Growing Hope Globally

Mission: To help alleviate hunger and poverty by supporting sustainable agricultural development and empowering communities in the developing world.

Growing Hope Globally is a non-profit organization that operates with the belief that addressing the root causes of hunger—such as poverty, lack of access to resources, and underdeveloped agricultural systems—can create lasting solutions. Our model is built on the idea of empowerment, equipping communities with the tools and knowledge needed to create lasting change, rather than providing short-term aid. We envision a day when all people around the world have enough to eat and the physical, financial and community resources to live hopeful, healthy, productive lives.

Founded in 1999 as Foods Resource Bank, Growing Hope Globally started when Ohio Farmers Vernon and Carol Sloan invited their neighbors to become part of the solution to world hunger by shipping corn from their fields to developing countries. They quickly learned shipping was too costly and would wreak havoc on local farmers and markets. Needing a new idea, they sat down with a handful of Christian organizations that fund and run international food security programs. Their unique solution: Use the proceeds from crops raised and sold in the U.S. to fund agricultural development programs overseas. That seed of an idea has blossomed into a network of community Growing Projects across the U.S. Together, we have helped our communities grow lasting solutions to hunger.

Growing Hope Globally links the grassroots energy and commitment of rural communities in the U.S. with the capability and desire of smallholder farmers in developing countries to grow lasting solutions to hunger. Our focus is on improving food security, increasing income, and promoting climate resilience through partnerships with local organizations. We partner with local and international groups to fund agricultural programs, educate communities, and implement projects that foster economic independence and resilience. We work with partners in 32 countries to support food security programs that provide training on sustainable agriculture, nutrition, hygiene & sanitation, access to water, seeds, land and more. In the U.S., we work with farmers, agribusinesses, churches, and others who come together to form Growing Projects to use the proceeds from crops raised and sold in the U.S. to fund the agricultural development programs overseas.