Gift Policy

Yes, encouragement and inspiration are the most valuable things you can include in your letters to your sponsored child! If you want to add more, consider lightweight, paper-based items, and of course, photos of you will be the best!

Gift Policy:

You may send small, flat paper-based items that can fit into a standard #10 size envelope, have a value of less than $5 dollars and weigh less than 4 ounces. We ask that you send small, flat items of this size because shipping is expensive and even small gift items can cause issues clearing customs.

You can send postcards or photographs, however, we ask that you visit here for more details about culturally appropriate guidelines for photos and other images. Please write the child’s ID # on the back of each item that you enclose with your letter to ensure that it reaches him/her.

Best gifts to send your sponsored child:

• Paper dolls
• Postcards
• Pictures of yourself or family
• Sports cards, individual cards (baseball, soccer, football)
• Stickers (flat, paper-based, only a few at a time)
• Paper-based simple bookmarks, stationery, drawing, or writing paper (single sheets)
• Coloring pages (single sheets, not books)

Please do NOT send:

• Monetary gifts
• Liquids, candy, or food
• Batteries or magnets

Please note, all items should be compliant with airline transport and safety regulations. Gifts that don’t meet the gift policy will be donated to a local Christian non-profit organization in Phoenix, Arizona, that works with low-income families. We will not be able to return them.

Children love to get pictures of their sponsors. Here are a few helpful hints that will help you avoid cultural issues:

Here are a few helpful hints:

• Please be sure that clothing is modest. Clothing can provide a wonderful glimpse into any culture; however, it can also easily offend. Please avoid things like swimsuits, tank tops, tight clothing, low- cut shirts or short skirts/shorts.
• Please focus on people and try to avoid pictures that may include depictions of wealth. While houses and cars are often significant parts of our lives, due to differences in culture it is best to avoid these types of pictures. Even photographs from significant life events such as weddings or birthdays should focus on the people and not the decorations or surroundings.
• If you sponsor a child in a religiously sensitive community, please refrain from including family pets in your pictures.
• While we recognize that in some cases pets are considered a member of the family, in many of these communities, animals are seen as unclean. In these areas, it’s best to not include the pets in photos. To be sure of your sponsored child’s sensitive community status the profile page of your Welcome kit or contact our Donor Engagement team at 866.307.3259.
• If you sponsor a child in a religiously sensitive community, please also avoid photos with pronounced religious imagery.