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Frequently Asked Questions

Child Sponsorship

It costs $39 per month to sponsor a child. This tax-deductible monthly donation provides your sponsored child with access to education, safe water, nutritious food, healthcare and more. You can look forward to getting the first letter from your child in your welcome package. It’s the start of a beautiful and uplifting relationship!
Child sponsorship is the most personal, effective way to fight poverty. When you sponsor a child, you build a special relationship that encourages them with hope for the future. Your monthly sponsorship donation joins forces with other sponsors’ donations to lift your child and their community out of poverty for good. Along the way, you can watch your sponsored child grow up, celebrate their success by exchanging letters and emails, and track their community’s progress.
Sponsored children do not receive direct cash benefits. Better yet, we pool your monthly sponsorship donation with those from other Canadians who support kids in the same area, leveraging them for maximum effectiveness based on the needs of the community. Our local staff works with the community to build a vibrant, sustainable future – allowing people to thrive even once we’ve moved on to help other communities.
When you become a child sponsor, you will receive a welcome package and letter of introduction from your sponsored child or World Vision staff working in the child’s community. Each year you will receive an updated photo of your sponsored child and a progress report.

You will also have access to My World Vision, a digital platform that allows you to manage your information, learn more about your sponsored child’s community, meet other children who live there, and follow along with their progress.
Community members help identify the most vulnerable children in their area. Then, the families of these children are asked if they'd like to be part of the child sponsorship program, with the understanding that the benefits will be shared by everyone in the community.

Writing a letter or sending a package

We strongly encourage you to write to your sponsored child. Children love to hear from their sponsors and often treasure the letters and photos that are sent.

When writing to your sponsored child, please use the World Vision country office address located in the picture folder for your sponsored child. All correspondence must include:

  • World Vision's national office address (exactly as it appears) on the front of the envelope.
  • Your sponsored child's name and child ID number on the back flap of your envelope and on the top of your letter. Please do not write your address inside the letter. Your letters may reach your sponsored child in a few weeks, but the response time can be quite long for some countries – up to six months, in some cases.
Definitely – but please send simple gifts tucked into your letters and cards. Flat items such as photos, bookmarks, stamps or stickers, in an envelope no bigger than 6” x 9”, are ideal. Please don't send parcels or cash. Your sponsored child's picture folder — which you received in your welcome package — contains all the address details that you need.
Yes, you can email sponsored children in some communities. To do this, you will need to create a My World Vision account by clicking the "Create an Account" link at the top of the page. If you need help, please contact us online or give us a call at 1-866-595-5550.

Give a special gift

Absolutely! Birthdays are important times for children in developing countries, just as they are here in Canada. Be sure to give a Special Gift well in advance of your sponsored child’s birthday, so our staff can make the arrangements. Christmas is another good option!

We ask that you limit your generosity to one Special Gift per child that you sponsor each calendar year. It’s a treat for staff to help sponsored children and their families select and purchase the gift – but it does take quite a bit of time. Rest assured, the memory of even one Special Gift will stay with your child a very long time! 
 

If you sponsor more than one child, you’re most welcome to give a Special Gift to each child, once a calendar year. This would celebrate your sponsored children, while still empowering field staff to focus primarily on programming that offers maximum benefit to the whole community!

 
When you give a Special Gift, you do something wonderful. You offer a child the power to participate in a decision. In families that are struggling financially, money goes toward essentials. Clothes are usually hand-me-downs. School supplies are often just out of reach, as are toys and games. Your child will help choose the gift, along with his or her family.
That’s the really fun part! World Vision staff spend time with your sponsored child and family, listening carefully and discussing options. Imagine counting down to the day they receive the Special Gift! It’s an experience your sponsored child will never forget.

Due to the remote location of many of our sponsor-supported communities, please allow for at least six months after making your Special Gift donation to receive your thank you letter and photo.

