WHO
WE
ARE.
OUR
HISTORY.
The Wichana Foundation is a small non-profit charity based in New York and Otavalo, Ecuador. We
were legally incorporated as a New York public charity and IRS tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization in
December 2019.
The foundation was first created to meet the needs of two not-for-profit projects benefiting the health,
education, and culture of communities in the Imbabura province.
In August 2019, the Muyumi Kanki Kichwa Cultural Center of Cotacachi, Ecuador had just formalized
its organizational structure for the purpose of expanding its existing Kichwa language and cultural
educational programs. The center was in urgent need of an officially registered public charity in the
United States that could receive large tax-deductible financial donations from US citizens who wished
to support Muyumi Kanki’s cultural work.
Urku Deborah May, a US citizen living in Cotacachi who had successfully solicited funding from
donors for Muyumi Kanki’s mission and programs, contacted Peter Bernstein in New York to inquire
about any US foundations he might know about that might be willing to serve this function for Muyumi
Kanki.
Peter approached several US foundations, but the limited scope of their missions of those
foundations did not permit them to serve this function.
Peter then proposed the idea of creating a new foundation in New York that could help not only
Muyumi Kanki but also the not-for-profit health center whose mission and work Peter had long
supported, the Mojandita Curubi Centro de Salud in Otavalo.
Peter did the necessary research and provided all the labor and financing necessary to create the
new legal charity in approved by both the IRS and New York State.
As soon as our supporters from the US felt assured that legal incorporation was underway, Wichana
Foundation began receiving large tax-deductible donations for both community organizations.
The following year, several local not-for-profit organizations began approaching Wichana Foundation
to explore a formal working relationship with us. In the subsequent years, we have expanded our initiatives, added more Partner organizations, and opened our headquarters in Cotacachi.
Our
Mission.
Our mission is to support community-based programs in Ecuador that benefit
the health, education, and culture of community members.
Our
Vision.
Wichana Foundation supports collaborative, local-led initiatives for the challenges facing communities, particularly women and indigenous groups in under-resourced areas. We are deeply committed to empowering and supporting local knowledge and talent to solve local challenges and bring forth new models of change and stability. Our Project Partners are committed, talented community organizations that demonstrate ingenuity, a collective mindset, and innovation. Wichana Foundation supports Project Partners by providing technical assistance, particularly in project management resources and fundraising platforms.
OUR
BOARD
MEMBERS.
OUR
ADVISORY
COMMITTEE.
Our Board Members are integral to the success of the Wichana Foundation, bringing diverse skills and perspectives that shape our strategies and initiatives. Each member is committed to our mission and plays a vital role in governance, ensuring transparency, and fostering community involvement. Through collaborative efforts, they guide our programs and represent the interests of the communities we serve.
Our Women's Advisory Committee provides us with guidance from the outstanding women leaders of our partner projects. The members provide one another with mutual support, project analyses, program development, and fundraising tools. WAC's guidance for the foundation is vital to our success because it is rooted in its members' intimate knowledge of the needs of the families and communities where they live as well as serve through their community service projects.
