Giving Tuesday: 
A Celebration of Our 2024 Nonprofit Partners

Org Description:
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) works in more than 40 countries and in 29 U.S. cities to help people affected by humanitarian crises to survive, recover and rebuild their lives. MiiR has historically supported their “New Roots Program.”

New Roots:
New Roots is a multi-faceted agriculture and food initiative that works in partnership with refugees and other New Americans to support their health, community connection and household economics through nutrition education, gardening, land-based micro-business development, and other wellness and educational activities.

What we love about them: 

• Not only does New Roots seek to address issues around food security, it also facilitates cultural exchange and community cohesion - bringing together individuals from various backgrounds to achieve a shared goal.
• The New Roots program is not just a food assistance program - it helps build economic independence and resilience which is essential to holistic community development.
• The IRC New Roots Program was one of the first recipients of our Annual Grant Program in the Sustainable Food Systems and Agriculture category, and provided us with meaningful feedback about the process.

How you can support:
This holiday season, help the IRC turn hope into action so we can change more lives in 2025 and beyond. You can make a contribution to their critical work here.

Org Description:
Viva Farms empowers aspiring and limited-resource farmers by providing bilingual training in holistic organic farming practices, as well as access to land, infrastructure, equipment, marketing and capital.

What we love about them: 

• Viva Farms has set an incredible example in the world of incubator programs with a tried and tested farm incubator model that provides consistent, hands-on support and education for aspiring farmers.
• They have a wide reach and collaborate with a broad array of partners, including local universities, agricultural extension programs, government organizations, and local businesses, to effectively implement their suite of programs.
• As one of our oldest partners, Viva Farms has a rich history of collaboration, including issuing grants and co-creating impactful initiatives. Be sure to check out the "Planting Seeds of Empowerment" video produced by MiiR in collaboration with Viva a few years back.

How you can support:
Often, in the face of change – seasonal, political, climatic – we return to our routines, so many of which revolve around the tradition and comfort of food. When so much seems out of our control, we lean on our community, and we rely on them to lean back. What do we think is essential to ensure amidst all the change? A food system that works far into the future. This giving season, lend your support to Viva Farms!

Read more about this organization here.

Org Description:
The National Young Farmers Coalition (Young Farmers) is on a mission to shift power and change policy to equitably resource the next generation of working farmers. They are working toward a farm future that’s free of racial violence, accessible to communities, oriented towards environmental well-being, and concerned with health over profit.

What we love about them: 

• They work tirelessly to ensure that farming is a viable, and fruitful career path - empowering young and emerging farmers and aiming to future-proof farming.
• Their work is agnostic, and spans across all different kinds of identities and ideologies. They work with farmers from all different kinds of backgrounds, and honor the necessity of farmers, agricultural workers, and their expertise, freedoms, and right to a healthy, stable future.
• They are action oriented - they believe policy change is necessary to support future farmers, and put their money where their mouth is (so to speak). They bring farmers to capital hill to share stories with lawmakers and fight for the change they want to see.

How you can support:
Join Young Farmers this Giving Tuesday! For as little as $1, you can become a member and enjoy access to an exclusive MiiR discount. Check it out here!

Read more about this organization here.

Org Description:
Kula exists to eradicate poverty through the development of entrepreneurs in Rwanda's coffee communities.

Why Coffee?
Coffee is one of Rwanda’s top three export cash crops and has the potential to significantly impact farmers' lives. While it involves a higher barrier of entry than other crops, coffee is a long-term investment that can provide a greater return per land size when cultivated well.

Their Solution: The Kula Fellowship Program.
Kula’s Fellowship Program is a poverty graduation model that combines agricultural support, income diversification, and business coaching to elevate female farmers and their families out of extreme poverty.

What we love about them: 

• Like any relationship, our partnership with Kula has experienced periods of remarkable growth and boundless potential, as well as times for reflection - seeking feedback, and iterating on how we show up as a partner and funder. Kula has been a huge inspiration for our pivot from project based funding to unrestricted funding, and exemplifies trust-based relationships in philanthropy.
• Kula’s team are masterful storytellers, amplifying the voices of women in Rwanda with respect and care.
• We’ve had the privilege of visiting Kula’s operations twice. These trips are transformational, offering MiiR employees a firsthand connection to the impact of our work.

How you can support:
This holiday season, consider contributing to the Kula Project’s mission to eradicate poverty through the development of entrepreneurs in Rwanda’s coffee communities. Click here to learn more.

Read more about this organization here.

Org Description:
The Chain Collaborative (TCC) is an organization that co-creates opportunities and strengthens capacities for community-led change in the coffee sector. They build relationships with local leaders and their community-based organizations in coffee-producing regions, putting change-making power into the hands of under-resourced leaders who are the most equipped to drive impact in their own communities.

What we love about them: 

• TCC is committed to community driven development. They are dedicated to supporting the transformation of the coffee sector on the terms of the communities they are serving, according to their own visions for change.
• TCC was instrumental in helping MiiR develop our first public-facing grant programs, ensuring that the application process was relevant, equitable, and accessible. Their feedback and candor was critical in the grant program design.