It’s hard to sum up in words. Many sponsored children have never yearned for a musical instrument, because such a thing was impossible. Others have never known the feeling of putting on a school uniform that fits. Just imagine their joy and wonder in having this dream come true! 
Starting in April 2019, 25 per cent of your Special Gift donation, and any amount over the first $200, will go towards a community gift or activity that benefits all the children in the community, such as new school supplies or playground equipment. The exception to this rule is China and Georgia, where 100 per cent of your Special Gift donation will continue to be used to benefit the community, regardless of the amount you give.

Your gift helps provide something the community’s children may never otherwise receive. Playground equipment, for instance, or a group birthday party for all children! Special Gifts also help provide critical items like agricultural tools, building supplies, or a water tank. Your gift might also support a local school or clinic.

Purchasing gifts in your sponsored child’s own community brings business to local merchants. They’re working hard to support their children, grow their businesses and hire more workers. Buying locally is a great way to support the work we’re doing together, through sponsorship.

Helping children and families choose and purchase the items they need most is a joy for our staff. But it can take a fair bit of time, in communities with a great many needs. The $100 minimum ensures that the Special Gift provides real and lasting value to the child, their family—and starting in April 2019—the entire community.

There’s no limit! But it’s important to note that starting in April 2019, 25 per cent of each gift under $200 and all amounts over $200 will go towards a community gift. For a community that’s been waiting for a water tank, or equipment for a medical clinic, these larger gifts can be a wonderful blessing.

Lebanon is the only country we have sponsorship programs in that is unable to process Special Gifts.

Yes, you will. You’ll also receive a wonderful picture of your sponsored child with her new purchases. One will go in your files. The other will very likely go on your fridge!

Yes you can, through your regular sponsorship correspondence. Small, inexpensive gifts can be mailed to your child’s World Vision country office, to be opened with surprise and delight by your sponsored child! Here’s how you do it.

Sending colourful greeting cards

We appreciate that you want the best for your sponsored child and care about what's being sent. We have paid attention to your concern and came up with designs that appeal to a much wider age group. In some other cases, we determine the design of the card or gift a sponsored child would receive based on age. We also communicate regularly with our field staff and learn that more than the card or gift itself, children simply love getting mail from their sponsors. Each card they receive represents that their sponsor is thinking about them.

We work closely with our field staff to ensure the design and the message on each card/gift is culturally appropriate. The safety and protection of sponsored children are top priority. If you choose to add a note to your item, please consider your sponsored child’s environment, traditions, and culture. We reserve the option to remove any inappropriate content.
Of course! While we appreciate financial gifts, you are not obligated to donate when you return your card. The card/gift you return will be processed and shipped to individual sponsored children as soon as possible.
We want to take the hassle out of communicating with your sponsored child. When you sign and return a card/gift, we will make sure each one is processed and delivered to your sponsored child.

Emailing your sponsored child

Yes, you can email sponsored children in some communities. To do this, you will need to create a My World Vision account by clicking the "Create an Account" link at the top of the page. For more information, contact us at info@worldvision.ca or call us at 1-866-595-5550.

It’s a personalized online account that allows you to deepen your connection with your sponsored children. From your My World Vision, you can send your sponsored children emails, see their latest progress and photos, and update your account information.

Visiting your sponsored child

A visit to your sponsored child and their community is a rewarding way to see the benefits of your contributions. Please contact us at least two to three months before your intended departure date and before you make any travel arrangements.

Sponsor visits typically take place at a World Vision office, community centre or school. It is important to note that in some countries, due to their child protection policy, the visit is held outside of the sponsored child’s community.
Sponsor visits take place on weekdays and are typically a few hours, not including the travel time to and from the community. It is understandable that you may want to extend your visit, but we ask that you respect the length of time the local World Vision staff has allotted for your visit. Bear in mind that a lengthy visit may disrupt the normal daily routine of your sponsored child, their family and the community.
No. World Vision Canada will organize the necessary arrangements for you to meet your sponsored child only. For all other travel-related logistics such as; flights, hotels, passports, visas and health/vaccines, please contact your local travel agency. For information on country specific travel advice and advisories please go to: https://travel.gc.ca
You are responsible for covering all the expenses related to visiting your sponsored child. This may include transportation, meals and lodging for yourself, your sponsored child, and the local staff accompanying your visit.

