Ayiti Earthquake Fund Relief
On August 14, 2021, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the southern peninsula of Ayiti. We are closely monitoring the situation with community partners on the ground. We encourage those who are interested in supporting relief efforts to make contributions to the Ayiti Community Trust's designated Earthquake Relief Fund. Consistent with our mission, we will ensure that the contributions are channeled to local Haitian-led organizations in Ayiti.
Who We Are
We are a group of people dedicating time, talent, and treasure to building a sustainable Ayiti.
We are Haitians living in Ayiti and in the diaspora, and friends of Ayiti who believe that, together, we can transform and correct the misrepresentation of Haitians and Ayiti. Motivated and unified by our belief in Ayiti's strengths, we work to supplant relief-driven development with long-term investment in Ayiti's human and social capital.
Our Story
The Ayiti Community Trust (ACT) was founded by friends and colleagues Guerda Nicolas and Pierre Imbert, whose work led them to realize that to help Ayiti move beyond short-term, relief-driven aid, Ayiti’s people and its friends would need to join together to build on the country’s strengths and on its founding promise as the land of liberty, equality, and fraternity. After significant research on models for indigenous, long-term, sustained development, ACT’s founders chose the community foundation model backed by an endowment whose yields will fund grants that support Haitian-led innovation. This idea of a community foundation backed by a permanent endowment is a commitment to the future of Ayiti and represents a unique approach for the country.
ACT aims to grow its endowment to partner with Ayiti on its 21st-century path toward sustainable economic and social development through advances in three interconnected pillars: the civic education, environment, and entrepreneurship.
Our Timeline
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2014
Founders begin dialogue about sustainable development in Ayiti and conduct research on endowments and community foundations
2015
Asset-based endowment model developed & grant-making pillars selected
2016
ACT registers in Ayiti & conducts 1st annual board meeting in Arcahaie, Ayiti; First fundraising events are held
2017
Ayiti Community Trust (ACT) is launched & forms a partnership with The Miami Foundation.
2018
ACT registers as a 501(c)(3) in the United States
2019
Gala Kanaval, A fundraising event celebrating Haitian art, music, and culture is held with over 500 participants. ACT joins la Grande Fondation D’Haiti, a network of Haitian foundations in Ayiti; ACT makes its 1st grant award
2020
ACT makes its 2nd grant awards · Nou La Pi Rèd, a fundraising event honoring Jan Jak Dessalines Day
Community Partners
