Common Hope

Educating Children, Empowering Families. Common Hope provides hope and opportunity in Guatemala, partnering with children and families who participate in improving their lives through education, healthcare, housing and family development.

How do you help people in my community?

A distinct aspect of Common Hope is that we build personal relationships with our supporters in local communities, linking them to the people we serve in Guatemala. We provide an opportunity for a deeper understanding of the global community, an opportunity for meaningful giving, and an avenue for cultural exchange.  This happens through our Sponsorship program, which involves a long-term, personal relationship with a sponsored student; through the education and awareness-raising of our communications with donors; and through Vision Teams, volunteer work groups (friends, church groups, co-workers, or families) who travel to Guatemala to support and learn about our programs.  Common Hope provides a way for people who care to put their ideals into action, reach out to people in need, and make connections in a world that has become deeply interconnected.

Why do you need my support?

A small gift makes a big difference in a country where a great majority of people live on less than $3 a day.  Regular gifts committed by ordinary people have been one of our organization’s greatest strengths.  It is this humble, committed donor support that has helped us provide the long-term stability that makes a lasting impact in the lives of children and their families.  Donors can designate their gift toward a particular program area (education, health care, housing, family development) or toward our unrestricted fund that goes toward our most pressing needs. 

Since our focus is on long-term change, our donors can know that their gifts will have a ripple effect long into the future.  Our vision is that students today will develop the creative and critical thinking skills to become effective agents of change tomorrow, multipliers of our work in their communities.

How can I be sure that you will use my money wisely and won't waste it?

Common Hope has a well-established track record for accomplishing our goals and managing our programs.  We maintain a 3-year average of using 84% of our funding for programs.  Additionally, CH has a four-star rating with Charity Navigator.  We are audited by independent auditors annually, and the results are made available to the public.  We continually strive for efficient staffing, by maintaining the proper balance between paid staff and volunteers to maximize the abilities of both.  We believe that a well-managed team of volunteers is a very cost-effective way to mobilize a powerful work force, which not only serves the poor but also enriches the lives of the volunteers.

Can I Volunteer? How?

Yes!  Volunteers are one of the key reasons that Common Hope works so well.  They offer many vital resources we need to continue our work: new ideas, fresh enthusiasm, needed expertise, hard work. 

Common Hope’s Vision Teams are made up of church groups, families, co-workers, or friends who travel to Guatemala on 8- or 10-day trips to support and learn about our programs; they build houses, paint, sort materials, meet staff and families involved in our programs, and learn about Guatemalan life and culture.  Common Hope also utilizes short- and long- term volunteers who relieve the workload and add their education and expertise to the Guatemalan staff.  Additionally we utilize approximately 100 volunteers yearly in our U.S. office who help with mailings, translations, database management, in-kind donation sorting, fundraising, presentations, and many other things.