Children, Incorporated

Children, Incorporated is a non-profit 501(c)(3) international child sponsorship organization based in Richmond, Virginia.

Children, Incorporated (CI) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) international child sponsorship organization based in Richmond, Virginia.

Children, Incorporated was founded in 1964 by Jeanne Clarke Wood, daughter of the noted philanthropists Dr. and Mrs. J. Calvitt Clarke.^[1]

The mission of CI is to assist children of all races and creeds by administering to their physical, emotional, and educational needs. Through monthly sponsorships and urgent needs donations, the organization provides assistance to children in poverty living in over 24 countries, including the United States.^[2]

History

On a visit to Guatemala in 1964, Jeanne Clarke Wood photographed 95 poverty-stricken children and wrote accounts of the miserable circumstances in which each child existed. Immediately upon her return to Richmond, Virginia, Mrs. Wood began to seek help for the 95 Guatemalan children. She established Children, Incorporated in her home office and began to tell the story of the Guatemalan children’s plight through letters and magazine advertisements.

Mrs. Wood made her second trip to Guatemala in the spring of 1971 and witnessed the first major growth of her program within seven years. Children, Incorporated now provides funds to over 16,000 children in 24 countries around the world.^[3]

Sponsorship Model

Children, Incorporated relies mostly on monthly donations from individual sponsors. These monthly sponsorships assist children in five divisions: Appalachian, American Indian, Inner City, Latin American and Foreign.^[4] Of these monthly sponsorships, 81.9% goes to the child program services.^[5]

One-time donations from individuals fund separate more-inclusive projects such as the Haven Fund and annual Back-to-School Funds.

According to Charity Navigator, the organizational efficiency of Children, Incorporated is as follows:

• 81.9% for Program Expenses
• 5.8% for Administrative Expenses
• 12.2% for Fundraising Expenses^[6]

An independent audit of Children, Incorporated shows the total liabilities and net assets as $6,416,182 for the year 2007.^[7]

Noted Donors & Recognition

Children, Incorporated’s most noted donor is poker professional, Barry Greenstein.^[8] Greenstein has chosen CI as his primary recipient of poker winnings and has donated over $1.5 million to the organization.^[9]

Dr. Richard Carlson also wrote about Children, Incorporated in two books in his Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff series. The two books, one of which was a New York Times Best Seller, are attributed as having encouraged over 4,000 individuals to sponsor a child through Children, Incorporated.^[10]

References

1. ^ Children, Incorporated: About Us, History section. Retrieved September 5, 2008.
2. ^ Children, Incorporated: Mission. Retrieved September 5, 2008.
3. ^ Children, Incorporated: About Us, History section. Retrieved September 5, 2008.
4. ^ Children, Incorporated: Division Locations. Retrieved September 5, 2008.
5. ^ Charity Navigator: Children, Incorporated. Retrieved September 5, 2008.
6. ^ Charity Navigator: Children, Incorporated. Retrieved September 5, 2008.
7. ^ CI Financial Audit, FY 2006-2007. Retrieved September 5, 2008.
8. ^ Andy Bloch, Tuesday, September 30 2003: "Another second, but first goes to Children, Incorporated." Retrieved September 5, 2008.
9. ^ Barry Greenstein's Charities. Retrieved September 5, 2008.
10. ^ CHI homepage. Retrieved September 5, 2008.

External links

• Children, Incorporated