El Salvador faces severe challenges that have left over 300,000 families without safe homes. Natural disasters, gang violence, and the aftermath of a 12-year civil war have exacerbated poverty, leaving many hardworking Salvadorans struggling to improve their living conditions. In a country where the need for stable housing is immense, Shelter steps in to provide hope and tangible solutions through their mission of building homes and fostering community development.
Shelter’s approach to alleviating housing insecurity involves deep community partnerships. By developing and working with local leadership teams, Shelter ensures that the families most in need are identified and prioritized. This collaborative effort not only addresses immediate housing needs but also empowers communities, fostering leadership and creating sustainable improvements in living conditions. The involvement of community leaders is crucial, as it brings a localized understanding and tailored support to each project, ensuring effectiveness and relevance.
A core aspect of Shelter’s methodology is the active participation of families in the building process. This engagement provides families with a sense of accomplishment, ownership, and dignity. Rather than being passive recipients of aid, these families contribute their efforts, which reinforces their value and strengthens community bonds. By working alongside families, Shelter demonstrates a commitment to showing love and respect, creating an environment where each person feels valued and empowered.
Since its inception after the devastating earthquakes that struck El Salvador, Shelter has grown remarkably. From the initial efforts of a small group of friends from Alberta who built three homes in a week, the organization has expanded to build over 5,200 homes, impacting more than 20,000 lives. With a dedicated team of over 50 Salvadorans, Shelter not only provides homes but also creates lasting, holistic transformations in communities. Their vision of positive, sustainable change is driven by faith and compassion, ensuring that every action is guided by love, mercy, and a deep commitment to serving those in need.
Ministry Overview:
Shelter is an organization dedicated to providing safe, simple, and cost-effective homes for families in El Salvador who are affected by poverty, natural disasters, and violence. Guided by faith and compassion, Shelter partners with local communities and involves families in the building process to foster ownership and dignity. Since its inception, Shelter has built over 5,200 homes, impacting more than 20,000 lives, and employs a team of over 50 Salvadorans to ensure sustainable and transformative community development.
Prayer Request:
Pray for Shelter and the people of El Salvador, that they may continue to construct and bless more homes for those in need, sharing the love of Jesus with every family they serve.
Your generosity fuels our mission!
You can support ministry work that matters to you with confidence, knowing your gifts advance our key charitable purposes and uses funds efficiently and effectively to fulfill the ministry goals that you cherish.
The following information is provided as a requirement of Alberta's Charitable Fund-Raising Act, RSA 2000, c C-9.
The Great Commission Foundation ("The GC") is a charitable trust, established by a Deed of Settlement made as of September 1, 2002 and governed by an Amended and Restated Deed of Settlements made as of October 22, 2024.
The GC is a public foundation that is registered with the Canada Revenue Agency (with Canadian Charitable Registration Number 859928483 RR0001).
The charitable objects of The GC are:
1. The advancement of Christianity by spreading its principles;
2. The relief of poverty by the assistance to those persons lacking the necessities of life by giving them food, clothing, shelter or financial assistance;
3. The advancement of education including, without limitation, by the teaching of scripture and the promotion of literacy; and
4. The advancement of other "charitable purposes" as defined within subsection 149.1(1) of Income Tax Act, which includes the disbursement of funds to "qualified donees" as also defined in subsection 149.1(1).
We engage other ministries as agents to carry out projects that fulfill our charitable objects.
The GC anticipates raising an estimated amount of $12,000,000.00 this year from donation for the fulfillment of its charitable objects from donors in Alberta, Canada. The processing of these donations will cost, on average, six percent. The money raised will be going to fulfill the charitable objects of The GC.
For further information, please contact our Donations Team at donations-ca@thegc.org or call us at 1-855-488-7020. To speak directly to the GC's Donation's Manager, please call Kathy Stewart at (604) 229-8008. The GC has two (2) Canadian offices. Please visit our contact page for further details
*The Great Commission Foundation (the "Foundation") operates on the basis of Donor-Advised Funding. It is our utmost goal to meet the Donor's desire and intent to provide support to particular Foundation projects but, ultimately, the responsibility for the disbursement and ministry use of funds is the Foundation's. If the Foundation does not use the donation in the way the donor prefers, the Foundation will not return the donation to the donor.
*You will receive an official Canadian tax receipt for all eligible donations by the end of February of the following year. Thank you for your support of the missions and programs of the Foundation.
Do you have questions or want more information about The Great Commission Foundation or our projects?
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Since 2002, The Great Commission Foundation has enabled ministry projects to thrive by providing charity admin expertise and guidance while promoting collaboration in fulfilling the Great Commission. We are registered with the Canada Revenue Agency for charitable work (charity number: 859928483RR0001RR0001).
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