VISEDAL Acquired by PROCAVIN
After 13 years of supporting youth in Nicaragua, on July 20, 2020, VISEDAL will be acquired by a Nicaraguan nonprofit called PROCAVIN. PROCAVIN's mission is closely aligned with VISEDAL's, and we believe strongly in the organization and its leadership.
VISEDAL scholars will join PROCAVIN and continue to receive solid support as they pursue their dreams. VISEDAL will cease independent operations and transfer our assets to PROCAVIN to provide for our legacy scholars.
We are also excited to share that you can continue to support legacy VISEDAL scholars even after the transition to PROCAVIN. Please see the FAQ and Letter to Donors sections below or visit www.utopiafound.org/partner-program/procavin for more information.
You can also make a final donation directly to VISEDAL—please just ensure that we receive your donation before August 17, 2020.
You might be wondering why we are making this change. Over the years, the two of us (Dylan and Daniel) have taken on more personal and professional responsibilities, and we can no longer sustainably devote the time and attention that VISEDAL and our scholars deserve. Candidly, coming to this realization has been a journey—and sometimes a challenging one—as we sought to discern the best way to provide for our scholars over the long term. We are thrilled to have encountered PROCAVIN, and we are confident this is the best move for our scholars.
Thank you for your incredible support. We're so, so grateful for you. You have truly changed lives, and we believe the impact of your support will continue to reverberate throughout Nicaragua for generations.
With gratitude,
Dylan Waugh
Daniel Schutrum-Boward
VISEDAL Partnership
VISEDAL scholars will join PROCAVIN and continue to receive solid support as they pursue their dreams. VISEDAL will cease independent operations and transfer our assets to PROCAVIN to provide for our legacy scholars.
We are also excited to share that you can continue to support legacy VISEDAL scholars even after the transition to PROCAVIN. Please see the FAQ and Letter to Donors sections below or visit www.utopiafound.org/partner-program/procavin for more information.
You can also make a final donation directly to VISEDAL—please just ensure that we receive your donation before August 17, 2020.
You might be wondering why we are making this change. Over the years, the two of us (Dylan and Daniel) have taken on more personal and professional responsibilities, and we can no longer sustainably devote the time and attention that VISEDAL and our scholars deserve. Candidly, coming to this realization has been a journey—and sometimes a challenging one—as we sought to discern the best way to provide for our scholars over the long term. We are thrilled to have encountered PROCAVIN, and we are confident this is the best move for our scholars.
Thank you for your incredible support. We're so, so grateful for you. You have truly changed lives, and we believe the impact of your support will continue to reverberate throughout Nicaragua for generations.
With gratitude,
Dylan Waugh
Daniel Schutrum-Boward
VISEDAL Partnership
FAQs
1.What does PROCAVIN mean?
PROCAVIN stands for Promoviendo Cambios Para Una Vida Nueva in Spanish, which translates in English to Promoting Changes for a New Life. PROCAVIN’s mission and vision are aligned with VISEDAL’s, as PROCAVIN focuses on providing education and life-skills training for its scholars.
2.I’ve already contributed to sponsor a scholar beyond July 20. Where is my money going?
Your previous donations will continue to support your scholar for the duration of your sponsorship. We will give all of our funds to PROCAVIN to continue supporting the legacy VISEDAL scholars.
3.How do I keep supporting the legacy VISEDAL scholars after the acquisition?
You can support the legacy VISEDAL scholars by donating to PROCAVIN through the Utopia Foundation. Please note that PROCAVIN’s sponsorship program does not have a set contribution amount—donors choose what they want to donate per month. We suggest continuing at the same level as VISEDAL sponsorship, $30/month, but it is up to you. Visit www.utopiafound.org/partner-program/procavin to learn more.
4.Am I able to keep supporting a specific scholar after the transition?
Yes, although the sponsorship experience will be a bit different than with VISEDAL. You can designate which scholar you would like to support when contributing via the Utopia webpage. And PROCAVIN will email you an update from your sponsored scholar approximately every four months. However, Utopia/PROCAVIN will not send reminder notifications when your sponsorship is up for renewal, so please consider the automatic recurring donation option or setting a reminder for yourself. If your scholar graduates from or leaves the program, PROCAVIN will notify you and provide information on the option of sponsoring another scholar.
5.Will I receive updates from PROCAVIN about my sponsored scholar? And can I write to my sponsored scholar?
You will receive emailed updates from your sponsored scholar, via PROCAVIN, approximately every four months. You will also be able to send letters to your scholar by emailing procavin.edu@gmail.com.
6.What should I do if I have an automatic donation set up with PayPal, Square, my bank, etc.?
Please stop your automatic donation before August 17, 2020. VISEDAL will not accept donations after August 17, 2020. If you would like to support our scholars after the transition, please donate to PROCAVIN via the Utopia Foundation. See FAQ #3 for more information.
7.Why do I need to donate to the Utopia Foundation in order to support PROCAVIN?
For U.S. donors to receive certain tax benefits, they must donate to U.S.-registered organizations. While PROCAVIN is a registered nonprofit in Nicaragua, it is not a registered nonprofit in the U.S. The Utopia Foundation is a U.S.-registered nonprofit and has graciously agreed to collect donations in the U.S. on behalf of PROCAVIN. That way, donors can receive tax benefits for their contributions. We have worked closely with the Utopia Foundation and PROCAVIN to ensure your donations will support the legacy VISEDAL scholars.
8.Does the Utopia Foundation keep a percentage of donations made to PROCAVIN?
No. The Utopia Foundation will transfer 100% of all donations directly to PROCAVIN. The Utopia Foundation does not keep any percentage of the donations made to PROCAVIN.
9.Will I still get a donation receipt (for tax purposes) for my 2020 donations?
We will provide donation receipts for all contributions (to VISEDAL) received before August 17, 2020. If you wish to donate after August 17, 2020, please donate to the Utopia Foundation, who will distribute the funds to PROCAVIN. The Utopia Foundation will provide a year-end receipt for any donations made after August 17, 2020.
10.Are all of the VISEDAL scholars going to join PROCAVIN?
PROCAVIN is inviting all of the VISEDAL scholars to join the program. We hope that every VISEDAL scholar does join PROCAVIN, although we realize some may choose not to.
11.How is PROCAVIN’s standard support different from VISEDAL’s level of support?
PROCAVIN is focused on helping its scholars receive a quality education and secure employment. For example, it offers many workshops and extracurricular classes (such as English, computer, life skills, art, and dance). PROCAVIN does not provide some of the other types of support that VISEDAL has provided, including food stipends, comprehensive medical care, and scholarships to private schools. Despite these differences, we are confident in PROCAVIN’s model and believe in its leadership and program.
12.Can I send a message to the scholar I sponsor before the transition to tell him/her that I’m continuing to support him/her in PROCAVIN?
Yes! You can email your message to dylan@visedal.org any time before August 31, 2020, and we will make sure it gets to your scholar.
13.Does PROCAVIN have a website or social media presence that I can follow and support?
14.What’s happening with VISEDAL’s staff?
A key priority for us is treating our staff well during this transition. One staff member is voluntarily pursuing another opportunity. We are paying our other two staff members through the transition and providing more than the legally required severance payments. And one of these staff members is transitioning to work for PROCAVIN throughout the remainder of his contract.
15.What’s happening with VISEDAL’s facility and assets in Nicaragua?
We currently rent the facility we use for Casa VISEDAL, so we will end our lease after the transition is complete. We are transferring our remaining funds and assets to PROCAVIN.
16.Will VISEDAL still do any fundraising via candy sales or Etsy?
No. We have stopped our candy sales and shut down our Etsy store. The best way to continue supporting our scholars is to donate to PROCAVIN through the Utopia Foundation.
17.Will there be any volunteer trips to Nicaragua in the future?
There will not be any VISEDAL volunteer trips in the future. PROCAVIN has hosted volunteer trips in the past and is open to the possibility of hosting such trips in the future. PROCAVIN will post any volunteer opportunities on its Facebook page.
Please don't hesitate to reach out to us with any other questions. We are happy to talk more about this and answer any questions you might have.
Again, thank you for your generous love and support over the last 13 years. You have changed the lives of so many students and families in Nicaragua. We’re so grateful for you.
Dylan Waugh: dylan@visedal.org
Daniel Schutrum-Boward: daniel@visedal.org
PROCAVIN stands for Promoviendo Cambios Para Una Vida Nueva in Spanish, which translates in English to Promoting Changes for a New Life. PROCAVIN’s mission and vision are aligned with VISEDAL’s, as PROCAVIN focuses on providing education and life-skills training for its scholars.
2.I’ve already contributed to sponsor a scholar beyond July 20. Where is my money going?
Your previous donations will continue to support your scholar for the duration of your sponsorship. We will give all of our funds to PROCAVIN to continue supporting the legacy VISEDAL scholars.
3.How do I keep supporting the legacy VISEDAL scholars after the acquisition?
You can support the legacy VISEDAL scholars by donating to PROCAVIN through the Utopia Foundation. Please note that PROCAVIN’s sponsorship program does not have a set contribution amount—donors choose what they want to donate per month. We suggest continuing at the same level as VISEDAL sponsorship, $30/month, but it is up to you. Visit www.utopiafound.org/partner-program/procavin to learn more.
4.Am I able to keep supporting a specific scholar after the transition?
