OUR MISSION
Mission
The Pro Deo Foundation started with the fundamental belief that every child should have the ability to become all that God created them to be. For many children and youth, due to a lack of resources, relationships, or opportunities, this can seem like a monumental task. There are many problems in our society, and we at Pro Deo want to be part of the solutions. This desire is born directly out of our Christian faith and a belief that we have the responsibility to use what God has given us for others.
Simply stated, our mission at Pro Deo Foundation is to:
“Create Pathways for Children & Youth to Flourish.”
Strategy
Our strategy at Pro Deo is three-fold:
- We seek to accomplish our mission through local program initiatives which seek to instill the developmental and relational assets that children and youth need to thrive and to provide opportunities they might not otherwise have.
- We look to join others in strategic partnerships, looking for like-minded organizations and groups with similar vision and passion for children and youth with whom to create strategic partnerships. We believe that partnerships allow us to do more together than we can by ourselves.
- We grant funds to projects and organizations who meet our granting guidelines.
Values
Pro Deo Foundation operates with a set of core values that influence and drive everything that we do. Our core values are:
Christian- Pro Deo Foundation at its very core is a Christian foundation. Our name, which means “For God” in Latin is a reflection of our fundamental motivation. From our founders to our staff, we seek to support and advance the work of God here on earth.
Collaborative- No person is an island. We’re better together. These statements can become cliches, but that doesn’t mean that they are not true. At Pro Deo, we don’t want to simply play in our own sandbox, we desire to work alongside others who share our same focus.
Entrepreneurial- Yesterday’s ideas will not produce results in today’s environment. We don’t want to be stuck in one-way thinking. We value an entrepreneurial spirit that is willing to take chances, do new things, and innovate.
Intergenerational- We want the Pro Deo Foundation and our programs to cross generations. Children and youth need adults of all ages in their lives and adults can benefit by knowing and serving kids.
Humility- We do not have all the of answers. In fact, we probably don’t have many of them. We can and should learn something from everyone we meet, but if we do not approach every idea, program, relationship, and interaction with humility, we will miss the opportunities to learn and grow.
Location
Pro Deo Foundation works primarily in Santa Barbara and Orange County.
Why Santa Barbara and Orange County?
In the midst of beautiful beaches, fantastic weather, and outward facing wealth, Santa Barbara and Orange County are home to many children and youth who are falling through the cracks. According to the latest census data, Santa Barbara County and Orange County have a surprising poverty rate which affects children disproportionately. Childhood poverty is just one factor that impacts children and youth negatively in Santa Barbara and O, there are many others. Children are our most important asset, and we believe that it is our responsibility to create pathways that help them to flourish
“The test of the morality of a society is what it does for
its children.”
~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer