EcoViva began over 20 years ago as the Foundation for Self-Sufficiency in Central America with the aim of supporting grassroots movements as they build their resilience and capacities. The grassroots organizations we work with understand their communities’ needs and have the capacity and knowledge to design their own solutions. EcoViva’s role is to support our partners through resource mobilization, technical assistance, alliance building, and advocacy. In more than two decades we have raised over 11 million dollars to support grassroots initiatives in Central America.

Our partners in Central America are agile, innovative organizations with the expertise to create long-term change and the track record to prove it. Their programs are built around community-driven solutions. Over the years, they have improved their organizational infrastructure to implement these solutions efficiently and equitably. They have increased their capacities and skills around fundraising, grant writing, project management, accounting, and human resources. They are in a position to expand their own international fundraising efforts and become more financially sustainable.

EcoViva has always operated from a progressive, solidarity-driven standpoint that prioritizes unrestricted funding directly to grassroots initiatives. We recognize the expertise of local leaders and value the autonomy and independence of our partners. However, the reality of our positioning has its own inherent inequalities. Much institutionalized philanthropy in America engages in practices that marginalize minority communities and can perpetuate deeply entrenched systems of inequality. We acknowledge the asymmetries in power that exist between donors, nonprofits (both in the US and in Central America) and community organizations. 

We have an opportunity to shift our model to ensure community organizations shape their own agendas and have the power to make financial and programmatic decisions that are in the best interests of their constituents. We are committed to supporting our partners in the most equitable ways we can, and technological advances in our increasingly interconnected world mean individual donors can now support our partners directly. One way to do that is through GlobalGiving.

What is GlobalGiving?

A key to this paradigm shift is to help our partners join GlobalGiving, an international crowdfunding platform where they can fundraise outside of their countries and expose their projects to potential supporters from all over the world. GlobalGiving’s mission is to transform aid and philanthropy to accelerate community-led change. Since 2002, they’ve supported community-led organizations by connecting them to donors and companies and providing access to tools, training, and support. GlobalGiving performs rigorous due diligence on every organization on their platform to ensure they are performing their work in a transparent and accountable manner. GlobalGiving is a 501c3, so donors in the US and the UK can receive tax benefits for donating, even if organizations are not based in those countries.

GlobalGiving’s Accelerator Program

The Accelerator is GlobalGiving’s onboarding program for nonprofits interested in joining the GlobalGiving community. The Accelerator includes a free week of virtual fundraising training, posting a project on GlobalGiving, and fundraising in a three-week crowdfunding campaign. The goal is to raise at least $5,000 from 40 unique donors during the campaign to graduate from the Accelerator and continue fundraising on GlobalGiving as a permanent partner.

Our partners have been accepted to participate in GlobalGiving’s Accelerator Program, which started on September 13th. The Mangrove Association, Red COMAL, and the Women’s Association of Barra de Santiago (AMBAS) have launched their own crowdfunding campaigns on GlobalGiving’s platform. They have until September 30th to earn a permanent spot on the platform. This is a vital step for our partners to ensure the sustainability of their organizations and grow their capacity as fundraisers. Becoming a GlobalGiving partner will introduce their important work to new donors from all over the world.

How You Can Help

Our partners have to raise $5,000 from 40 different donors to qualify as permanent GlobalGiving partners. We need YOUR help making it happen. As a part of the EcoViva family, you have the opportunity to show solidarity with community-led change and create a more just, equitable world by continuing to support the leaders you already know and help them reach their goals directly. 

Donate to their projects here: 

Thank you for your support and for being a part of this incredible community of changemakers!