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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: April 2025 Expires: April 2027

ChildFund International

Accredited Charity
Accredited Charity

Meets Standards
Accreditation seal
(800) 776-6767
2821 Emerywood Parkway
Richmond, VA, 23294
https://childfund.org
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

ChildFund International meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Child Sponsorship


A sponsor's monthly $39 gift is combined with those of other sponsors whose children are enrolled in the same community so that all children benefit. ChildFund International deposits the combined funds in their local partner organization's bank accounts. The local organizations are responsible for delivering the programs and services that children need at different stages in their lives, and the pooled funds allow the organization to serve children, families, and their communities. Sponsor donations provide a child with services that vary from community to community because the organization works directly with local organizations and parent committees to identify and offer the services that address the most pressing needs of the community. Typically, interventions include family-oriented projects that promote access to health care, day care, safe water, nutrition or education and training programs. ChildFund International's local partners conduct area assessments to determine the number of vulnerable families in their communities. They evaluate potential children based on: economic need (defined in monetary terms, amount of possessions or access to essential services); age (children must be no older than 13 at the time of enrollment); proximity to the program sites (to ensure full participation in ChildFund International's activities): family integration into the local community (to ensure commitment and retention); and the level of impact of HIV and AIDS within families. Sponsors will be informed of ChildFund International's work in their sponsored child's community through annual progress reports and communicating with their sponsored child through letters and pictures, and they even may arrange a visit to meet their child.

Stated Purpose:
"to help children who experience deprivation, exclusion and vulnerability to build the capacity to improve their lives and become young adults, parents and leaders who bring lasting and positive change in their communities; to promote societies whose individuals and institutions participate in valuing, protecting and advancing the worth and rights of children; and to enrich supporters' lives by involving them in our cause."

Year, State Incorporated:
1938, VA

ChildFund International's educational programs work with educators, community groups, parents, and children towards the goal of having all children enter schools ready to learn and complete basic education. Activities include improving early childhood and school facilities, enhancing teaching methodologies, creating safer school environments, and improving policies to enhance student access and safety. The organization's health and sanitation programs address safe motherhood and newborn care, integrated early childhood development, and management of childhood illnesses, nutrition, water and sanitation, sexual and reproductive health and education. ChildFund International's micro-enterprise development program's approach is to support youth livelihood development with a focus on skills training, preparation for employment, guidance on business development, leadership development, and civic engagement.

For the year ended June 30, 2023, ChildFund International's program expenses were:

Basic education $60,345,898
Micro-enterprise $31,169,853
Health and sanitation $29,105,480
Emergencies $28,653,896
Early childhood development $22,074,637
Nutrition $11,362,045
Total Program Expenses $182,711,809

Chief Executive
Isameldein Ghanim, President and Chief Executive Officer

Compensation*
$354,801

Chair of the Board
Tamar Manuelyan Atinc

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Non-Resident Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institute

Board Size
18

Paid Staff Size
1028

*2022 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Note: The organziation reports that Mr. Ghanim's salary was only for the period from March - December of 2022.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Door-to-door appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Direct mail appeals, Planned giving arrangements, Cause-related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.), Television

Fundraising costs were 13% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $231,450,507, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on ChildFund International's audited financial statements - consolidated for the year ended June 30, 2023.

Source of Funds
Sponsorships $124,605,459
In-kind contributions $52,170,819
Grants and contracts $33,010,881
General contributions $16,005,191
Major gifts and bequests $5,658,157
Investment income, net $5,250,921
Service fees and other $1,703,473
Currency transaction gains, net $836,267
Total Income $239,241,168

Programs: 79% Fundraising: 13% Administrative: 8%

Total Income $239,241,168
Total expenses: $232,496,737
  Program expenses $182,711,809
  Fundraising expenses $30,070,883
  Administrative expenses $19,714,045
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $6,744,431
Beginning Net Assets $150,004,427
Other Changes In Net Assets $1,875,914
Ending Net Assets $158,624,772
Total Liabilities $14,456,965
Total Assets $173,081,737

Note 1: In the above financial section, "other changes in net assets" represents change in value of trusts and change in accrued pension benefit liability other than net periodic costs.

Note 2: According to ChildFund International's audited fianncial statements - consolidated - for the year ended June 30, 2023, the organization received $52,170,819 in contributed goods and services including public service annnouncements ($40,792,817), pharmaceuticals ($7,985,976), books ($2,682,727), other gifts in-kind ($410,967), and medical supplies ($298,332).

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

RELATED CONTENT

Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance