World Vision meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Complaints
Number of complaints processed by the BBB in the last 36 months: 1
The organization addressed the complaint issue brought to its attention: 1
The organization did not address the complaint issue brought to its attention: 0
The complaint involved communications regarding the organization's child sponsorship program.
Child Sponsorship
World Vision states that its child sponsorship program empowers children, families, and communities to break free from poverty. The organization asks sponsors to commit to contributing $39 per month for each child they sponsor. Donations are pooled with other sponsors to fund programs that benefit the sponsored child and other children in the community. Each child has a unique sponsor that he/she can build a relationship with through letters, videos, updates and more.
According to World Vision, the selection of children for sponsorship is a respectful process that happens in partnership with the community. Vulnerable children are nominated by their own community members and local World Vision Staff, who verify that those children are in need and could benefit from participation in the sponsorship program.
World Vision partners with communities for up to 15 years, or until it has been deemed improvements can be sustained. Depending on the needs of the child’s community, things like clean water systems, improved schools, health clinics, farming co-ops, pastor training, and community savings groups help create sustainable futures for all children, even those who are not yet sponsored. The organization reports that because of the community-focused solutions, for every child helped through sponsorship, four more children benefit too.
Annual progress reports to sponsors include an updated picture of the child and information on what has taken place in the child’s community over the past year. Project reports also often contain a letter from the project manager describing goals that have been accomplished or problems that have been encountered and often a note or hand-drawn picture from the child.
World Vision also offers the opportunity for sponsors to give additional gifts such as before the child’s birthday, or in conjunction with holidays. Individual sponsors may request to send special gifts (up to $200) to help benefit the child/family. 75% of the gift benefits the child/family and the remaining 25% of the special gift benefits the community.
-
Year, State Incorporated
1950, CA
-
-
Affiliates
World Vision Foundation
World Vision Properties, LLC
World Vision Real Properties LLC
-
Stated Purpose
"as an international partnership of Christians, to follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice, and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of God."
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization which works to help children, families and their communities overcome poverty and injustice. The organization provides assistance to people in nearly 100 countries around the world, including the U.S., serving all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. World Vision reports that through its approach it provides assistance to communities to find lasting ways to improve the lives of poor children and families. The organization responds to natural disasters and long-term humanitarian emergencies by providing emergency assistance to children and families affected by natural disaster and civil conflicts. In 2020, World Vision reports that its COVID-19 response in over 70 countries supported 51.1 million people (including 6.7 million in the U.S.). The organization responded to 68 humanitarian emergencies in 48 countries, supported access to clean water for 3.4 million people, improved sanitation for 2.7 million and hygiene behavior change for 8.2 million people, assisting 27.1 million people. In addition the organization reports it offered educational support to 1.4 million children and adults, disbursed $576 million in microloans in 28 countries and reached 3.4 million children through its child sponsorship programs.
For the year ended September 30, 2020, World Vision's program expenses were:
| International programs |
$865,466,000 |
| Domestic programs |
$194,772,000 |
| Public awareness and education |
$3,666,000 |
| Total Program Expenses: |
$1,063,854,000 |
-
Chief Executive
Edgar Sandoval, President
-
Compensation*
$484,502
-
Chair of the Board
Joan Singleton
-
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Arcadia University
-
Board Size
16
-
Paid Staff Size
994
*2018 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Invitations to fund raising events, Planned giving arrangements, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Telephone appeals, Radio, Cause- related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.), Television, Other
World Vision incurred joint costs of $2,085,000 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs $559,000 was allocated to program expenses, $1,004,000 was allocated to fund raising expenses, and $522,000 was allocated to administrative expenses.
Fundraising costs were 6% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $1,332,318,000, 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 World Vision's audited financial statements - consolidated for the year ended September 30, 2020.
| Source of Funds |
| Contributions - primarily private cash |
$559,540,000 |
| Public cash and food commodity grants |
$425,781,000 |
| Gifts-in-kind |
$242,981,000 |
| Other income, net |
$5,018,000 |
| Unrealized gain on investments |
$2,596,000 |
| Interest expense |
($253,000) |
| Investment and other losses, net |
($10,224,000) |
| Total Income |
$1,225,438,000 |
- Programs: 89%
- Fundraising: 7%
- Administrative: 4%
| Total Income |
$1,225,438,000 |
| Program expenses |
$1,063,854,000 |
| Fundraising expenses |
$84,956,000 |
| Administrative expenses |
$54,855,000 |
| Other expenses |
$0 |
| Total expenses: |
$1,203,665,000 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses |
$21,773,000 |
| Beginning Net Assets |
$193,274,000 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets |
$1,461,000 |
| Ending Net Assets |
$216,508,000 |
| Total Liabilities |
$87,772,000 |
| Total Assets |
$304,280,000 |
Note 1: In the above financial section, ‘other changes in net assets’ refers to pension plan adjustments.
Note 2: As reported in the organization’s audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2020, World Vision received in-kind donations totaling $242,981,000 in the form of household goods ($87,881,000), food ($58,446,000), building supplies ($28,276,000), clothing ($26,867,000), toys ($20,145,000), school and office supplies ($6,247,000), books ($5,618,000), medical supplies ($5,101,000) and other, including pharmaceuticals ($4,400,000).