1.  Sparrow Family Disposition
Perhaps the first most "inviting" element of a Sparrow Project is really at the heart of the Sparrow child and family that we adopt.

Here are the keys: The family (parents) must ...

• know that "It's not all about them" and "It's not all about the money".
• show that their nobility exceeds their material need (no matter how great it is!).
• understand that their child is not a charity case, but an inspiration.
• be delighted with the help, but not desperate for it; engaged with the project, but not controlling.

2.  School Advisor & Administrators
The second most vital predictor of a successful Sparrow Project is how well the adults at school "Get it". They must "set the stage" for students to engage with their adopted child. 

The school staff and administration must ...

• take a broader view of their academic agenda and realize that students learn as much from the "hidden curriculum of caring" through Sparrow Clubs as an institutional pattern and practice as they do from the formal curriculum of concepts and facts. (Parker Palmer)
• schedule time for an all-school Sparrow Adoption Assembly and regular meetings of club leadership
• endorse Sparrow Club as an official ASB club and structure it as a permanent part of school culture.
• offer the support of ASB bookkeeping, parent/staff volunteers and schoolwide means of communication (ie. announcements,. newsletter,etc.).

3.  Sparrow Child and Family's Need
The importance and urgency of the Sparrow's medical treatment and the family's financial need must be clear, compelling and reasonable.

4.  Student Leadership & Club Structure
Youth must have the primary voice for Project leadership in a unified and organized way. They must be allowed to take charge with structure and accounability.

5.  Sparrow Age-level
Unless classmates are adopting another student from their school, we have found it's most compelling to have younger Sparrow's adopted to older students. Apart form the adoption of a classmate in crisis, the younger, smaller and less powerful the child, the more emotionally compelling and powerful the Sparrow Project is.

6.  All-School Sparrow Adoption Assembly (at no cost to the school when project is sponsored).
When the Sparrow Project is kicked-off with a special assembly including a guest speaker, inspirational Sparrow video, students meeting their Sparrow and Service Vouchers being distributed to the entire student body together--the Project takes on a very unifying and culture-changing dimension.

7.  Sparrow's Connection to the School & Community
The closer the Sparrow child is to the school, and the family's connection to the community, the more powerful the project becomes.  Classmates often evoke inredible projects to help their friends in need. Families that are are reclusive or unwilling to have their child be publicly visible have more difficulty in evoking support.

8.  Community Awareness
Media coverage of the Sparrow's predicament, the student's heroic response and the local business sponsor's support can become an amazing catalyst for the success of a Sparrow Project.

9.  Accessability to the Sparrow and family
Face-to-face connections of the kids to the Sparrow child will often evoke compassion and action in students who want to help.

10.  Sponsor Support
The Sparrow Cash support of a business sponsor is HUGE in elicitig the response from the school. Often sponsors will also challenge the students to do more community service in support of their child.