Compassion International

This well known and respected organization takes a fundamentally different approach to fighting extreme poverty.

(Updated October 2018)

Compassion International is known for its child sponsorship programs.  Their child development model begins with prenatal care and training; child sponsorships connect individual donors with children while providing for basic physical, educational, social, and spiritual needs; leadership development (higher education sponsorship) programs are available for Compassion assisted children who show the potential for becoming Christian leaders who will positively impact their communities in the future.

What makes Compassion different is that they are, first and foremost, a child advocacy ministry.  Rather than focusing on changing children’s environments through community development, Compassion focuses on directly impacting children, believing that transformed children will in their turn improve the environments (communities) in which they live.

To accomplish their child development work, Compassion operates exclusively through local, indigenous churches.  In order to participate, these churches must be well established and accepted by their communities and local governments.  The local church (with training and assistance) is responsible and accountable for the administration, outcomes, and finances of the child development program.  Over the long term, churches are expected to work towards independence so that their work can continue without Compassion’s involvement.   Compassion’s work serves to enhance the impact of the local church at the same time that children are released from poverty to grow into their potential.

Compassion International is the world’s largest Christian child development organization; to date, they have impacted the lives of over 2 million children in nearly 30 countries, while strengthening thousands of indigenous churches.  Compassion offers well developed ways for your church to partner with them in their work as well.  With tremendous reach and resources, Compassion brings a holistic approach to the challenge of releasing children from poverty, recognizing that these soon-to-be adults will be instrumental in breaking the cycle of poverty in their communities in the years to come.

Primary Sector:  Comprehensive Community Development (through child development)

Organization Size:  Powerhouse — programs are supported by cash contributions totaling $200,000,000 or more annually

Key Webpages:

What makes Compassion’s approach different:   https://www.compassion.com/about/what-makes-us-distinct.htm
Child development focus:   https://www.compassion.com/how-we-work/development.htm
Indigenous church’s role:   http://www.compassion.com/how-we-work/churchs-role.htm

Annual Report:  https://www.compassion.com/multimedia/2017-annual-report-compassion-international.pdf

Financial Statements:  http://www.compassion.com/about/financial.htm

Awards and Articles of Note:  see below

Contact Information:  visit http://www.compassion.com/ , contact http://www.compassion.com/contact/default.htm