. How will additional sponsorship funds be utilized?
4. What types of benefits will be provided with the additional sponsorship funds?
5. If I raise my commitment level to $30, does that mean my sponsored friend will receive more benefits?
6. How do I increase my sponsorship commitment level?
7. If I don’t raise my sponsorship commitment, does that mean my sponsored friend will receive fewer benefits than other sponsored friends?
8. What if it is not financially feasible for me to commit to $30 monthly?
9. I pay my sponsorship annually. Does the increase in the monthly commitment level apply to my sponsorship?
10. How can I help send even more to the field?
11. How does CFCA compare to other sponsorship organizations in terms of fiscal responsibility?
Don't see your question here? Submit your question to a member of our Sponsor Services team.
Q. Why are you increasing the sponsorship commitment level at this time?
A. We last raised the level 14 years ago in 1992. We raise the sponsorship level only when there is a compelling need to do so. CFCA’s growth combined with our commitment to efficiency has allowed us to send increasing amounts to the field each year. For many years we have been able to counter inflation as costs for sponsorship benefits rose. However, in recent years, the projects have found it increasingly difficult to maintain the current level of sponsorship benefits as costs for benefits continue to increase while the weaker dollar has negatively
impacted exchange rates.
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Q. Why did you go to $30?
A. The $30 level is based on the need in the field and the increasing cost of sponsorship benefits. The entire
increase will be sent to the field to benefit sponsored friends.
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Q. How will additional sponsorship funds be utilized?
A. The full increase will go to the field. It will not be utilized for administration and fund-raising domestically. We demand of ourselves efficiency in our operations and low overhead.
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Q. What types of benefits will be provided with the additional sponsorship funds?
A. For the 47 percent of sponsored children and youth ages 13 to 24, the majority of the increase will go toward meeting rising educational costs and offering additional options for higher education, vocational or skills training.
For younger children, it will go to cover rising costs of basic needs such as nutrition and provide more family assistance, which may include beneifts such as housing repairs and counseling services.
Aging friends will receive additional nutrition, clothing, housing assistance, medical care and socialization activities.
Overall, projects want to provide more benefits and more personal outreach to sponsored friends and their families.
Families want to be able to “pull their own weight” and contribute to their support. Unfortunately, many do not have the opportunity or skills to do so.
Some of the additional funds will allow projects to establish livelihood programs and skills training or allow those with existing programs to expand.
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Q. If I raise my commitment level to $30, does that mean my sponsored friend will receive more benefits?
A. By increasing your level to $30, it will allow the projects to maintain the current level of sponsorship benefits and, over time, provide additional benefits. We anticipate the majority of our sponsors increasing. When that occurs, the projects will have an additional $10 per child per month to provide equitable and personalized benefits.
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Q. How do I increase my sponsorship commitment level?
A. Call 1-800-875-6564 or 913-384-6500 or go here.
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Q. If I don’t raise my sponsorship commitment, does that mean my sponsored friend will receive fewer benefits than other sponsored friends?
A. In order for us to maintain the current level of benefits for all sponsored friends, we need the majority of our
sponsors at the $30 level. However, your sponsored friend will not receive fewer benefits if you remain
at the $20 level. CFCA will continue to provide equitable and personalized benefits for all sponsored friends in
our program based on the average commitment level of all sponsors.
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Q. What if it is not financially feasible for me to commit to $30 monthly?
A. We are grateful for each of our sponsors and recognize that they have varying abilities to raise their
commitment. We want very much to maintain the sponsorship relationship for both your sponsored
friend and you. If you are unable to participate at the $30 level, we invite you to increase to an amount more suitable for you or stay at your current level with our deep gratitude and appreciation for your sponsorship. Please let us hear from you regarding your wishes.
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Q. I pay my sponsorship annually. Does the increase in the monthly commitment level apply to my sponsorship?
A. The $30 monthly amount is necessary for all sponsored friends whether their sponsor pays monthly, quarterly or annually. If you pay annually, the new amount would be $360 per year ($30 per month for 12 months).
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Q. How can I help send even more to the field?
A. To help stretch your sponsorship dollars, consider paying your monthly sponsorship contribution through our Automatic Payment Plan, in which your monthly contribution is paid automatically from your bank account or credit card. This allows CFCA to send even more funds to the field with the money saved processing payments sent by mail.
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Q. How does CFCA compare to other sponsorship organizations in terms of fiscal responsibility?
A. We encourage you to contact Charity Navigator.org where you’ll find that in 2005 CFCA received the
highest rating of four stars for the fifth consecutive evaluation.
The American Institute of Philanthropy (AIP) awarded CFCA a grade of A+ in its Charity Rating Guide. CFCA was the only child sponsorship organization to have earned this grade from the AIP.
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Please note: Sponsorship benefits vary by location according to needs, local resources and other factors.
