Start giving hope to a child in need today.
One Child Matters is a child sponsorship ministry helping to meet the physical and spiritual needs of children in poverty-stricken areas of the world. Through One Child Matters programs, children directly benefit from:
Your sponsorship opens a door of opportunity to children who have known little else but poverty. The commitment you make allows program staff to love and encourage your sponsored child in a stable and supportive environment.
Our mission is to equip children in developing nations to reach their God-given potential by creating opportunities for spiritual, physical, social, mental and emotional development.
One Child Matters recognizes that children are extremely important to the kingdom of God. Our programs vary by country and area based on need. One Child Matters focuses on holistic growth in child development centers, schools, and children’s homes, among others. For more information on how we work, visit this page.
The vision of One Child Matters goes back to 1954, when missionaries Mark and Huldah Buntain arrived in Kolkata (Calcutta), India to begin more than three decades of ministry among Kolkata’s poor and needy. God was moving, and the ministry was incorporated as Mission of Mercy in 1974. In the year following Mark Buntain’s death in 1989, Mission of Mercy came under the leadership of Bethesda Ministries who committed to provide administrative and financial support to the organization.
Although the ministry’s focus began to expand beyond India to other countries, the intent remained the same: continue to proclaim the message of the grace and redemption available through Jesus Christ while meeting the practical needs of the poor, one child at a time.
Our purpose and calling was confirmed in that vision – focusing on the one, just as Jesus did when the crowds pressed in around Him. Our goal to find others who believe that one child matters and empower them to change that child’s life moved from a statement of belief to the core philosophy of our ministry, to the actual name of our ministry itself.
Today, One Child Matters is working in 16 of the poorest countries in the world, bringing hope, truth, life, love, and mercy to more than 40,000 children through child sponsorship. To God be the glory!
One Child Matters is currently working in 16 countries on three continents, in low-income and developing areas. Visit our Where We Work page for more information about sponsoring children in specific countries.
One Child Matters' headquarters is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
No, One Child Matters is not affiliated with a particular denomination. We are interdenominational, partnering with Christians throughout the world.
The monthly sponsorship rate is $39. This can be paid monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or on a yearly basis.
One Child Matters accepts payments via check, money order, or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover). You may pay online or set up automatic payments. We encourage you to consider automatic payments as it helps us keep administrative and processing costs low!
For children growing up in poverty, it is absolutely essential that their basic needs are met. Your sponsored child will receive the following benefits:
Your sponsorship opens a door of opportunity to children who have known little else but poverty. The commitment you make allows program staff to love and encourage your sponsored child in a stable and supportive environment.
Yes. You are your sponsored child's only sponsor, and that makes your commitment vitally important! Your dedication, support, and encouragement can make a difference in the life of your sponsored child–today and for eternity.
When you initially commit to being a child’s sponsor, you will receive a packet of information about that child, including a brief biography and a recent photograph. Information about the project the child attends and where the child lives is also included.
Every year you will receive three communications from your sponsored child, including a letter, a Christmas card, and another special communication about your sponsored child. You can also learn more about your sponsored child’s country, community, and project by registering and logging into your . For more country information and stories of the impact you’re making, check out the One Child Matters blog.
Yes! You can access information about your sponsored child and the world he or she lives in by registering and logging in to your My Account Page.
The length of child sponsorship depends on the cultural expectations and specific programs in each child's community. You have the opportunity to continue your child sponsorship throughout the duration of the child's stay in the program.
We hope that you will be able to support your sponsored child until he graduates from the program. But we understand that situations change and you may need to cancel your sponsorship. You may choose to discontinue your child sponsorship at any time. If you must end your child sponsorship, please contact One Child Matters immediately so that another sponsor can be found for your sponsored child.
Celebrating your sponsored child's graduation from the One Child Matters program is a natural part of child sponsorship. After your sponsored child graduates, you will have the opportunity to sponsor another child.
One Child Matters is passionately committed to caring for each sponsored child as long as they are enrolled in our sponsorship program! We trust that you also share this commitment to children in need and hope that you will continue to partner with us. Should your sponsored child leave the program, you will be notified and given the opportunity to sponsor another child.
Aside from graduating from the program, there are times when poverty creates situations beyond our control. Families sometimes relocate in the hopes of finding a better job. Parents may withdraw the sponsored child from school so that the child can assist in supporting the family.
The focus of One Child Matters is on children. Yet a major component of a child’s development is in their family unit. Often, by ministering to their children, parents and families are transformed. As One Child Matters programs meet a child’s basic needs, parents are often able to attend to other pressing needs.
We understand and share your concern. In the event of a crisis or disaster, our field staff are trained to inform us of any impact on the children, their families, and the project itself.
If your sponsored child is seriously affected or harmed, you will be notified as soon as possible. We appreciate your patience as we gather the most up-to-date information from the field, which may take longer than we’d like. Many of our projects are rural and communication is often affected in the event of an emergency.
If you have questions that we have not answered, please feel free to visit our website at onechildmatters.org or contact us at sponsors@onechildmatters.org. You can also call us at 800.864.0200. We would be happy to assist you.