Excellence or Exit: Transforming Save the Children’s Child Sponsorship Programming

Abstract

Save the Children is the world’s oldest and largest independent child rights organization. In 2012 the 30 members of the global movement collectively funded programmes in 120 countries, touching the lives of more than 125 million children worldwide and directly reaching 45 million children (Save the Children International, 2013). Combined 2012 annual revenues approaching US$1.6 billion have, among other key areas, been used to fund programming in core competencies of health and nutrition, education, child protection and child rights governance. Since its inception in 1919, Save the Children has been committed to improving the lives of children through sustainable change by continuously highlighting the needs of children and inspiring breakthroughs in the way their rights are expressed and fulfilled. This commitment continues as Save the Children seeks to be innovative (developing evidence-based, replicable solutions), achieve results at scale (supporting best practices, programmes and policies) enhance the voice of children (advocating and campaigning with and on their behalf) and build partnerships with children, civil society, governments and the private sector.