Mission

To build self-sustaining, thriving communities.

Vision

To equip and empower impoverished communities around the globe with the resources needed to build thriving communities in a self-sustaining way that honours local traditions and values.

About

Intro: Recent estimates suggest that there are 1.3 billion people (including an estimated 660 million children) living in multidimensional poverty, enduring deprivation in health, education, and living standards. It is estimated that 736 million people live in extreme poverty (on less than $1.90 per day). 

These figures are unfathomable to those of us enjoying the luxuries and conveniences of the developed world. For many of us the day to day challenges faced by those suffering abroad are incomprensible. 

Community Builders International (CBIF) is a charitable organization established to be a part of the solution, eradicating multidimensional poverty, and providing those who wouldn’t otherwise have had a chance, with hope for the future. Before any individual, community, or nation can thrive, they must survive. CBIF has been built on the premise that impoverished communities lacking stability first need to focus on eliminating the basic fear, anxiety and worry associated with physiological and safety needs, providing stability and a foundation from which individuals can begin to focus on contributing to community growth and development. A roof over your head and a bed to sleep in at night goes a long way in accomplishing this objective. Therefore, initially housing will be the focus for CBIF, where we will work in partnership with other charitable organizations who are focusing on other aspects of community development (health, education, agriculture, economics, etc.), intended to ensure that the local populations have a strong foundation on which they can begin to transition from focusing on mere survival and self, to ultimately serving others, contributing to a thriving community, and in the process serving as an incubator where local community leaders and philanthropists emerge, who will pay it forward, and continue the good work well into the future.

Locations: CBIF will support community building initiatives in some of the world’s most impoverished developing nations. With a focus on fiscal responsibility, other considerations in selecting specific communities to support include vision and value alignment with local and international community building partners, local construction costs, political stability and consideration of the risk of destruction or expropriation of the homes being constructed, etc. 

Longer term the objective is to be funding community building initiatives across multiple continents, with a primary focus on the following regions: Sub-Saharan Africa, South/Southeast Asia, and Central/South America.

Structure: The Community Builders International Fund is an endowment fund facilitated through the Nanaimo Foundation, whereby fund capital is invested, and each year a percentage of the fund capital is disbursed to carefully selected partnering CRA-registered charitable organizations or other qualified donees who are currently executing the community building initiatives on the ground in impoverished, developing nations. The partnership with the Nanaimo Foundation keeps administrative costs to a minimum while also ensuring that all donations are 100% tax receipt eligible.

Partners: CBIF is an early stage charitable organization with a focus on fiscal responsibility and maximizing the efficiency and impact of our donors’ funds. As such, CBIF has taken a traditionally unconventional approach to building a charitable organization. 100% volunteer run, we are able to keep administrative overhead to a minimum and maximize economies of scale by partnering with a number of valued charitable organizations, businesses, individuals, and donors, who all play a significant role in the growth of CBIF, and more importantly the impact the organization will make, touching the lives of those in need. 

Administration: The Nanaimo Foundation administers the fund and is responsible for issuing tax receipts for all donations, which are 100% tax receipt eligible. 

Building: CBI partners with CRA-registered charitable organizations or other qualified donees employing local builders and contractors, in the process positively impacting the local economy. Fiscal responsibility, building costs, ongoing monitoring and progress reporting, value alignment, a proven track record, and job creation and impact on the local economy are a few of the important criteria considered when selecting a partner organization to manage the construction process.

Donors: Simply put, without our valued donors, CBI doesn’t exist… There are no more valued partners than our donors. As all donations are 100% tax receipt eligible in Canada, donations from individuals, professional practices, and corporations, are all very much appreciated. With sustainable, holistic community building the goal, part of the long term vision for CBI is to provide a platform for professionals and corporations to incorporate charitable giving into their practices, whereby they are supporting community building initiatives in developing nations that reflect their own area of specialization (eg. realtors or builders building houses, medical professional supporting health care initiatives, teachers supporting education, financial professionals supporting microfinancing, etc.). For professional and corporate donors, the team at CBI is here to answer any questions and assist with establishing a giving plan that is right for your organization.