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
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…
NELA Student Showcase
Nueva Esperanza Leadership Academy (NELA) hosted our 2nd trimester showcase this month! Each student prepared tri-fold boards demonstrating an individualized and project-based learning approach and highlighting some of their favorite work. From lego robotics, to pancake samples, to artwork and essay writing, the gym was full of joy, creativity, and conversation. As the choir sang and the dance team performed,…
The Call to Community Magazine
Vista Hermosa Foundation has just released our first publication, The Call to Community: Fruits of Servant Leadership magazine! This magazine features stories from all eight members of our PAC Initiative, offering an inspiring look into how these communities have grown and flourished over the years. Five of these partners are located here in rural communities of southeastern…
A Heart for Our Youth
Joe Vidot only worked for the Center for Sharing (CFS) for 2 years but the impact that he made on this community is immeasurable. Some of us recall what the atmosphere was like at The Collegium before Joe started working here in 2015. The youth rarely came in here just to hang out or do…
Spontaneous Acts of Kindness
Today there were several meetings taking place in the Collegium Café. There was a mother with two young boys looking into options of renting one of our spaces for an upcoming birthday party. Her boys were keeping her busy by running away from her any chance they got. Sitting on the couch with a laptop…
Lunch with a Stranger
“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2 Today, the smell of Chicken Tortilla Soup filled the Collegium Café while Nevresa sat at one of the tables working hard to finish preparing newsletters to be mailed out. An elderly…
Visit from Plant with Purpose
From June 27-29, we had the joy of hosting Luis Castellanos and Doug Satre with Plant with Purpose, an organization that VHF has partnered with in Oaxaca since 2008. Luis is based in the Mixteca region of Nochixtlan, a place that was recently in the news due to unrest and violence. Staff from the Foundation,…