Grace International Childrens Foundation USA, Inc.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Dire. The problems that create orphans in Uganda are long-standing and persistent, resulting in 2.5 million orphans, 1.2 million of whom were orphaned because of AIDS, according to UNICEF in 2014. This is a tremendous number of children who, through no act of their own, are in a desperate situation. We are working to help just a small fraction of these, but with the hope that generations to come will make the institutional changes needed to control and minimize the problems that create orphans in such great numbers.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Operation of Lulwanda Children's Home
In 2004 we built and opened Lulwanda Children's Home near Mbale, Uganda to care for some of Uganda's 2 million orphans. Most are orphans due to their parents dying of AIDS. We currently care for 120 children at Lulwanda between the ages of 3 and 12. We provide for all the needs of these children: medical care, food, shelter and schooling.
Operation of Lulwanda Primary School
GICF operates an accredited primary school on the site of the Children's Home. In addition to the orphans of Lulwanda, approximately an equal number of children attend from the surrounding community.
Lulwanda Tendo
The two building Lulwanda Tendo is located in nearby Mbale town and houses 10 of the older Lulwanda children. Tendo offers these older children the ability to learn life skills such as shopping for food and clothing, using local transportation, banking and learning how to budget and run a household.
Where we work
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Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Grace International Children's Foundation aims to establish sustainable loving homes in East Africa for orphans or children who are without adults willing or able to care for them. The goal of these homes is to develop children to reach their full potential and become productive citizens of Uganda.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
A key strategy to help the children under our care reach their full potential is providing a good education. Grace International Children's Foundation is committed to educating or training each child to the highest level he or she is capable of achieving. GICF also provides quality living arrangements to physically, spiritually and emotionally nurture the children under our care.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Grace International Children's Foundation USA, a nonprofit registered in Texas, raises the funding necessary for GICF projects and operations in Uganda. The Board of Directors of GICF USA provides long-term strategic direction to the organization, and identifies, prepares and sends missionary staff to assist with operations in Uganda.
Grace International Foundation, a Ugandan registered NGO, was created to operate the orphan care facilities day to day. We currently employ about 45 national staff who run the Children's Home itself as well as Lulwanda Primary School. The teenage children are placed in secondary boarding schools in keeping with Ugandan practice. Three missionary families introduce and train the national staff in Western practices such as financial accountability, and provide specific skills such as medical care.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Grace International Children's Foundation (GICF) has continued to grow the number of orphans under our care since the start of operations in 2004. The children continue to thrive and see Lulwanda Children's Home as their home and family. Lulwanda Primary School continues to be ranked in the top 10% of schools in Uganda. The recent opening of Lulwanda Tendo in nearby Mbale offers next step housing for the older children, and opened space at the original facility to accept 12 more young orphans.
In 2018, GICF undertook a building program to transition from dormatory-style housing to a village of homes model. Each of the 8 new homes will house 10 children and a house mother, or mother and father when possible. By the end of the first year, 4 of the 8 homes were completed, and contributions have been strong enough build several more in the second year. Originally estimated to be a 3 year building program, all of our children will be in these small homes within the next year or two.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Grace International Childrens Foundation USA, Inc.
Board of directorsas of 06/02/2022
Larry Hoelscher
None
Robert Marshall
GICF USA Inc.
Phil Norby
GICF USA Inc.
Pastor Morris Ogenga
GICF USA Inc.
Larry Hoelscher
GICF USA Inc.
John Waggoner
GICF USA Inc.
Keith Nalley
GICF USA Inc.
Karla Bogard
GICF USA, Inc.
John Palmer
GICF USA, Inc.
Mike Thrasher
GICF USA, Inc.
Michael Kenison
GICF USA, Inc.
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
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Race & ethnicity
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Gender identity
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Sexual orientation
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Disability
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