Nurturing the roots of holistic wellbeing
Rather than focus on project-based outputs or services, we seek to invest in the holistic wellbeing of people living in vulnerable communities around the world.
Through our grantmaking, we prioritize community-led initiatives that seek to heal people’s connections to God, self, others, and creation. As communities embrace new mindsets about their own identity and purpose, and learn to steward resources in more innovative ways, new paths unfold.
We believe if you heal the spirit of a people, they will lead themselves
We believe that it is not simply lack of access to such things as education, healthcare and job creation that keeps communities from flourishing, but a much deeper brokenness of spirit evidenced by lack of voice, purpose, meaningful relationships, agency and connection. (See Theory of Change)
Choosing our Grant Partners
When exploring new partnerships, we use the following criteria in our evaluation process.
We focus on 4 geographic areas – Mexico, Haiti, Northern India, and East Africa – prioritizing community-based organizations in specific regions of each country that can be connected and learn from each other.
Our support goes beyond funding. We seek to be mutual partners, creating opportunities for networking and collaboration across regions.
We seek partners who share our values and approach to living and working in community.
We are place-based, prioritizing rural communities; we are faith-inspired, responding to God's call to service and justice; and we are healing-centered, prioritizing grassroots initiatives that promote healing and reconcilation.
If your organization meets all of our partner requirements and would be interested in future funding, please fill out our inquiry form.
Our Global Partners
Our current grantees work in one or more of the following areas of community development.
Stories
Changing Mindsets and Livelihoods in India
Inderpaul is a cotton farmer in the Vidarbha region of India. Due to poor weather conditions, he fell into heavy…
Combatting Gender-Based Violence in Latin America
In 2018, VHF hosted our first international grant partner retreat in Mexico City. Forty people from 15 organizations attended. Following…
We For Others: Mindset Change in India
When I (Joseph) joined Vista Hermosa Foundation as a Program Officer to steward relationships with partners in East Africa and…
Changing Mindsets and Livelihoods in India
Combatting Gender-Based Violence in Latin America
We For Others: Mindset Change in India
CECILIA STETSON
Twenty Seven year old Cecilia Stetson’s association with the Center for Sharing dates back to when she, her parents, and three siblings were residents at the Vista Hermosa community in Prescott, WA. Her parents worked at Broetje Orchards. She recalls a turbulent childhood having witnessed her father physically abusing her mother. She was only 3…
AN AFTERNOON OF CHESS AT THE COLLEGIUM
I haven’t been one of those huge fans of Chess. I generally thought it was a game for the intellectually gifted, and one of the best sports to exercise the most important organ in our bodies: the brain. I recently started to take it a little more seriously as I realized that it was a game…
THE POWER OF PRAYER
The Center for Sharing is part of an association of community-based programs designed to enhance the spiritual wellbeing of those served through nurturing deeper connections with self, God, others and their place. At their core are welcoming practices: inviting in strangers, evoking their gifts, putting them to work in service of some common good. Twenty-Seven-year-old…
THE AMAZING STORY OF AMAYRANI
This week’s blog is a story from one of our Partners in Authentic Community, in Oaxaca, Mexico. Two years ago, a young woman by the name Amayrani from a small town about an hour and half north of Juchitan, Oaxaca tried to contact us. She was entering the last year of high school and was…
RESOLVING CONFLICT THROUGH A SENSIBLE APPROACH
One day at the Collegium, I noticed that Nathan and Azhar were having a conversation. For some reason I sensed that there was an argument between them. I intervened and almost immediately Nathan left. I asked Azhar if everything was fine. He said he was upset and told me that Nathan and he were talking…
SERVANT LEADERSHIP 2018 ALUMNI EVENT
A “community of servant leaders” alumni event is held quarterly, to provide a space for SL alumni to share stories, socialize and in the process continue to nurture understanding and community amongst each other. The 19th July, 2018 was one such evening complete with delicious food, drinks and fellowship. We also heard a powerful true-life…
CHANGING LIVES
It was one of those regular days at the Collegium Café. I was still in my office when three little kids walked in. They came to me and asked for “Abraham”. I was quite surprised as these kids were very little and specifically asked for me. I smiled at them and said, “That’s me!” And…
A BEAUTIFUL ENCOUNTER
A couple of days ago two young men walked into the Collegium Café. Shortly after, they ordered some breakfast that included burritos and coffee. They introduced themselves as brothers named Yuya and Sen. Yuya presently lives in Japan and is into Video Advertising. Sen is a singer and musician by profession. They asked Rachel (café…
LISTENER NOT MENTOR
I have been a social worker since 2006 and I have been privileged to work with people from all walks of life across the world. It’s been an amazing opportunity working in 3 countries with people from different cultures and backgrounds. I especially enjoyed working with young adults who are making a major transition in…
WELCOMING EVERYONE
Monday morning, Rachel was sitting in her office when she noticed an elderly woman gently walk into the Collegium with the help of a walking stick. Rachel went out to greet her. Earlier in the week, Rachel had sent an employee around the neighborhood to drop off Collegium café brochures. The woman’s grandson had given…