Friendship Bridge

10/12/2026

Fifteen years ago, María Isabel, from Santa Lucía Utatlán, received her first Friendship Bridge loan of just 500 quetzales (about $65 U.S. dollars at the time). She was earning a living through weaving and embroidery, working long hours for very little income. Despite her hard work, the business offered few opportunities for growth and left little time for her family.

Determined to build a better future, María Isabel sought out Friendship Bridge’s Advanced Business Training workshops and enrolled in an intensive two-day piñata-making workshop.

The learning curve to develop her business was steep, but through hard work, María Isabel now distributes piñatas and wholesale products throughout the region. Her business portfolio now includes a pharmacy and gift shop; a clothing and household goods store; and a rural banking outlet combined with a convenience store.

On Indigenous Peoples' Day, we celebrate the impact of María Isabel—which extends far beyond her household—and the perseverance of Maya women. It is our honor to walk alongside Indigenous entrepreneurs as they transform their lives, families, and communities.

10/11/2026

According to the 2025 Women’s Philanthropy Institute’s Women & Girls Index (WPI), charitable giving to women and girls' organizations hovers at just over 2%, yet we know the need is much greater than this percentage reflects.

Systemic inequities exist for women all across the world. Through our work in Guatemala, we see it firsthand.

Guatemala ranks 81st out of 146 countries in gender equality, making it the third most gender unequal country in Latin America. And, Guatemala has one of the lowest female labor force participation rates in the region, according to the Global Gender Gap Index 2025.

In addition, because of machismo culture prevalent in Guatemala, it's common that husbands won't "allow" their wives to participate in things like managing money or attending business trainings. When women start to thrive, it can be shocking to their husbands, and they often receive little support from the men in their family.

You can help address the disparity of funding for women and girls when you support Friendship Bridge in a variety of ways:

✅ Learn about women and girls in Guatemala. Purchase a recording of our recent webinar, What I've Learned from Mayan Women: A Conversation with Deborah Chandler, to educate yourself about the conditions that women and girls in Guatemala face. https://secure.qgiv.com/for/circlesfriendshipcircleevents/event/deborahchandler/

✅ Share our mission. Let your networks know about the funding disparity for women and girls’ organizations and the needs of women in Guatemala. Follow the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy on social media and create awareness about the importance of giving to women and girls’ causes.

✅ Donate or invest. Make a contribution online, start a donor-advised fund (DAF), or become an investor. https://loom.ly/Vb2VgOY

Change starts with awareness and thrives on action. And through your efforts and advocacy, so will women and girls. 🌟


-----------

Source: Women’s Philanthropy Institute, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and DataLake Nonprofit Research. (2025).

10/09/2026

🇬🇹🪁 For centuries, giant kites, or barriletes gigantes, have been an important tradition in Guatemala. Families and communities create these colorful, intricate kites to honor loved ones who have passed away and celebrate the connection between the living and the dead.

Want to learn more about this vibrant tradition? Join the Guatemalan Kite Workshop, hosted by the Guatemala Colorado Association, on October 10, 2-5 p.m. at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

You'll experience a piece of Guatemala’s rich heritage firsthand and walk away a greater understanding of the culture. We hope to see you there!

10/08/2026

October 8 is DAF Day! What is DAF Day, you ask? 🤔

DAF Day is a national day of giving for individuals with donor advised funds. A DAF is a charitable savings account —like a 401k for philanthropy—and a powerful tool for donors to accelerate their giving.

But according to the 2024 National Study on Donor Advised Funds, 37% of DAF accounts go unused in an average year, meaning they make no charitable grants.

Your generosity as a DAF donor will play a critical role in transforming the lives of the women we serve in Guatemala. (More than 37,000 served just last year!) We’d be thrilled if you'd join us by donating today.

Gifts from your DAF may be made online via our Donate page: https://loom.ly/cTVxZsg

Don't have a DAF yet? Learn more and find verified DAF providers at www.dafday.com.

10/06/2026

🎉 WE DID IT! 🎉

Thanks to your generosity, commitment, and determination, we blew past our $75,000 goal for September’s Health for Life campaign!

💜 $86,000+ raised by YOU
💜 $161,000+ with the generous donor match
💜 Countless women in rural Guatemala benefiting from preventive health services

You donated. You shared our posts. Rallied your friends. Took on personal health challenges. You found countless ways to champion Health for Life.

Thank you for believing in this work, standing behind Indigenous women, and helping make better health possible among Guatemalan women.

10/05/2026

We continue to connect with young adults who have a heart for service and women's empowerment! 💜 🇬🇹

Last month, we hosted a Friendship Bridge trivia night for University of Denver students, where they could test their knowledge of Guatemalan culture as well as our programs. Many students who visited Friendship Bridge clients last spring as part of a global immersion course to Guatemala came back to reconnect, along with DU faculty and their own children.

Our colleague Nohelia Guarchaj, visiting from Guatemala, served as the MC of the evening.

We’re excited to nurture these connections with the next generation of global changemakers, and see where their passion for women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship takes them.

10/05/2026

As Hispanic Heritage Month continues in the U.S., we want to recognize Guatemalan-American entrepreneur and software developer, Luis von Ahn. Founder of the company reCAPTCHA and co-founder and CEO of Duolingo, von Ahn was born and raised in Guatemala City. This year, he was recognized by National Geographic as a person creating positive impact in the world.

El informático guatemalteco Luis von Ahn destaca en National Geographic 33, una lista que destaca a personas que están generando cambios positivos.

10/01/2026

What are you doing this Saturday, October 3? There is still time to sign up for the virtual webinar, What I've Learned from Mayan Women: A Conversation with Deborah Chandler!

RSVP today to join us! https://loom.ly/1rM8JlU

At this live virtual event sponsored by the Global Satellite Friendship Circle, author Deborah Chandler will speak on what she has learned after years of working closely with Mayan women in Guatemala, and specifically, Mayan weavers. Her talk will be followed by discussion/Q & A with attendees.

09/30/2026

For Indigenous women in Guatemala, barriers to healthcare access often keep them from reaching their full potential.

Your generosity is changing that. 🤝 But time is running out to reach our Health for Life goal.

During the month of September, all donations will be matched by a generous group of donors up to $75,000.

Will you help us get there?

Donate today: https://loom.ly/psQCMQY

09/26/2026

We're more than 75% of the way to reaching our goal for Health for Life!

Give to support women's health in Guatemala today: https://loom.ly/psQCMQY