Welcome to our 2019-2 newsletter (link to previous issue). We are delighted you decided to read it and welcome your feedback on how we can improve it.
Believe in Belize is an all volunteer, non-profit organization with the sole purpose of helping with the development of Belize. In particular, our goal is to:
- Become a premier internet destination for anyone seeking information about Belize.
- Implement projects and services to help people in Belize.
What's Happening
We are now officially a 501(c)(3) public charity non-profit organization (https://believeinbelize.org/Stories/what-is-believe-in-belize).
Projects & Services
- Our computers to schools project was fully funded and the project is wrapping up (https://believeinbelize.org/stories/project-205-computers-for-schools-in-belize).
- We launched a project to provide a Fire Truck to Placencia in the Fall of 2019 (https://believeinbelize.org/sitepage/firetruck-to-placencia).
- We are expanding our Shoes for Kids service (https://believeinbelize.org/sitepage/shoes-for-kids-service).
- We completed a Microlending pilot project and looking at growing the microlending service (https://believeinbelize.org/sitepage/microlending-service).
- Our ambulance project is on hold for a year or two so that our operational partner has some time to prepare (https://believeinbelize.org/stories/project-2-ambulances-to-placencia).
Fundraising changes since we are now a 501(c)(3) organization
- All donations to Believe in Belize are now tax deductible per applicable US laws.
- We moved away from an advertising model to a sponsorship model with multiple options (https://believeinbelize.org/sitepage/sponsor-options).
- We are now eligible to receive donations directly from anyone over 70 years old who has an Individual Retirement Account - IRA (https://believeinbelize.org/sitepage/donation-options/70ira).
- We are now eligible to receive grants from Donor Advised Funds (https://believeinbelize.org/sitepage/donation-options/donor-advised-fund).
How can you help?
- To grow, we need visibility. We need the following:
- Sign up for this newsletter if you have not already done so, and share it with people you know and encourage them to do the same.
- Visit our Facebook page and choose to “Follow Us”.
- Visit our homepage and communicate with us through different means that we provide on different pages.
- To fund our projects and services we need donors.
- To implement our projects and services we need many volunteers, worldwide. Experience is not the most critical factor since we will train you as applicable. Your willingness to help is the most essential qualification we are looking for. Please join us!