HelpYouSponsor for Nonprofits: Child and Person Sponsorship Management Platform
HelpYouSponsor is the only platform built exclusively for nonprofits running child, student, pastor, or person-to-person sponsorship programs. It automates around 90% of sponsorship administration, from matching donors with recipients to processing recurring payments and sending automated communications, so your staff can focus on mission delivery rather than spreadsheets.
What HelpYouSponsor Does
Running a sponsorship program manually is time-intensive work. Staff spend hours matching new donors to available recipients, tracking recurring payments, sending acknowledgment letters, generating year-end tax statements, and facilitating correspondence between sponsors and the people they support. As programs grow, these administrative tasks can consume resources that should be directed toward the mission itself.
HelpYouSponsor centralizes every part of the sponsorship lifecycle in one platform. When a new donor signs up to sponsor a child or participant, the system automatically matches them to an available recipient based on your program's criteria. Recurring monthly or annual payments are processed and tracked without manual intervention. Sponsors can log into a self-service portal to update their payment method, view their sponsorship profile, and exchange messages with their recipient. Staff receive automated alerts for critical events like failed payments or pending renewals.
The platform also handles compliance and reporting tasks. Year-end tax receipts are generated automatically, GDPR consent is tracked, and financial reports give leadership a real-time view of program revenue and commitment status. Organizations managing multiple sponsorship types, for example a mix of child sponsorship and scholarship support, can run all programs from a single dashboard.
Automated Administration
Automates around 90% of sponsorship tasks including matching, payment tracking, receipts, and renewal reminders so staff can focus on program delivery.
Sponsor-Recipient Messaging
Built-in messaging system lets sponsors and recipients communicate directly through the platform, with staff oversight and moderation tools.
Compliance Built-In
GDPR compliance tools, bank-level encryption, role-based access, and automated tax statements protect donor data and simplify reporting obligations.
Who HelpYouSponsor Is Best For
HelpYouSponsor is purpose-built for nonprofits running structured, ongoing sponsorship programs. If your organization facilitates recurring relationships between donors and individual recipients, this platform addresses needs that general CRMs and fundraising tools handle poorly or not at all.
Organization Types
- Child sponsorship programs (international development, education, health)
- Student or scholarship sponsorship programs
- Pastor, missionary, or community leader support programs
- Faith-based organizations with global outreach sponsorship
- Education nonprofits sponsoring students in underserved communities
Organization Size
- Small programs starting out with up to 10 active commitments (free tier)
- Mid-size programs with 10 to 80 active sponsorships (Pro tier)
- Growing programs with unlimited commitments (Growth tier)
- Multi-staff teams with unlimited users at no extra cost
- Organizations managing multiple simultaneous sponsorship program types
HelpYouSponsor is not the right fit for organizations seeking a general-purpose donor CRM or a platform managing a broad mix of fundraising channels like events, peer-to-peer campaigns, and major gifts. For those needs, consider pairing HelpYouSponsor with a broader platform, or explore tools like Bloomerang or Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud as your primary CRM.
Key Features for Nonprofits
HelpYouSponsor includes features specifically designed for the realities of running a sponsorship program, from intake to long-term donor stewardship.
Automated Matching
Reduce manual assignment work
- Automatically matches incoming sponsors with available recipients
- Customizable sponsorship levels and commitment durations
- Multi-program support for managing several sponsorship types simultaneously
Payment Management
Reliable recurring giving infrastructure
- Processes recurring monthly and annual sponsorship payments automatically
- Integrates with Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net, and HelpYouSponsor Payments
- Tracks additional one-time gifts on top of ongoing sponsorships
Donor Communications
Keep sponsors engaged and informed
- Automated email sequences for thank-yous, renewals, and impact updates
- Built-in messaging between sponsors and recipients with staff oversight
- Donor self-service portal for payment updates and account management
Reporting and Compliance
Financial visibility and data protection
- Automated year-end tax receipts and annual giving statements
- GDPR consent tracking, audit trails, and compliance reporting
- Detailed financial reports on program revenue and commitment status
How a Nonprofit Uses HelpYouSponsor
Consider a mid-size faith-based nonprofit running a child sponsorship program in East Africa. Before implementing HelpYouSponsor, two staff members spent most of their work week manually tracking which children had sponsors, following up on lapsed monthly payments via spreadsheets, printing and mailing thank-you letters, and manually generating year-end donation receipts for tax purposes. The program had around 60 active sponsors, and the administrative burden was limiting how many new children could be enrolled.
