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
COFFEE WITH THE COPS AT THE COLLEGIUM
On a wonderful chilly afternoon (21st February 2018), The Pasco Police extended their generosity and walked into the Collegium to have coffee with everyone who was interested in meeting them at a more personal level. The event which was called “Coffee with the Cops” was well represented by the Pasco Police. We had residents from…
BREAKFAST WITH THE MENS FELLOWSHIP FROM HILL SPRING
On the 10th February 2018 we had the Men’s Fellowship from the Hill Spring Church have breakfast with us at the Collegium. The Men started to gather at the Collegium by 7:30 am and by 8:30 am we had 25 Men comfortably seated at the Collegium having their Breakfast. The Men’s Fellowship spent over two…
HEALTH AND WELLNESS OVER A CUP OF COFFEE
Maggie Harrison and her team from Zija Life Unlimited (A company based on 4 distinct pillars: Health, Wellness & Beauty, Financial & Time Freedom, Personal Development, and Active Lifestyle) came to the Collegium to rent a room for their weekly meetings. However, since no room was available at the time and their meetings just needed…
FIRESIDE CHAT WITH CHERYL BROETJE
On January 17, FUZE held a ‘fireside chat’, the fourth in their series, during which they interview a community leader about what they do and why.? This one featured Cheryl Broetje and was held in our very own Collegium Café in Pasco! Cheryl spoke about three actions we try to practice in our work here:…
Two Little Boys and Their Act of Generosity
I walked into the Collegium today and saw Fernando (9) who is in Grade 3 and Alexis (11) who is in Grade 5. I asked them if they were excited about the “Knocker Ball” today. They said they bought their tickets already and had also bought a ticket for their friend Diego. They said their…
Look Who’s Hanging Out Today
Luke Hallowell, Daisy Perez-Mendoza, and Jose (Paco) Claro, have all known each other for many years, and at the center of it all is the Collegium Café. Luke worked at the Center for Sharing for several years and while working here he built relationships and was a mentor to a lot of youth, Paco and…
The Center for Sharing – A Life Changing Experience
I joined the work study program on the 1st August 2017, and this is my first working experience. Rachel did not push things on me. She gave me an outline of the drinks and asked me to focus on one drink every day and then we move onto food. I knew the basics of cooking…
Collegium Cafe: The Third Place
Ashley Duarte and her family were one of the first families to live in Tierra Vida, a growing community surrounding the Collegium building. Ashley is a 17-year-old who is about to start her senior year at Chiawana High School. Ashley feels that it’s been a blessing to grow up in this community where there is…
NELA Chargers’ Winning Spirit
On a gorgeous sunny, spring, Saturday morning in Richland, Washington, the call goes out, “Everybody in here!” One-by-one a group of seven 1st and 2nd grade students cluster together, putting one hand on top of another. “Families in here too!” On cue, all parents, relatives, and siblings put one hand in the center as well, hand on top of hand, together. “Okay,…
Blessings in Disguise
Nasir Hussani is a 27-year-old young man whose family came to the United States in 1998, in search of a better life for themselves. He lives in the Tierra Vida (TV) community with his mom and sister. Due to some challenges, Nasir isn’t able to find a regular and consistent place of work. To keep…