About us
We team up with innovative community-based organizations and local leaders whose grassroots efforts are aimed at stamping out the underlying causes of child poverty.
Our Mission
We hold the simple belief that all children should have the basic human right to a happy, healthy, secure childhood and a future full of promise. We also believe that the people most affected by poverty and social injustice are the ones who should have both the power and resources to lead the decision-making processes that impact their communities. At Luena Foundation, we put our two core beliefs together and make it our mission to seek out local community leaders – the individuals and organizations that have the indigenous knowledge and local capacity to drive sustainable development from the inside out. By seeking out and strengthening these community-based local actors, we are changing the paradigm on poverty reduction to one of: LOCALIZED HUMANITARIANISM.
Our Approach
WE SEEK
We go deep in the field to uncover small, growing organizations that are dedicated to serving and safeguarding vulnerable children around the world by protecting their basic human rights.
WE LEARN
We are listeners. Whether it’s over numerous cups of tea with the village elders or a series of Zoom conference calls, our aim is to foster a deep understanding of the community’s needs and build trust between us and our partners.
WE FUND
After completing both our application and due-diligence process, we provide our partner organizations a one-time, simplified, flexible cash grant. Our funding is invested 100% locally and is designed to kick-start vital projects so that they create an immediate yet lasting impact for the children that they serve.
WE CONNECT
Where possible, we connect the local leaders that we partner with other similar organizations with in order to build up their capacity for creating long-term sustainable change in their respective communities. By forming alliances that last, we put and children and their families first.
Our History
We were founded in 2019 by two ex-Wall Street Research Analysts who, after 10+ years of traveling the world with their young children, decided to focus their expertise and efforts on helping marginalized children, families, and communities. We draw our inspiration from Luena Tronso Vela, who died on March 11, 2018, at the age of 11 after suffering a major hemorrhagic aneurysm. Together with her friends and family, we decided to continue her #LegacyofLove by providing life-changing aid to young people throughout the world by focusing on and activating the communities that they live in.
Our Focus Areas
Luena Foundation works with with native experts to support community-based organizations (CBOs) that focus on the following areas
Food Security
Health & Wellness
Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (W.A.S.H)
Education & Arts
Empowering Women & Girls
Maternity & Early Childhood Care
Youth Leadership & Education
Safe Spaces & Social Inclusion
Theory of Change
Here’s our blueprint for provoking positive, sustainable change for vulnerable children living in marginalized communities.
Our Principles
Integrity & Accountability
We take personal responsibility for upholding all of our core values while remaining dedicated to our mission. We strive to use our resources efficiently to achieve measurable results that have a positive impact on the children and communities where we work.
“People as People”
Just as Luena lived her life, it is our mandate to treat every individual equitably. We focus on people as the unique individuals that we all are, regardless of race, color, nationality, gender, profession, sexual orientation, religious or political creed.
Transparency
We aspire to the highest standards of personal honesty and we never compromise the reputation of Luena Foundation, its donors or its grantees. Fiduciary responsibility, legal compliance, and administrative oversight are critical to our organization and our philanthropic activities.
Due Diligence & Contextualization
We go to great lengths to research and understand the political, economic, social, and cultural impact of our giving. We seek to leverage expertise at the local level to help guide our efforts.
Compassion & Respect
We recognize and honor human diversity. We believe that in order to engage with children in a spirit of caring, compassion and cooperation, we must first understand and respect their unique situations and way of life. First and foremost, we seek to cultivate trust.
Open-mindedness
While we solely focus on improving the lives of children around the world, the founders of Luena Foundation are open to helping in a variety of creative matters. We pledge to be flexible and open-minded, and we welcome collaboration with other organizations and individuals.
Financial Independence
To remain financially independent, Luena Foundation relies on individual donors. The Foundation does not currently have any paid employees (a big thank you to all our volunteers!), nor does it pay rent or other general expenses. Our rigorous strategy for keeping costs low allows us to make the greatest possible impact per donation and to be free and impartial to make decisions in the best interests of children.
A #LegacyofLove Begins with You
At Luena Foundation, we believe in empowering generations of youth to become their own agents of change, but we need your help. Your donation has the power to transform lives by giving young people the tools to escape the cycle of suffering and embrace the promise of a brighter tomorrow.
100% of your donation goes directly to projects and programs, invigorating change around the world. We invest 100% locally in partnership with grassroots community leaders. Read about our commitment to incur zero administrative costs, the volunteers who empower our organization, and our annual impact reports here.
