Is the sponsorship of an orphan in the present time considered charity for him?

Question : Honorable Shaykh! We heard that Your Eminence issued a ruling that the sponsorship of orphans in the manner currently practiced by charitable institutions is not considered sponsorship (kafalah), but rather ongoing charity (sadaqah jariyah), since sponsorship entails caring for the orphan and attending to his affairs. Is this correct on your part? Please rule on what we desire.

Answer : Yes, this is correct on my part, because that is the meaning of the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) . Sponsorship, both in the Shari'ah and in language, is to include him among his dependents, as the scholars have stated, and to care for him, guide him, and direct him, becoming to him like the father this orphan has lost, providing nourishment for the soul and nourishment for the body. As for sending him money, there is no doubt that it is charity. And Allah the Exalted has enjoined good treatment of orphans, and a person is rewarded for it, provided that this money is in the hands of trustworthy people, because the matter of trust, my brothers, is important. If you give it to trustworthy people, such as known institutions whose administrators are trustworthy, and you say this is for the orphans, then it is charity for them. But the sponsorship that carries this great reward is sponsorship.
Have you not read the saying of Allah the Exalted, and Zakariyyah took her in charge, and in one reading, and Zakariyyah took her in charge, meaning he included her among his dependents. But there is no doubt that charity for orphans is among the best of charities due to their deficiency and their need in most cases. Yes.