About Child Sponsorship

Yes. When you sponsor a child, you help bring long-term changes to that child’s community, creating a happier and healthier environment in which to grow up. 

We work in a community until it becomes self-sufficient, which usually takes from 10 to 15 years. As a sponsor, you join in this work for as long as you are able. However, each time you select a child to sponsor, there are many other variables that determine the length of time that the child may be available for sponsorship, such as the development phase of the project, or if the child’s family stays in the project area. When a child is no longer available or when a project comes to an end, you will be invited to help transform another child’s life.
When you sponsor a child, you provide access to basic necessities such as food, clean water, education and health care. You will receive a welcome package from World Vision and a letter of introduction from your sponsored child or from World Vision staff working in the child’s community. Each year, you’ll also receive an updated photo of your sponsored child and a progress report, which will let you know about the good news happening in his or her community.
Yes. We account for every dollar. Of the funds given to World Vision in 2016, 80.5% went directly to programs that help children and families, 13.5% went to fundraising, and 6% was allocated to administration. Audits are conducted regularly by external firms to verify the accuracy of our financial reporting. To learn more about how donations are used, check out our latest Annual Report.
No. We do not organize adoption or bringing children to Canada for visits. Your help to improve a child’s quality of life and self-reliance in their own countries and cultures has deeper value than moving them to a foreign country.
 

For Current Child Sponsors

Technology has created so many new opportunities for connecting with those we care about, but we discourage sponsors from trying to contact children using social media sites, like Facebook. One reason is because of our priority to ensure both their safety and privacy, as well as yours.

There are three possible reasons why you cannot contact your previous sponsored child:

  1. When sponsored children leave the community, their new homes may be in an area where World Vision does not have staff to facilitate communications or their new locations are unknown.
  2. When World Vision transitions out of a community because the community has become self-sufficient, our staff does not remain to facilitate communications.
  3. When a child or the child’s family is no longer participating in the sponsorship program, sponsorship funds cannot support communications to them.
Please call us at 1-866-595-5550 and we will contact your sponsored child’s community to see if there is additional information available.
We raise the rate when essential in order to maintain the level of support we provide to those in need. The last rate increase was in 2012 and before that in 2005.
Please contact World Vision as soon as possible at 1-866-595-5550 to explore the options available.

Volunteer Resources

In a word, need. There is such a great need for children and families living in poverty to have their voices heard. But also… we need YOU! Our volunteers give their time and lend a variety of skills to the cause, helping more Canadians to learn about the work of World Vision and sharing the opportunity to make a difference.
This website has the most comprehensive information about all our volunteer opportunities. Please take some time to read through and investigate the many ways you can use your skills to make an impact. We want to help you find the best fit given your skills, interest and time.
Yes!  We welcome groups of 8-20 people at our Mississauga office. Contact us about volunteering with a group.
Once you fill out the application form, our volunteer coordinators work hard to assess the best fit. In some cases, reference checks and interviews are required. We will contact you once your application has been fully processed. You can expect to hear from us within 10-15 days from the date you submit your application.
3 Reasons:
  1. World Vision Canada is committed to helping you find the best fit and volunteer opportunity.
  2. It is important to us to assemble the very best team of volunteers we can.
  3. Our responsibility to our donors and the children we serve is important to us. Our application process helps us accomplish these goals. ​​​​​
We are happy to have youth volunteers looking to fulfill their high school community service hours join us!
 

Frequently Asked Questions About Us

World Vision is a global Christian relief and development organization. We’re dedicated to helping children, families, and communities reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.

