The Xela Fund
Who We Are
The Xela Fund, a donor-advised fund of Philanthropic Ventures Foundation, provides micro-grants for small-footprint development projects around the world. Our mission is to foster environmentally sustainable and socially responsible development through the disbursement of seed and bridge funding to innovative individuals, groups, and organizations.
What We Do
The Xela Fund believes that each community possesses the human capital necessary for its own prosperity. We therefore seek out projects that are designed and supported by the communities they are intended to serve. Projects presently under consideration involve women's work collaboratives, environmental restoration, and drinking water purification.
Depending on the project, grants may range in size from several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. Grant criteria include: leverage potential (ratio of seed capital required to goal); future funding potential; quality of project leadership and vision; environmental impact/sustainability; and social responsibility.
Our History
The Xela Fund was founded by Sharon Djemal and Peter Rukin. It draws its name from the Mam Mayan term for the City of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, where Sharon and Peter first met. Xela (pronounced "shay-la") is the gateway to the Guatemalan highlands and possesses a mestizo soul rich in Mayan history and Latin American political culture. The remarkable people of Xela and the western highlands continue to inspire Peter and Sharon's work for sustainable human development.