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 reconciliation.
At this time, funding applications are available by invitation only.
Our 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
A PLACE FOR EVERYONE
On the 2nd October 2018 around noon I was in my office which is located adjacent to the Collegium Cafe. Since it was noon there was a steady flow of guests walking into the Collegium to have lunch. A little later I noticed three ladies who came in and took a few apples that are…
International Day of the Girl
Today is International Day of the Girl! A day to remember the 1.1 billion girls in the world, the adversities they face, and the unique potentials they hold for solving some of the world’s biggest challenges. Pause for a moment and think about the girls in your life. See their bright eyes, their curious minds,…
A VISIT FROM THE LAKESIDE STUDENTS
On the 3rd October 2018 we had a group of 16 students visiting us from the Lakeside school in Bellevue. Their group leader Meera, (who is of Indian origin) wonderfully facilitated their week-long trip to the Broetje Orchards, the Vista Hermosa Foundation, The Jubilee Leadership Academy etc., before they finally visited the Center for Sharing….
THE COMPLEXITY OF A RELATIONSHIP
The front door of the Collegium features a sign reading: “take care of yourself, take care of each other, take care of this place. “So, a few days ago, when I noticed two teens were sitting out on the Collegium patio one afternoon, teasing and being very physically aggressive with each other, I stopped for…
EXEMPLARY SPORTSMANSHIP
We recently held a chess tournament at the Collegium. The format was simple: we had eight participants starting from the quarterfinal stage, and the winner moves to the next round. Eight (8) year old Chava Soto who just started playing chess recently was the youngest among the participants. He played a nice first game to…
Building Relationships in India
Ajitson Justus of World Vision recently submitted this blog from the Vidarbha Farmer’s Livelihood Project in central India, an initiative VHF has supported since 2007. Entitled “A Farmer is Alone – Why We Need to Form Close Connections,” this story explores deeply held mindsets of farmers in the difficult cotton-growing region of Yavatmal and why…
A TRUST BUILDING APPROACH
This week at the Collegium Café I was playing Chess with the kids. It was a normal day; it was noisy with lots of different activities taking place. I suddenly heard Jose, a 10-year-old boy, use language considered derogatory. His reaction came after he lost the chess game. He could not digest the fact that…
ASHLEY DUARTE
Ashley Duarte is moving to Seattle this weekend to begin college! She and her family were one of the first families to purchase a home in Tierra Vida. After 10 years, Tierra Vida has become a flourishing and growing community. Ashley recently graduated from Chiawana High School. Sh. She was born in a family of…
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…