[CarmJoeMom]

Does anyone know of a website to sponsor a child through a legit company? If you can't share the name of the website, please PM me.

Thanks!

[Aidensparents]

I PM'd you.

[DianeS]

Here's a link to Charity Navigators website, with the 43 companies they have listed for "child sponsorship", in order of the company's rating. Charity Navigator - Your Search Results

Twenty-one of those companies have earned Charity Navigators' 5-star rating - they're at the top of the list.

Of course, different people have different ideas of what "legit" means. To me, it's a company that spends its money wisely - not too much on overhead or fundraising, for example, but enough that they can support a good organization well into the future. To others it may mean other (or additional) things.

I'll admit I work for one of the organizations in that top-21 list, but I won't say which one. (I don't tell anybody which one - it would get you too close to the town I live in, and I value my privacy.) But if you have any questions that go beyond finances that you can find on that site, like questions about sponsoring a child vs sponsoring a community, or child development vs community assistance, why charges per month vary, why groups work in certain countries and not others, questions about receiving governmental assistance from the US or from the country they work in, questions to ask if you're looking for a Christian sponsorship organization (definitions of what makes a company "christian" really vary a lot), questions about writing letters, sending gifts, or visiting - etc - feel free to post them here or PM me. I'll be happy to give you my opinion.

[Belenbaby]

we sponser a child through Safe Passage, it is in the list from charity navigator. it is a wonderful charity that helps children in Guatemala who live in the city dump. It pays for school tuition , clothes and books. also some meals and family aid...check it out. It is a dot org.

[lifessence]

Compassion - we look at many things and this company does it all above board!

Then there is Pottershouse.org.gt

[waitingforIsabel]

We sponsor a little girl through the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging. We have been really impressed with their mission and way they spend their money. Welcome To the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging Online!.

We began sponsoring this fall, knowing only her DOB and that she was from Guatemala. The day we returned from our visit trip, we received a letter from her in the mail- get this- she is from the SAME TOWN of our hogar, we we stayed!! and she drew a precious picture of the same view of the lake that we had been admiring from our lodging while we visited! We had goose bumps! We have contacted CFCA and are trying to arrange to visit her when we go down to pick up Isabel! We are so excited!
Good luck with your choice, I think it is a wonderful way to continue to support the country of our children!

[shellydm]

I sponsor a child in Indionesia, but there are many countries to choose from including Guatemala. I starting sponsoring before we decided to adopt from Guat, so our sponsor child is in Indionesia. We plan to sponsor another from Guatmala when our daughter is older and they can be pen-pals.

We use Christian Children's Fund. They have a website, just google them (I don't know it off hand). I love it. I write to my sponsor child and he sends us letters and he draws us pictures. Its priceless. With some of the money I've sent over the past years he has bought goats and rabbits and loves to tell me how now they have had babies and so on, and how it helps pay for his schooling.

I am sure there are other legit sponsor programs as well. Good luck!

Shelly

[Mandy4President]

I go through World Vision. I really like them. I didn't at first because I thought I couldn't send packages, and I can't send big ones, but I have been able to figure out ways to send stuff to our little girl. We sponsor a little girl in Nicaragua but they have children in Guatemala also. Once I begin working again I want to sponsor another child in Guatemala. I'll go through them again because they encourage my child and her mother to write to us often. They also have email that you can send them an email and they will translate it and get it to your child faster.