Vista Hermosa Foundation

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.

 

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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)

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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.

Ramu and Gauda (pictured) are beneficiaries of the Bettiah Diocese Social Service Society, a CRS partner. While their children have migrated for work, they are active in the society's events and determined that their grandchildren complete their education. The project has also helped them with immunizations to keep their goats healthy and able to supplement their income. The projects aims to prevent labor trafficking in villages throughout Bihar state in India. Due to limited income options and poor quality of education, migration is a common practice, particularly for boys ages 8-14. These boys often travel to locations hundreds of kilometers away to work in brick kilns, construction, textile factories and other industries.

Our Global Partners

Our current grantees work in one or more of the following areas of community development.

Safe, Healthy Families:

Nurturing child protection, women’s and girl’s wellbeing, and violence prevention.

Mindful Leadership:

Building inclusivity, communities of healing and reconciliation, and care for the common good.

Sustainable Livelihoods:

Promoting indigenous knowledge, social entrepreneurship, and regenerative agriculture.

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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 debt with local creditors and could only afford enough to pay on the interest. In 2018, he attended a Men Care meeting with World Vision.  ...

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 up on the interest of several of them to combat violence against women and girls, we hosted a second gathering in 2019. One of the ...

We For Others: Mindset Change in India

Welcoming ceremony in Bettiah When I (Joseph) joined Vista Hermosa Foundation as a Program Officer to steward relationships with partners in East Africa and India, I was excited about the possibility of visiting India. Recently I took my first flight to India with mixed expectations. ...

A Castle of Servant Leaders

By Jeseniah_Hernandez | April 21, 2022

When Yvette was 5 years old in the Philippines, she noticed her parents change. Her shy mom became more outspoken, and her stern dad became more open. Once a kid observing and learning from the adults around her, she now finds herself in the reversed role.

Peace at the Root

By Jeseniah_Hernandez | April 21, 2022

Through village peace committees in 23 villages, Malto and Santhal tribes work together to heal historic wounds and address such challenges as poverty and deforestation.

I Have Changed My Story

By Jeseniah_Hernandez | March 24, 2022

In 2016, Vista Hermosa Foundation started funding the Ugandan organization Watye Ki Gen in hopes to reconcile and restore relationships for children born in captivity during the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgence.

Joyful Service

By Jeseniah_Hernandez | March 24, 2022

On Saturday, March 12th, the RISE scholars gathered to hear the needs of their community along with a few other members of Broetje Family Trust, including interns. I showed up not knowing what to expect, and what was meant to be weekend work turned into a day filled with love and joy.

Got Milk?

By Jeseniah_Hernandez | March 24, 2022

One of the first classrooms of education that I attended was held in the milk parlor of a small dairy farm my parents owned. Twice a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, “in sickness and in health” (whether he felt like it or not), my father had to see that the cows on that farm were milked.

An Opportunity to Take

By Jeseniah_Hernandez | March 24, 2022

Nataly Romero is a middle schooler at NELA. She aspires to be a writer and journalist when she grows up. When she shared this academic goal with her teacher, Mrs. Hedlund coordinated for Nataly to job shadow writers at Broetje Family Trust.

A “Leo” Among Us

By Jeseniah_Hernandez | February 26, 2022

Stories can provide powerful guidance for the way we live and work. They can change minds and hearts. The original story of Leo is held in high distinction at Broetje Family Trust.

A Book in the Making

By Jeseniah_Hernandez | February 25, 2022

Haiti Partners, Vista Hermosa Foundation partner since 2009, is producing a book written in Haiti-Creole with a translation to English, to tell the story of their school created with the philosophy of servant leadership.

Open the Door

By Jeseniah_Hernandez | February 25, 2022

Years ago, in honor of the opening and dedication event for the new chapel built at Vista Hermosa community, my brother sent a drawing he had sketched. Have you ever felt like the rider in the drawing?

The Power of Encouragement

By Jeseniah_Hernandez | February 25, 2022

It all started with what I thought was a simple lesson about encouragement. How can we use our words to build others up?