How you can support:
If you believe in driving community-led development and shifting power to coffee communities, you can help The Chain Collaborative reach a different future of development this Giving Tuesday. Learn more about how you can support here.

Read more about this organization here.

Org Description:
Bean Voyage is a feminist nonprofit social enterprise on a mission to create thriving businesses with smallholder women coffee farms. Because historically women haven’t had the same access and opportunities as men, Bean Voyage works to improve these women’s access to training, finance, and international markets to put them at the core of the coffee business.

What we love about them: 

• The team at Bean Voyage is unparalleled in their enthusiasm and commitment to women-powered coffee. Their co-founders Abhinav Khanal and Sunghee Tark radiate enthusiasm and have been such joys to work alongside. It’s no surprise they’ve built a rockstar international team, and are making a splash in the coffee community and beyond.
• Women-Powered Coffee Summit - enough said!

How you can support:
Bean Voyage is building its first quality control lab in Mexico, and they’re aiming to raise $5,000 for essential coffee equipment. This includes a moisture and density analyzer, lamps, roasting machine, sample trays, and cupping tools and bowls. If you’d be interested in helping us make this happen, you can support the project here.

Read more about this organization here.

Org Description:
The IWCA seeks to empower women in the international coffee community to achieve meaningful and sustainable lives; and to encourage and recognize the participation of women in all aspects of the coffee industry.

What we love about them: 

• The IWCA was one of the first recipients of our Annual Grant Program in the Coffee Farming & Incubation Category and provided us with meaningful feedback about the process.
• They have chapters in 35 different countries, giving them massive reach—one of their superpowers as an organization.
• They empower women in the coffee community to achieve meaningful and sustainable lives through: Much-needed capacity-building programs, a focus on access to markets and financing continuous training on Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) in coffee, financial literacy and coffee cupping.

How you can support:
This Giving Tuesday, join MiiR in supporting IWCA's 26 life-changing projects for women in coffee. Let’s make a difference together!

Read more about this organization here.

Org Description:
Central Oregon LandWatch is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a more resilient future in Central Oregon. Their key aims include enhancing climate resilience, supporting agricultural livelihoods, improving habitat for fish and wildlife, and creating Complete Communities to help the region grow with intention.

What we love about them: 

• COLW has been instrumental in developing our grant programs, providing valuable insights and assisting in the review of the grant application process. Their efforts ensured that the process is relevant for similar organizations while remaining accessible and low-effort.
• They excel in collaborating with a diverse range of stakeholders, including local governments, conservation groups, and community members, to create and implement land use policies that reflect community values and promote environmental sustainability.
• COLW places a strong emphasis on community education and empowerment, actively encouraging public participation in land planning processes that can often be confusing.

How you can support:
Donate to LandWatch on Giving Tuesday and your gift will be matched for double the impact. Even better, if you become a sustaining member with a monthly gift to Central Oregon LandWatch, your gift will be matched for double the impact AND you’ll enjoy a beautiful MiiR mug!

Org Description:
As the park’s official nonprofit partner, Yellowstone Forever helps fund priority projects in Yellowstone. Yellowstone Forever supporters fund projects that conserve native wildlife and biodiversity, and contribute to a healthy and resilient ecosystem for the future.

What we love about them: 

• We have had the opportunity to support Yellowstone Forever by providing both donated and purchased merchandise for their operations. This creative co-creation process has strengthened our relationship with the organization and deepened our connection to the park itself.
• Yellowstone National Park is a vast and historic landscape, recently celebrating its 150th anniversary despite facing the challenges of catastrophic flooding. The organization is dedicated to protecting and enhancing the park's natural, historical, and cultural resources, ensuring that this iconic landscape remains preserved for future generations to enjoy.

How you can support:
Yellowstone National Park has provided refuge and tranquility for millennia, and even when the world is in chaos as it has been this year, life at Yellowstone remains resilient. Today, Giving Tuesday, we’re calling on all of you to help ensure that Yellowstone is preserved and protected for generations to come. What makes today extra special is that all gifts up to the $100,000 campaign goal will be matched dollar-for-dollar, doubling the impact these gifts have on the park. Click here to give!

Read more about this organization here.

Org Description:
Splash is dedicated to providing clean water solutions at scale, offering customized hygiene education services and fostering crucial relationships to address sanitation challenges.

What we love about them: 

• Our support of Splash harkens back to an earlier time in MiiR’s giving. We’ve been working with them since 2016, and they have been so adaptable, flexible, and supportive of a continually evolving MiiR.
• They have a global reach, but are focused on local impact. Splash operates in several countries, working closely with local partners to tailor their programs to specific community needs. This commitment to local engagement fosters meaningful relationships and maximizes the effectiveness of their initiatives, making a real difference in the lives of children and families.

How you can support:
This Giving Tuesday, you can help ensure kids who need it have access to clean water. Support Splash’s important work here!

Read more about this organization here.