Compassion International
Child sponsorship linking donors with children in poverty for long-term development
Our editorial assessment
Compassion International runs one of the largest child-sponsorship programmes in the world, pairing donors with individual children and delivering health, education, and development support through local partners. Charity Navigator does not currently score it because it withholds some public data, but two other watchdogs speak well of it: CharityWatch rates it "Top-Rated" and it is accredited by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, indicating strong efficiency and accountability. Independent research by an academic economist found measurable long-term gains in schooling and adult employment for sponsored children. It suits donors drawn to a personal, long-term sponsorship model.
The problem they're solving
Children who grow up in poverty face compounding disadvantages in health and education that shape their entire lives. Compassion's model funds sustained, individualised support through a child's development, and independent research has linked its sponsorship to better adult education and employment outcomes.
About Compassion International
Compassion International is a child-sponsorship organisation that connects individual donors with children living in poverty, funding health, education, and development support through local church partners in dozens of countries.
Where your dollar goes
How this score was produced
The GiveWise score is our own editorial assessment, produced with a weighted rubric covering program spending, transparency and governance, evidence of impact, cost-effectiveness, and leadership. It draws on publicly available reports from independent evaluators such as GiveWell, Charity Navigator, and CharityWatch, but it is not a rating issued or endorsed by any of those organisations. Read the full methodology →