Start-up Climate Change Non-Profit

Climate change is disproportionately affecting the world's poorest people. It is estimated that 90% of the burden from climate change effects will be felt by the world's poorest- urban dwellers and, especially, small landholders. We believe we can reduce the negative impact and help vulnerable people learn to adapt their practices in order to live the lives that they want to lead.

The money will be used to fund my living and basic office start-up expenses until mid-year 2024, by which point I expect to be fully incorporated as an international non-profit and have collaborations with several other service and research institutions in the Central and South American highlands. I have so far paid for my master's degree in resource economics, my climate research, and my start-up costs; out of pocket using my own time and money. We are currently involved in several community empowerment, research, and art projects that the money will keep going.

I am the only scientist working to categorize, model, and graph the types of impacts that poor people living above 8000' are experiencing in this region of the world. Our work will help groups as diverse as the Nature Conservancy, the FAO, regional governments, community leaders, and other international aid agencies plan for climate change risk. We use an innovative approach and model that considers all aspects of human well-being, including the human-environment interaction and the value of the voice of participation. Our work touches on several key vulnerabilities faced by Central Americans: cultural isolation, economic opportunity, gender, food insecurity, water scarcity, crop loss, migration, loss of biodiversity, and government voice. 

Our 5-year plan is:

first half of 2024: raise the $5000 we need at once to pay back fees, redo our documentation, and register as an NGO.

Also make some urgently needed investments into the home and property for program work.

2nd half of 2024: use NGO status to seek $50,000 needed to formalize alliance with Savory Institute, and open a formal training center in Central America for climate change, restoration, and sustainability practices.

2025: build our programs towards reaching our goal of attending 500,000+ people with climate action, leadership, and technological services.

We need small donations, but we also need a larger one-time business loan or grant to get the NGO status finalized.

We offer seminars, grant writing services, workshops, technical writing, blog posts, articles, public forums, translation, Guatemalan country guided tours, and more. Please contact me to see how we can work together.