We help transform the lives of the world’s poorest children and families in nearly 100 countries, including the United States. Our community-development approach to ending poverty includes: Nutrition, safe drinking water, education, economic opportunity, disaster response, and empowering women. We help all people, regardless of their religious beliefs, gender, race, or ethnicity.

Learn more about us
We promise to use your donation in the most effective way possible. The needs shown in the Gift Catalog reflect World Vision projects at the time the catalog was written, and each item is representative of its gift category. Donations will provide assistance where it’s needed most within that category, or to address a similar need. With the larger items, such as wells, clinics, and schools, World Vision pools donations in order to provide as many wells, clinics, and schools as possible. These items are not matched to individual donors.
Everyone! At World Vision we encourage everyone to participate in transforming the lives of the world’s most vulnerable children. Although, if you are under 13 years of age, first check with your parents or guardians.
Sorry, it doesn’t work that way. Our gift catalogue items are for planned community projects, not individual sponsored children. However, if you want to give a special gift to your sponsored child, please call 1-800-777-5777, and we’ll help work out the details. To be good stewards of our field staff’s time and resources, these gifts must be $100 or more. Local staff will use your gift to purchase items in your child’s country, saving shipping and other costs. Then we’ll send you a letter and photo about the impact of your gift.
 
Yes! Being a child sponsor is also about building a wonderful friendship. Exchanging letters, cards, or emails is a great way to connect with your sponsored child. Visit the “Send a Letter” page for ideas on what to write.
 
You may send letters to your sponsored child at the National Office address located on your child’s picture folder. You can also find it by signing in to your My World Vision account.
 
Note: For the protection of the children, sponsors, and our staff, we read letters that are exchanged between sponsors and their sponsored children. The letters are reviewed to ensure people do not threaten children, put their lives in danger, or try to develop inappropriate relationships.
 
In many of the countries where we work, Christian expression is restricted, so we monitor the letters to make sure nothing written could endanger the child or family. We also review letters to our sponsors to ensure they do not receive inappropriate solicitation of funds from children’s families.
 
If your sponsored child lives in a country where Christianity is restricted, we will notify you. Please see your Welcome Kit or visit the “Send a Letter” page for writing tips on what topics to avoid.
 
If you are a corporation that sponsors children, or if you sponsor more than 15 children, please use this special link to email your sponsored children.
 
Yes, we’ll mail you a receipt for your gift to World Vision. Your gifts are tax-deductible, excluding the amount for shipping and handling charges or the fair market value for any items, if applicable.
 
Yes. Sign in to My World Vision and visit the “My Account” page. Under “Payment Options,” select “Manage Automated Giving.” You can add or edit your credit card or bank information.
 
We keep your personal information as secure as possible. All web forms requesting your confidential information (such as credit card numbers) on the My World Vision website use “SSL,” an Internet security protocol that encrypts your information.

Customer Service

Yes, you are able to email sponsored children in some communities. To do this, you will need to create a My World Vision account by clicking the "Create an Account" link at the top of the page. For more information, contact us at info@worldvision.ca or call us at 1-866-595-5550.

Learn more about corresponding with your sponsored child by .
 
Yes, when you sponsor a child, you help that child’s community become stronger, healthier, more resourceful than before.  Parents can provide for their children today, and have reason to dream for the future.  You help create hope that endures for generations to come.

Learn more about our community based approach.
Community members help identify the most vulnerable children in their area. Then, the families of these children are asked if they'd like to be part of the child sponsorship program, with the understanding that the benefits will be shared by everyone in the community.
 
We work in a community until it becomes self-sufficient, which usually takes from 10 to 15 years. As a sponsor, you join in this work for as long as you are able. However, each time you select a child to sponsor, there are many other variables that determine the length of time that the child may be available for sponsorship, such as the development phase of the project, or if the child’s family stays in the project area. When a child is no longer available or when a project comes to an end, you will be invited to help transform another child’s life.
 
When you become a child sponsor, you receive a welcome package and a letter of introduction from your sponsored child, or from World Vision staff working in the child's community. Each year, you’ll also receive an updated photo of your sponsored child and a progress report, which will let you know about the good news happening in his or her community.
 
