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
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…
Celebrating Mama Maggie
Stephen’s Children Founder Mama Maggie Gobran was recently recognized with an Arab Hope Makers Award. The award, given by Emirati Vice President, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, recognized five leaders from among 65,000 nominees. The happy news comes as Stephen’s Children finishes a successful academic year in its more than 95 schools, and prepares…
Reflections from Oaxaca
Melanie Lopez-Grewal is a Grants Coordinator for VHF. Following is her reflection on a recent site visit to Oaxaca, Mexico. “True hospitality is welcoming the stranger on her own terms. This kind of hospitality can only be offered by those who’ve found the center of their lives in their own hearts.” – Henri Nouwen As I…
Living in Community
Shaunee Hooper, pictured above, works at The Collegium Café, and like so many of the young women who come to the Center for Sharing (CFS), Shaunee came here through our Job Training Program. The steps that she’s taken in such a short amount of time, to give herself and her daughter a better life, is…
The Call to Community
The Center for Sharing is humbly proud to be featured in a new publication: The Call to Community: Fruits of Servant Leadership magazine. We hope you have received your own personal printed copy by now! We would love to hear your thoughts or answer any questions that may have stirred during your reading. This exciting…