Fundamaya Friends of the Animals

04/09/2026

13/08/2026

Dear Fundamaya Friends and Family,

We wanted to personally let you know about a small change coming to the way you support Fundamaya.

We are transitioning our online donations from Donorbox to a new giving platform called Givebutter. We know that changes like this can sometimes feel confusing or stressful, especially when it involves any donation, so please don’t worry we are going to make this transition as easy as possible for you.

Our current Donorbox donation system will remain active on our site for a while so that no one feels rushed. We know that some of our supporters may not see this email or our announcements on social media, and we want to make sure your support continues without interruption. We will be changing it on our website in a couple of weeks and adding the new link in different emails.

HERE IS OUR NEW DONATION LINK

https://givebutter.com/support-fundamaya-v5ypvy

If you are wanting to change any of your donations, recurring donations, ready to set up a new donation to change to Givebutter, we kindly ask that you do so when you have a chance.

If you have successfully set up your recurring donation through Givebutter, please remember to cancel any of your recurring donations through Donorbox so that you are not charged twice.

Givebutter has all the options to donate the same way as you were donating, via PayPal, Venmo, by check, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or credit card, but you can still donate by Zelle and all the other options too!

If you are not comfortable making the change yourself, we are more than happy to help! You can email us at either of these emails [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]

Or call us directly at 619-808-2109, and we can assist you with setting up your donation and canceling the old recurring donation on our end.

Our goal is to make sure that no one feels stressed, confused, or worried about their support. Your generosity means so much to the children, families, women, and elderly members of our communities, and we are incredibly grateful for the continued trust you place in Fundamaya.

Givebutter does charge a processing fee. These are Givebutter payment-processing charges and are separate from your donation to Fundamaya, which if they are not charged, it will deduct from Fundamaya's donation.

When you make your donation, Givebutter shows you an additional optional tip to give to Givebutter. This tip does NOT go to Fundamaya and is not required to complete your donation. You can simply change the Givebutter tip to $0 or the amount you prefer before completing your donation.

Please know that Fundamaya does not require or request the optional Givebutter tip. The choice is entirely yours! They ask for this tip so their website can continue to be free core services for NGOs to help them grow! ❤️

Thank you for being part of the Fundamaya family and for continuing to make a difference with us.

With gratitude,
Zoe Mara Smart
Fundamaya’s Executive Director

13/08/2026

02/07/2026

💧 74 years. $74 per water filter. 1,000 families. One incredible legacy.

Today, we're launching a campaign that is incredibly close to our hearts.

On August 31, our beloved co-founder, Sharon Smart would have celebrated her 74th birthday. Sharon dedicated her life to serving the families of Guatemala with compassion, kindness, and unwavering faith. There is no better way to honor her legacy than by continuing the work she loved so deeply.

From today through August 31, our goal is to raise $74,000 to provide 1,000 water filters to families throughout the Lake Atitlán area.

Here's what makes this campaign so special:

For just $74, you can provide one family with a life-changing water filter, giving them access to clean, safe drinking water for years to come. In rural Guatemala, many families rely on water sources that are contaminated with bacteria, parasites, and other harmful microorganisms. A simple water filter can help prevent illness, keep children healthier, and bring peace of mind to an entire household.

To make it possible to reach as many families as possible, this campaign covers the cost of the water filter only, transport, and follow-up of the water filter. It does not include the water filter table that comes with our full water filter set. Our hope is to maximize the number of families who can receive access to safe drinking water through this special campaign.

Will we reach our goal of 1,000 filters? We certainly hope so. But regardless of how many filters we're able to provide, every single donation means another family will have access to safe drinking water.

As Fundamaya moves forward, we remain committed to carrying on Sharon's heart and life's work to countless more families. Together, we can ensure that her legacy continues to flow one water filter, one family, one act of love at a time. 💙

Will you celebrate Sharon's 74th birthday by giving the gift of clean water?
Please share this with your family, friends, and anyone who may want to make a difference!

19/05/2026

07/05/2026

We are proud of our Executive Director, Zoe Mara Smart, for being featured in SD Voyager. We also extend our sincere thanks to the individual who anonymously submitted her name for consideration for this interview.
Click on the link to read the interview https://sdvoyager.com/interview/meet-zoe-marie-mara-smart-of-fundamaya
Zoe has led Fundamaya to a whole new level through her dedication, vision, and commitment to serving the community.

30/03/2026

Dear Friends,
We hope that you and your loved ones are having
a nice start celebrating Semana Santa this
weekend.
We want to thank you for all the support that you
have given to Fundamaya to make Semana Santa
a very special time for your students, their families,
the elderly, and impoverished children who may
feel forgotten this year
Your kindness and generosity have made it
possible for us to distribute
#216 SEMANA SANTA FOOD BASKETS!
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we will be
handing them out. We estimate that each basket
feeds approx. 5 people.
There is still time to send a Semana Santa food
basket!!
We want to be able to feed more families!!
Donate $76 US for a Semana Santa Food via this link https://www.fundamaya.org/donatetofundamaya
As is the custom in Guatemala, families will share
traditional meals with extended family on Thursday
and share time together!
Thanks to YOU, this Semana Santa we were able
to feed and bring hope and joy to at least 1,080
children, families and individuals who now have
access to healthy, nutritious food. That’s over a
1,080 reasons to celebrate the power of
community and generosity that you, your family,
your loved ones, your friends and everyone that is
involved with Fundamaya has, and who shared
their passion to really help and make a difference
to Guatemalan children and their families and
communities.
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for
your kindness and generosity that makes such a
difference to so many people.
We want to wish you and your loved ones a very
happy and healthy Semana Santa - Easter Holiday
Season this 2026
Love and hugs,
Dwight Mara and Zoe Mara Smart
Fundamaya Team (Fundación Familia Maya)

23/03/2026

Hi
I wanted to say a heartfelt thank you. Because of your generosity, we were able to raise $300 USD for Julia. This helped cover her pain medication and allowed us to gently ease her into rest after she was tragically run over. We are so grateful she did not suffer.
Now, her four baby kittens are in our care and being bottle-fed at our home. We are committed to giving them the best start possible, but we need your help.
To care for them over the next few weeks, we need:
$100 USD for goat’s milk (2 weeks of feeding)
$112 USD for kitten wet food ($28/week for 4 weeks)
That brings our immediate total to $212 USD to begin properly nursing and supporting these little ones.
If you feel called to help, donations can be made here: https://www.fundamaya.org/donatetofundamaya⁠�
Thank you for continuing to stand with us and for helping give these babies a chance at life.
With gratitude!
Fundamaya