The terms sound similar, but they are very different ways of contributing to the children in need. A sponsorship means contributing an on-going monthly amount to one or more specific children. Generally the minimum amount per month to be considered a sponsor is $30 per month. However, most children need about $100 per month to be completely supported. Donations come in the form of one-time transactions, such as a gift to our Back to School Fund to help pay for notebooks and pencils. Or you could make a one-time donation to our Emergency Fund so that we can help the children in need when unexpected events happen such as medical emergencies. If you are already a sponsor and want to make a birthday gift to your sponsored child, this would be a one-time donation. Child Foundation offers many other programs and funds for occasional contributors.