OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS
Many volunteer vacations create “causes” designed to please tourists, not produce real results. Not BeachCorps.
All of our nonprofits are officially recognized nonprofits with a strong commitment to sustainability and empowering local communities selected after 10 years of research into the best Dominican and US nonprofits for BeachCorps. Our nonprofit partners focus on three areas: education and culture; community development; and environment and animals. Most of our nonprofit projects are backed by official US 501c3 nonprofits and our goal is to create alliances between our Dominican nonprofit partners and US nonprofits. All nonprofits are committed to providing both regular spot reporting on individual projects per week and periodic reports on the cumulative impact of projects. Your donation goes 100% to the nonprofit, while the BeachCorps model increases transparency and accountability by clearly separating vacation expenses from donations to a great nonprofit.
Beachcorps Philosophy
The Puntacana Group Foundation
The Puntacana Foundation was formed in 1998 to implement programs that improve the heath and wellbeing of the local communities of Punta Cana in basic areas of human and sustainable development. The Puntacana Foundation’s programs address the most basic elements of the community’s needs: education, health, sports, and culture. In addition the Puntacana Foundation has a vibrant environmental sustainability program. All Puntacana Foundation Group programs are backed by the Puntacana Group, a pioneer in sustainable development for more than 45 years both for its environmental practices and for its dedication to local communities. The Puntacana Group is the owner of the Punta Resort and Club.
The Dream Project
DREAM was informally founded in 1995 in Cabarete on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic to focus on education shortcomings reflected in overcrowded, understaffed classrooms and dilapidated facilities with no running water or electricity. DREAM was formally established in 2002 in both the US and Dominican Republic. Since then, DREAM has grown from one location to now helping more than 8,200 children, youth and young adults receive a better education through its 14 programs in 27 different communities. DREAM’s programs focus on early childhood education, high quality primary education, and holistic youth development.
Responsible Ecotourism Foundation (FECOTUR)
FECOTUR is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the environment and supporting social and cultural development. FECOTUR’s goal is to help the community continue to grow, but with minimal impact on the environment; help the development of disadvantaged communities; and integrate families and communities, environmental development, and institutions and institutions under one umbrella. FECOTUR works with partners in the government, civil society, and private sector to promote renewable energy projects, education initiatives, and good waste management by Reducing, Reusing and Recycling waste. FECOTUR is partnering with BeachCorps to develop two innovative programs: a Dynamic Donor program to allow travelers to responsibly donate used items and a mobile thrift shop, both inspired by the seminal book on volunteering Toxic Charity.
Dogs and Cats of the Dominican Republic
The mission of Dogs and Cats of the Dominican Republic (DCDR) is to significantly improve the health and well-being of the dogs and cats living on the north coast of the Dominican Republic by supporting and empowering the local communities that care for them. Dogs and Cats of the DR is a registered US 501c3 that helps underserved communities attend to their basic needs so that the communities can tend to the needs of animals, which in turn makes for kinder, safer communities. DCDR programs include a spay and neutering program; community outreach; dog and cat adoption; medical treatment; education; and legislation.
The Kids of Fundación Mir
Fundacion MIR (Mission International Rescue) Charities is a non-profit organization that works to supply the Dominican Republic’s most marginalized people with a variety of life-altering services. Since 1990, Fundacion MIR has served the women, youth and children of La Romana and the Eastern region of the Dominican Republic by partnering with and providing funding for social programs. With the help of benefactors and individual contributions, the programs provide a home, medical assistance, education and technical preparation for the people that are most in need in the La Romana community. BeachCorps programs will be focused on the education of children of Fundación Mir and helping them become agents of positive change in their communities.
RESCATAME
Rescatame like DCDR seeks to significantly improve the health and well-being of the dogs and cats, but focuses in the Punta Cana region of the Dominican Republic. Rescatame is a registered Dominican Republic nonprofit that helps underserved communities attend to their basic needs so that the communities can tend to the needs of animals, which in turn makes for kinder, safer communities. Rescatame programs include a spay and neutering clinic program; community outreach; dog and cat adoption; medical treatment; education; providing temporary homes for dogs and cats; and regular food runs where volunteers distribute about 80 pounds of food to the street dogs and cats.
Dominican Development Group
The Dominican Development Group (DDG), a US 501c3 non-profit organization within The Episcopal Church, coordinates the work of the Episcopal mission teams from the United States who work in the Dominican Republic each year and assists the Episcopal Church of the Dominican Republic in achieving financial self-sufficiency. The DDG works closely with the Episcopal dioceses across the United States and helps coordinate the work of other organizations that support mission teams and other projects in the Episcopal Diocese of the Dominican Republic. Approximately 50 Episcopal Church mission teams from the United States come to work in the Diocese of the Dominican Republic each year. The DDG helps in a variety of construction projects and assists in promoting education, one of the primary missions of the Dominican Episcopal Church. The DDG is a Partner Organization in the Global Episcopal Mission Network (GEMN), and the Director is a member of GEMN’s Board of Directors. Episcopal Development
Educando Avanzamos
Educando Avanzamos (“Educating We Advance”) is a nonprofit organization established in Bávaro, Dominican Republic dedicated to educational initiatives that provide equal opportunities for everyone. Educando Avanzamos has designed social programs to support public educational institutions in underserved communities, with the support of local authorities, private businesses, volunteers and generous citizens. Their “English for Everyone” opens doors to better futures for many children! BeachCorps and Educando Avanzamos are currently working on a project to teach English in the area of Punta Cana/Veron. Educando Avanzamos is also a nonprofit benefiting from the #SustainabilityPledge monthly photo contest!