Yes, although the sponsorship experience will be a bit different than with VISEDAL. You can designate which scholar you would like to support when contributing via the Utopia webpage. And PROCAVIN will email you an update from your sponsored scholar approximately every four months. However, Utopia/PROCAVIN will not send reminder notifications when your sponsorship is up for renewal, so please consider the automatic recurring donation option or setting a reminder for yourself. If your scholar graduates from or leaves the program, PROCAVIN will notify you and provide information on the option of sponsoring another scholar.
5.Will I receive updates from PROCAVIN about my sponsored scholar? And can I write to my sponsored scholar?
You will receive emailed updates from your sponsored scholar, via PROCAVIN, approximately every four months. You will also be able to send letters to your scholar by emailing procavin.edu@gmail.com.
6.What should I do if I have an automatic donation set up with PayPal, Square, my bank, etc.?
Please stop your automatic donation before August 17, 2020. VISEDAL will not accept donations after August 17, 2020. If you would like to support our scholars after the transition, please donate to PROCAVIN via the Utopia Foundation. See FAQ #3 for more information.
7.Why do I need to donate to the Utopia Foundation in order to support PROCAVIN?
For U.S. donors to receive certain tax benefits, they must donate to U.S.-registered organizations. While PROCAVIN is a registered nonprofit in Nicaragua, it is not a registered nonprofit in the U.S. The Utopia Foundation is a U.S.-registered nonprofit and has graciously agreed to collect donations in the U.S. on behalf of PROCAVIN. That way, donors can receive tax benefits for their contributions. We have worked closely with the Utopia Foundation and PROCAVIN to ensure your donations will support the legacy VISEDAL scholars.
8.Does the Utopia Foundation keep a percentage of donations made to PROCAVIN?
No. The Utopia Foundation will transfer 100% of all donations directly to PROCAVIN. The Utopia Foundation does not keep any percentage of the donations made to PROCAVIN.
9.Will I still get a donation receipt (for tax purposes) for my 2020 donations?
We will provide donation receipts for all contributions (to VISEDAL) received before August 17, 2020. If you wish to donate after August 17, 2020, please donate to the Utopia Foundation, who will distribute the funds to PROCAVIN. The Utopia Foundation will provide a year-end receipt for any donations made after August 17, 2020.
10.Are all of the VISEDAL scholars going to join PROCAVIN?
PROCAVIN is inviting all of the VISEDAL scholars to join the program. We hope that every VISEDAL scholar does join PROCAVIN, although we realize some may choose not to.
11.How is PROCAVIN’s standard support different from VISEDAL’s level of support?
PROCAVIN is focused on helping its scholars receive a quality education and secure employment. For example, it offers many workshops and extracurricular classes (such as English, computer, life skills, art, and dance). PROCAVIN does not provide some of the other types of support that VISEDAL has provided, including food stipends, comprehensive medical care, and scholarships to private schools. Despite these differences, we are confident in PROCAVIN’s model and believe in its leadership and program.
12.Can I send a message to the scholar I sponsor before the transition to tell him/her that I’m continuing to support him/her in PROCAVIN?
Yes! You can email your message to dylan@visedal.org any time before August 31, 2020, and we will make sure it gets to your scholar.
13.Does PROCAVIN have a website or social media presence that I can follow and support?
- PROCAVIN’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100013790971133
- PROCAVIN’s website: http://PROCAVIN.simplesite.com/420788276
- Tierra de Hombres Italia’s (an Italian organization that provides substantial support to PROCAVIN) website: https://terredeshommes.it/chi-siamo/i-nostri-valori/
- The Utopia Foundation’s Partner Page for PROCAVIN: www.utopiafound.org/partner-program/procavin
14.What’s happening with VISEDAL’s staff?
A key priority for us is treating our staff well during this transition. One staff member is voluntarily pursuing another opportunity. We are paying our other two staff members through the transition and providing more than the legally required severance payments. And one of these staff members is transitioning to work for PROCAVIN throughout the remainder of his contract.
15.What’s happening with VISEDAL’s facility and assets in Nicaragua?
We currently rent the facility we use for Casa VISEDAL, so we will end our lease after the transition is complete. We are transferring our remaining funds and assets to PROCAVIN.
16.Will VISEDAL still do any fundraising via candy sales or Etsy?
No. We have stopped our candy sales and shut down our Etsy store. The best way to continue supporting our scholars is to donate to PROCAVIN through the Utopia Foundation.
17.Will there be any volunteer trips to Nicaragua in the future?
There will not be any VISEDAL volunteer trips in the future. PROCAVIN has hosted volunteer trips in the past and is open to the possibility of hosting such trips in the future. PROCAVIN will post any volunteer opportunities on its Facebook page.
Please don't hesitate to reach out to us with any other questions. We are happy to talk more about this and answer any questions you might have.
Again, thank you for your generous love and support over the last 13 years. You have changed the lives of so many students and families in Nicaragua. We’re so grateful for you.
Dylan Waugh: dylan@visedal.org
Daniel Schutrum-Boward: daniel@visedal.org