Yes. We account for every dollar. Of the funds given to World Vision in 2014, 80.9% went directly to programs that help children and families, 13.9% went to fundraising, and 5.2% was allocated to administration. Audits are conducted regularly by external firms to verify the accuracy of our financial reporting. To learn more about how donations are used, check out our latest Annual Report.
 
We strongly encourage you to write to your sponsored child. Children love to hear from their sponsors and often treasure the letters and photos that are sent. Click here learn more about corresponding with your sponsored child.
 
When writing to your sponsored child, use the World Vision national office address located in the picture folder for your sponsored child. All correspondence must include:
  • World Vision's national office address (exactly as it appears) on the front of the envelope.
  • Your sponsored child's name and child ID number on the back flap of your envelope and on the top of your letter.
  • Please do not write your address inside the letter. Your letters may reach your sponsored child in a few weeks, but the response time can be quite long for some countries, up to six months, in some cases. For more tips on writing to your sponsored child, click here.
Sure, but please send simple gifts tucked into your letters and cards. Flat items such as photos, bookmarks, stamps or stickers, in an envelope no bigger than 6 x 9, are ideal. Please don't send parcels or cash. Your sponsored child's picture folder — which you receive in your welcome package — gives you all the address details.
 
A visit to your sponsored child and their community is a rewarding way to see the benefits of your contributions. Contact us at least three months before your intended departure date and before you make any travel arrangements. To begin coordinating your visit click here. or contact us at 1-866-595-5550
 
No. We do not organize adoption or bringing children to Canada for visits. Your help to improve a child’s quality of life and self-reliance in their own countries and cultures has deeper value than moving them to a foreign country.
Technology has created so many new opportunities for connecting with those we care about, but we discourage sponsors from trying to contact children using social media sites, like Facebook. One reason is because of our priority to ensure both their safety and privacy, as well as yours.
Again, our priority is ensuring the safety and respecting the privacy of all sponsored children. To help with this important goal:
  • Please only use the first name of your sponsored child.
  • Please do not share your sponsored child's ID number online or with others
  • Please do not share identifying or private information about the child (i.e. the name of the location where he or she lives).
  • Please ensure that the photos you share in letters or emails with your child are appropriate.

We appreciate your support and understanding in protecting the safety of your sponsored child. If you have any questions or concerns please contact us at info@worldvision.ca or 1-866-595-5550.
 
Yes. We issue a yearly cumulative tax receipt for all of your monthly child sponsorship payments and other World Vision donations. Receipts are typically mailed to donors in February. For more information about tax receipts and to learn how you can receive yours sooner, please visit our Donating to World Vision page..
Please contact World Vision as soon as possible at 1-866-595-5550 to explore the options available.
If you need to change your address, phone number or donation information, you can call us at 1-866-595-5550. You can also update your contact and donation information in the "My Account" section of your My World Vision account. Don't have an account? Register for one here.
 
We raise the rate when essential in order to maintain the level of support we provide to those in need. The last rate increase was in 2012 and before that in 2005.
Face-to-face fundraising is an efficient way of helping thousands of children and their community in need. It's also a great way to talk to Canadians about what we do and enables us to reach Canadians who may not otherwise have the opportunity to support us. Many prefer this form of fundraising as it gives them the opportunity to ask questions about our work and discuss the different ways in which they can donate.
Fundraising representatives follow a fundraising code of conduct, which is a part of their employment agreement. The code of conduct states face-to-face fundraisers must "represent World Vision Canada in a professional manner”. Our fundraisers wear a photo ID badge that should be clearly visible. The badge includes their name, personal ID number and the client name.
These statements are not true. We are aware of a malicious email that has been circulating. The email names World Vision Canada and a number of other charities, and its anonymous author makes several false claims about how your donations are being used. Click here to learn more.
It’s a personalized online account that allows you to deepen your connection with your sponsored children. An account allows you to send your sponsored children emails, see their latest progress and photos, and update your account information. To register for a My World Vision account, click here.
 
