History
Reforestation Project - Haiti (2003)
In the weeks following the attacks of September 11, 2001, a small group
from Seattle began a series of conversations to try to understand what
had happened. They wanted to know what they, as individuals, could do promote
more direct and positive international engagement at a community level.
None of the charitable organizations they were supporting seemed right
for this level of engagement, so over the next year, they developed
an idea for a new and different kind of international organization.
From its founding, Pangea has been a community of like-minded individuals
whose members learn together and pool their resources to reach out to people
struggling to improve their lives in other parts of the world. Originally
called World Venture Partners, we changed our name in 2005 to Pangea, to
symbolize our desire to bring the world’s peoples closer together. ((Pangea
is the name given the supercontinent when all the world’s land masses were
unified.)
Pangea started with five founding members and grew by word-of-mouth to
its current membership of 50. Since 2003, we have partnered with 39 grassroots
organizations in 9 countries and awarded grants totaling $477,603. Here
are some of Pangea's most significant milestones:
2002
Organization formed & named (June)
First education meeting (July)
First member meeting (November)
2003
First grant cycle: 3 grants awarded in Nicaragua and Mexico ($19,392)
Education sessions on global water issues and grantmaking basics
2004
5 grants awarded in Nicaragua, Mexico, and Haiti ($37,700)
Education on grassroots economic development, human rights, and an introduction
to Africa
First site visit trip (Nicaragua)
Web site launched
Registered as a non-profit corporation in the state of Washington
2005
7 grants awarded in Mexico, Haiti, Kenya, and Tanzania ($47,000)
Education sessions on foreign aid & trade, education and HIV/AIDS
in Africa
Site visit to Mexican grantee
Adopted 3-year strategic plan
Name changed to Pangea
2006
7 grants awarded in Latin America & Africa ($61,745)
Hosted first major event: "Empowering women and youth in the fight against
HIV/AIDS"
Education sessions on U.S. policy and the AIDS pandemic and on funding
challenges
Site visits to Kenyan and Tanzanian grantees
Applied for 501c3 non-profit status
2007
Received 501(c)(3) IRS determination letter
16 grants awarded in Latin America & Africa ($83,605)
Education sessions on AIDS orphans, land ownership, Nepal, and agriculture
in Africa
Site visits to Kenya and Tanzania
2008
19 grants awarded in Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia ($105,160)
Education on human trafficking, funding in conflict zones, and climate
change
Site visits to potential partners in Cambodia, Thailand, and Nepal
2009
19 grants awarded in Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia ($123,000)
Education on the global food crisis, sustainability, site visits, and women as change agents
Adopted a new 3-year strategic plan
Site visit to 2 Tanzanian grantees