We have some exciting news to share. When Altruvistas’ Malia Everette first founded the ethical travel business in 2013, her dream was to eventually incorporate a philanthropic component to the overall vision.
Well, that day has come, and you’re among the first to know!
Philanthropy & Ethical Travel
Introducing the Altruvistas Charitable Fund (AVCF), our new program that provides communities with the financial means they need to improve their lives and benefit from the tourism sector.
Our goal is to build a dynamic fund that concretely addresses the global problem in the travel industry of capital flight and the globalized reality of socioeconomic stratification and absolute poverty.
We will support on-the-ground community development and enrichment projects and organizations that directly benefit their communities.
The AVCF is designed for social good through supporting non-profit and social ventures by providing direct financial grants. We will also provide subsequent support through the Altruvistas Connects program – pairing grantees with tourism professionals to provide expertise and guidance.
Our goals are ambitious but achievable.
In terms of a timeline, we expect to be up and running by August 2016. Our first step will be to identify fiscal sponsors who are a good fit for this program and engage with them. From there, we’ll start generating the funds necessary to support the grantees, which we’ll then begin to seek out.
If all goes well, we’ll start supporting worthy causes and individuals before the end of the year.
Meet Branden Barber, Fund Director
Branden Barber
Leading up our charitable efforts is Branden Barber, who has been in service to our planet’s ecosystems and environmental justice for over 25 years.
While working at Amazon Watch, Branden started their Amazon Journeys program, partnering with Altruvistas as one of the very first organizational clients to bring ethical, transformative travel to Amazon Watch’s supporters and partners.
He joins Altruvistas as Fund Director, here to jumpstart our philanthropic program that will give back beyond our services as an ethical travel provider.
Branden believes philanthropy is a powerful tool that has made tremendous differences in the world. His take: “Ghandi, Dr. King, Mother Theresa – these people all led movements, made tremendous contributions – and they all were funded by philanthropists. Being able to direct funds to worthy causes is awesome!”
Branden shared this about our new endeavors:
“The travel industry is massive –1-in-11 jobs globally falls within tourism. Knowing the power of ethical travel and of philanthropy, we’re going to be connecting social enterprises to beneficial tourism which will support local communities in ways that will allow them to better support themselves.”
He goes to explain:
“These endeavors will have an even better chance of taking hold when combined with our Altruvistas Connects program – putting social enterprises and individuals behind them in partnership with professionals in the industry to help them achieve greatest success. That’s a wonderful contribution. I’m excited to be helping to set this in motion.”
Why We’re Not Creating a Foundation…Yet
Branden shares, “I’m delighted that Malia asked me to take on the directorship of the fund – the foundation, really, but when considering our needs, our scope and the road ahead, in the interim we’ll be best suited by establishing a charitable fund that will be fiscally sponsored.”
He adds that in the longer term we may evolve into a foundation, if and when that makes best sense. As the director of the fund – and generally the charitable works of Altruvistas, Branden says, “I’m grateful for the trust that Malia has placed in me, to help steward her dream of generating a vehicle through Altruvistas that will make a significant difference in the world – a better world.”
The Charitable Fund and the Altruvistas Connects programs are both designed to do just that.
“It’s very exciting to be able to play a role in this – and to be here at the beginning of what I’m sure is going to be a solid, stalwart player in this massive global industry, and which will make significant, positive contributions,” Branden shares.
About our new programs –Altruvistas Charitable Fund and Altruvistas Connects — Branden says, “This is the beginning of something really wonderful.”
So stay tuned to our blog for more about these exciting developments. And if you haven’t already – subscribe to our blog to receive updates automatically.