We pre-assign a new sponsored child because your previous child was no longer available to be sponsored. Pre-assigning prevents a delay in helping another child. If you would prefer to select a different child, please call us at 1-866-595-5550.
Please call us at 1-866-595-5550; we are happy to help you.
There are three possible reasons why you cannot contact your previous sponsored child:
  1. When sponsored children leave the community, their new homes may be in an area where World Vision does not have staff to facilitate communications or their new locations are unknown.
  2. When World Vision transitions out of a community because the community has become self-sufficient, our staff does not remain to facilitate communications.
  3. When a child or the child’s family is no longer participating in the sponsorship program, sponsorship funds cannot support communications to them.
Please call us at 1-866-595-5550 and we will contact your sponsored child’s community to see if there is additional information available.
Our staff members are not able to facilitate the Special Gift for these three possible reasons: 1. The sponsored child has left the community. When this happens, the child’s new home may be in an area where World Vision does not have staff to facilitate the Special Gift or the child’s new location is unknown. 2. When World Vision transitions out of a community because the community has become self-sufficient, our staff does not remain to facilitate Special Gifts. 3. When a child or the child’s family is no longer participating in the sponsorship program, our staff members are not able to facilitate the Special Gift to a non-participating child. When we learn of these situations, we contact sponsors to see if we are able to provide the gift to another child in need.
 
The children and their families who decide to no longer participate in sponsorship still benefit from World Vision’s projects in their community. The only change is that those children will no longer be able to exchange letters or gifts with previous sponsors.
Throughout our 10 to 15-year relationship with a community, we monitor progress and adjust plans as needed. When World Vision transitions out of a community, it is because the community has shown its ability to continue projects without our support. You can see the progress in all of our communities by visiting our community pages. To see the progress in your sponsored child’s community, select his or her country, then select the name of the community. If you have a worldvision.ca account, you can learn more about the impact of your sponsorship.
 
World Vision Canada (WVC) is a child focused organization, committed to protecting the world’s most vulnerable children. We have strict child protection standards and make every effort to ensure that sponsored children are safe and protected. As a result, if it is deemed an individual’s engagement in the sponsorship program may potentially compromise the well-being or safety of a child, WVC reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel a sponsorship at any time.
We recently updated our systems to increase our security and better protect your personal and private information. Now you can also login using your Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Google+ account. In order to help us complete the update and match your security credentials with our records, please re-enter your email address, postal code and reset your password.
Recently we have upgraded our systems in order to better protect your personal information. On July 16th, 2015 we sent an email to all donors with instructions on how to reset their login information. If you did not receive an email, or are still unable to login in please try one of the following:
  1. Click "Forgot Password" link on the My World World Login Page 
  2. Call us at 1-866-595-5550
With a My World Vision account you are able to:
  • See the latest photos, videos and updates about your sponsored child
  • See the latest photos, videos and updates from your sponsored child’s community
  • Send emails and special gifts to your sponsored child
  • Access and print your annual tax receipt as soon as it’s available
  • View your donation history and update your donation information
As of July 2015, you no longer require a login name to access your account. Please enter your email address where you would have used a login name. If you cannot remember the email address you used to set up your account, please call 1-866-595-5550 for assistance.
 
If you forgot your account password:
  • Go to the My World Vision Login Page 
  • Click "Forgot Password" link
  • Enter the email address used to register the account
  • We will email you a password reset link
  • Click on the email link to reset your password (your have 4 days to complete this)
Note: If you do not receive an email in your inbox or junk folder after 5 minutes, please call us at 1-866-595-5550 for assistance.
 
You can update your donation method on the Financial Information page which is in the My Account section. Select the children or pledges you wish to move to a new card. Click “Move selected…” and select either an account on record, or add a new credit card or bank account. For more help please give us a call at 1-866-595-5550