After migrating to HelpYouSponsor, the same two staff members now handle program administration in a fraction of the time. When a new supporter signs up online, the system automatically matches them with the next available child based on the program's criteria and sends a customized welcome email introducing their sponsored child. Monthly Stripe payments are processed automatically, and the system alerts staff only when a payment fails, rather than requiring them to check every transaction manually. Sponsors log into their own portal to send messages to their sponsored child, and staff review and forward those messages on a schedule that works for the program.
At year-end, tax receipts are generated in batch and sent automatically, eliminating weeks of manual preparation. The administrative time freed up allowed the organization to enroll an additional 40 children without adding staff, directly expanding the program's reach. This kind of multiplication of organizational capacity through automation is precisely the problem HelpYouSponsor was built to solve.
Pricing
HelpYouSponsor uses a usage-based pricing model based on monthly sponsorship commitments rather than per-seat fees. All plans include unlimited users, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and no long-term contracts.
Free
Up to 10 commitments/month
- Up to 10 active commitments
- Unlimited users
- All core features included
- No credit card required
Pro
Up to 80 commitments/month
- Up to 80 active commitments
- Unlimited users
- Full feature suite
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Growth
Unlimited commitments
- Unlimited active commitments
- Pay only for what you use
- Scales with program growth
- No long-term contracts
Pricing is based on monthly sponsorship commitments, not per-user fees. Verify current pricing directly at helpyousponsor.com before purchasing, as tiers may have been updated.
Note: Prices may be outdated or inaccurate.
Free Plan for Small Nonprofits
HelpYouSponsor's free tier is a genuine entry point for small nonprofits launching or piloting a sponsorship program. Programs with up to 10 active monthly commitments can access the full platform at no cost, with no credit card required to get started.
While HelpYouSponsor does not offer a separate nonprofit discount program or TechSoup listing, the usage-based pricing model is inherently accessible for mission-driven organizations because costs scale proportionally with program size. A program with 50 sponsors pays only for those 50 commitments, rather than a flat enterprise fee designed for much larger operations.
To explore pricing for your program size, visit the HelpYouSponsor pricing page or start with the free tier to test the platform before committing.
Learning Curve
HelpYouSponsor is designed for nonprofit staff who may not have technical backgrounds. The platform uses clear screens and guided workflows that staff can learn without formal IT training. Most users report being able to manage basic sponsorship operations within a few days of setup.
Initial setup involves importing existing sponsorship data (if migrating from a spreadsheet or previous system), configuring payment gateway connections, and customizing automated email sequences. This one-time setup process is documented in the HelpYouSponsor knowledge base and typically takes a few hours to a couple of days depending on the size of your existing program.
Ongoing administration, handling new sign-ups, reviewing payment alerts, facilitating communications, and generating reports, is straightforward once the system is configured. Staff accustomed to working with donor management platforms like DonorPerfect or Bloomerang will find the interface familiar in approach.
Integrations and Compatibility
HelpYouSponsor integrates with payment processors natively and connects to thousands of other platforms through Zapier and its API.
Payment Gateways
- Stripe (native integration with webhook support)
- PayPal
- Authorize.net
- HelpYouSponsor Payments (built-in processing)
Via Zapier (8,000+ Apps)
- Bloomerang, Virtuous CRM, Salesforce
- Google Sheets, Airtable, Google Forms
- Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, Microsoft Outlook
- QuickBooks, CommCare, Givebutter
HelpYouSponsor also provides API access for organizations with developer resources who need custom integrations. Data import and export tools allow migration from existing spreadsheets or legacy systems without losing historical sponsorship records.
Pros and Cons
Strengths
- Purpose-built for sponsorship programs, with features no general CRM offers out-of-the-box
- Free tier for programs with up to 10 commitments, accessible to very small nonprofits
- Usage-based pricing scales proportionally with program size
- Unlimited users on all plans, no per-seat cost regardless of team size
- GDPR compliance tools built in with consent tracking and audit trails
- Multiple payment gateway options including Stripe, PayPal, and Authorize.net
- No long-term contracts and a 30-day money-back guarantee
Limitations
- Narrowly focused on sponsorship, not suitable as a general nonprofit CRM or event management tool
- Lacks advanced child identity protection features (competitor Outgiven offers "Identity Mask" technology)
- No confirmed HIPAA compliance for health-related program data
- CRM and accounting integrations (Salesforce, QuickBooks) require Zapier, not native connections
- Limited independent review data publicly available, small user review pool on Capterra and G2
- Not designed for large international NGOs needing enterprise-grade infrastructure
Alternatives to Consider
If HelpYouSponsor is not the right fit for your organization's needs, these alternatives may be worth evaluating.
