Learn more about sponsorship

1.How much does it cost to sponsor a child?
2. How is the money spent?
3.How do I pay and how can I be sure my money is well spent?
4.How long am I expected to remain a sponsor?
5.Will I be the only person sponsoring that particular child?
6.Can I sponsor children from the same family?
7.Can I sponsor with my friends or work colleagues?
8.Can my children write to my sponsored child?

9. Can I send a gift to my sponsored child?
10. Will I hear about the progress of the child I sponsor?

1.How much does it cost to sponsor a child?

There is no fixed amount but the minimum is €22 a month. Many sponsors give more, which allows us to reach more children.

If you donate more than €250 pa to charity, you can top up your donation by completing a short tax form and returning it to Plan Ireland. If you pay tax at the standard rate (20%), your annual donation can result in an additional €62.50, if you pay at the higher rate (41%), your donation is worth an additional €173.73. To find out, email Plan Ireland on info@plan.ie

2. How is the money spent?

Donations are spent on community projects such as providing safe water, training teachers, improving school infrastructure, providing mobile health clinics and many more projects that benefit all the children living in the community where your child lives.

The regular nature of child sponsorship enables us to provide practical long term support to communities. The children we work with will pass on their skills and knowledge to the next generation.

3.How do I pay and how can I be sure my money is well spent?

Direct Debit is the safest, easiest and most cost effecient way to pay your donations. Provided you have a bank account in the Republic of Ireland, we can automatically collect your donation on a monthly, quarterly, semi annual or annual basis. (Please note direct debits can only be claimed from current accounts, banks do not accept direct debits from savings accounts)

An average 80 cents of every €1 contributed goes to the communities who need it most, only the bare minimum is spent on administration. Your money will benefit your sponsored child, their family and community and Plan's work worldwide. Reports from the field office that works with your sponsored child's community will illustrate what you have helped to achieve.

4.How long am I expected to remain a sponsor?

We do not set a minimum period.

We hope that you will want to be part of Plan’s work for some time. Our work is long-term and committed support from sponsors allows us to achieve lasting results. Many of our sponsors stay with us for a significant number of years and some sponsor several children during that time. Some other sponsors stay with us for shorter periods. However long you will be with us, your sponsorship is very important to us.

Children are normally sponsored until they reach the age of 18.

Circumstances can however change during your sponsorship: the child's family might migrate to another area, our work within that community might come to an end or simply your financial circumstances could change.

Should you have any questions or concerns about sponsorship, please do not hesitate to call us on 1800 829 829 or email us at info@plan.ie
We will be happy to assist you.

5.Will I be the only person sponsoring that particular child?

Yes.
To enable us to have maximum impact, reach, involve and help as many families as possible,each child who is sponsored is assigned an individual sponsor.

6.Can I sponsor children from the same family?

Only one child per family is sponsored at any one time but because our work helps all children in a community, other members of the family benefit from sponsorship.

7.Can I sponsor a child with my friends or work colleagues?

Yes.

We have many schools, youth groups and businesses who sponsor a child - or several children, and think that sponsorship is a wonderful opportunity for learning. If you decide to sponsor as part of a school, group or business, it is important that you provide us with a clear point of contact for all our and your sponsored child's communications.

8.Can my children write to my sponsored child?

Yes.

We particularly recommend if you have children or grandchildren that you ask them to participate, exchange messages, postcards and photos with your sponsored child. Your sponsored child and your children will learn about each other's culture, lives, games and school activities.

For tips on what to write to your sponsored child, see below:

http://www.plan.ie/sponsorarea/writingtoyoursponsoredchild/

9. Can I send a gift to my sponsored child?

Unfortunately, no. We are unable to facilitate gifts being sent to individual children.

10. Will I hear about the progress of the child I sponsor?

Yes.

Some children love writing and may send several letters a year. We will also provide you with an annual report on the progress of the child your sponsor.