Outgiven
Free, privacy-focused sponsorship
Free platform with unlimited donor and recipient profiles. Notable for "Identity Mask" technology that protects children's identities during sponsor communications, a feature not available in HelpYouSponsor.
Best for: Privacy-sensitive programs, budget-constrained organizations
Bloomerang
General nonprofit CRM
Broad donor management platform with strong retention analytics and stewardship tools. Not sponsorship-specific, but better suited for organizations needing a full CRM alongside basic recurring giving management.
Best for: Organizations needing a full CRM, not just sponsorship management
Virtuous CRM
Responsive fundraising CRM
Comprehensive nonprofit CRM with responsive fundraising features and strong automation. Integrates with HelpYouSponsor via Zapier, making it a natural pairing for organizations that need both platforms.
Best for: Organizations wanting CRM breadth alongside a dedicated sponsorship tool
Getting Started with HelpYouSponsor
Most nonprofits can get a HelpYouSponsor account running in a few days. Follow these steps to launch efficiently.
Start with the free tier
Sign up for the free plan at helpyousponsor.com with no credit card required. Create your first program type (e.g., "Child Sponsorship") and explore the dashboard before importing any data. This lets you understand the platform's logic before committing to a migration.
Connect your payment gateway
Connect your preferred payment processor (Stripe is the most common) using the settings in your HelpYouSponsor account. Follow the webhook setup documentation in the HelpYouSponsor help center to ensure recurring payments sync correctly. Test with a small transaction before going live.
Import existing sponsorship data
Use HelpYouSponsor's data import tools to migrate your existing sponsor and recipient records from spreadsheets or a previous platform. Map your columns to HelpYouSponsor's fields and verify the imported data matches your source records before decommissioning the old system.
Configure automated emails and set up Zapier
Customize your automated email sequences for new sponsors, renewal reminders, and impact updates. Then, if your organization uses a separate CRM, set up Zapier to sync new sponsorship data between HelpYouSponsor and platforms like Bloomerang or Salesforce. This keeps your records consistent without duplicate data entry.
Need Help Setting Up Your Sponsorship Program?
One Hundred Nights helps nonprofits evaluate and implement the right technology for their mission. Whether you are just starting a sponsorship program or migrating from a spreadsheet-based system, we can help you select and configure the tools that fit your workflow and budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HelpYouSponsor free for nonprofits?
Yes, HelpYouSponsor offers a free plan for nonprofits managing up to 10 active sponsorship commitments per month. This is a genuine free tier with no credit card required, making it accessible for small programs just starting out or organizations piloting a sponsorship initiative.
What types of sponsorship programs does HelpYouSponsor support?
HelpYouSponsor supports child sponsorship programs, student and scholarship sponsorship, pastor or missionary support, project sponsorship, and any person-to-person recurring sponsorship model. While child sponsorship is the primary use case, the platform's flexible structure accommodates a range of mission-driven sponsorship formats.
What payment processors does HelpYouSponsor integrate with?
HelpYouSponsor integrates natively with Stripe, PayPal, and Authorize.net for payment processing. It also offers HelpYouSponsor Payments, its own built-in payment processing product. All plans include recurring donation management to handle monthly and annual giving commitments automatically.
How does HelpYouSponsor handle communication between sponsors and recipients?
HelpYouSponsor includes a built-in messaging system that facilitates direct communication between donors (sponsors) and sponsored recipients through the platform. Staff can review and manage messages, and the platform also supports automated email campaigns for thank-you messages, renewal reminders, and impact updates sent to sponsors.
Does HelpYouSponsor replace a general nonprofit CRM?
HelpYouSponsor is purpose-built for sponsorship management and is not a general-purpose CRM. It excels at managing the ongoing relationships, payments, and communications within a sponsorship program, but organizations with diverse fundraising needs typically use it alongside a broader CRM. HelpYouSponsor connects to platforms like Bloomerang, Virtuous, and Salesforce via Zapier for data synchronization.
Is HelpYouSponsor GDPR compliant?
Yes, HelpYouSponsor includes built-in GDPR compliance tools, including consent tracking, audit trails, and automated compliance reporting. The platform uses bank-level data encryption and role-based access controls to protect sensitive donor and recipient data.