Question 1

What is Kind Footprint?

Accepted Answer

Kind Footprint is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
registered in California (EIN: 83-1522419) that connects
international donors with rigorously vetted grassroots
humanitarian programs in Medellín, Colombia.

Founded in April 2020, Kind Footprint operates through
a proprietary vetting framework the SITES methodology
to ensure every funded program demonstrates Scalability,
Impact, Transparency, Efficiency, and Sustainability.

Our primary active program is our partnership with
Emergencias Apolo, an emergency medical and mental health response organization serving approximately 100,000 residents in Medellín's most underserved communities.

Question 2

What is the relationship between Kind Footprint  and Empower the Barrios?

Accepted Answer

They are the same organization. "Empower the Barrios" was the original community name used during Kind Footprint's early operations. "Kind Footprint" is now the sole active public brand a strategic decision made to improve clarity and avoid confusion for donors, partners, and volunteers.
There is no separate entity.

Question 3

Where does Kind Footprint operate?

Accepted Answer

Kind Footprint is incorporated in the United States (San Diego, California) and operates its humanitarian programs in Medellín, Colombia specifically in the northern areas of the city including Bello and the surrounding "invasion zones."

Invasion zones are informal settlements not officially recognized by the government, located on steep hillsides at the edges of Medellín. These communities lack essential infrastructure water systems, sewage, healthcare access, and public security and are among the highest-need, lowest-cost areas for humanitarian intervention in South America.

Kind Footprint is not incorporated in Colombia. It operates through incorporated local partners, primarily Emergencias Apolo for the medical program.

Question 4

How long has Kind Footprint been operating?

Accepted Answer

Kind Footprint was founded in April 2020 and has been operating continuously for 6 years. The organization began with emergency food aid during COVID 19 (Feed the Barrios), expanded into technology education (Recode the Future), and currently focuses primarily on emergency medical response through its partnership with Emergencias Apolo.

Question 5

Who leads Kind Footprint?

Accepted Answer

Kind Footprint has two actively involved leaders:

Steve Cha Founder of Kind Footprint, based in the United States.

Mees Liedekerken CFO of Kind Footprint and Project Coordinator of the Emergencias Apolo medical operation. Based in Medellín, Colombia since 2019. Mees built the logistics network of local foundations and social leaders that enabled the distribution of 350,000 meals during COVID-19 and currently oversees the ambulance program.

Kind Footprint has 6 board members in total. Two Steve and Mees actively sign off on all grants and fund disbursements.

Question 6

Is my donation tax-deductible?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Kind Footprint is a registered 501(c (3) nonprofit organization in the United States (EIN: 83-1522419). Donations from U.S. citizens and residents are fully tax-deductible. You will receive a tax receipt automatically via email after your donation.

Important: Tax deductibility outside the United States varies by country. We recommend consulting a local tax advisor if you are donating from outside the U.S.

Question 7

How much of my donation goes directly to programs?

Accepted Answer

100% of donations made to a specific program go directly to that program. Kind Footprint maintains a separate overhead donation pool to cover administrative costs (banking fees, accounting, and a part-time administrative assistant in Colombia). These costs are never deducted from project-specific donations.

For context: in our last fiscal year, approximately $60,000 was raised for programs and approximately $10,000 covered administrative and compliance costs funded separately.

Question 8

What donation methods do you accept?

Accepted Answer

Kind Footprint accepts donations through the following
verified platforms:

PayPal: Paypal Link
GiveButter: GiveButter Link
GoFundMe: Gofundme Link

We also accept wire transfers and ACH bank transfers ideal for large donations of $1,000 or more. Banking details are shared after initial contact. Write to
mees@kindfootprint.org to arrange.

All platforms accept international donations. For donations from Colombia specifically, contact us via the Emergencias Apolo bank account arrangement.

Question 9

Can I donate from outside the United States?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. PayPal, GiveButter, and GoFundMe all accept international donations from virtually any country.

If you need a specific payment method for your region bank transfer, local platform, or wire transfer contact us at mees@kindfootprin .org and we will find the best solution for you.

Question 10

Can I designate my donation to a specific program?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Kind Footprint accepts designated donations. When donating, add a note specifying:

- Emergencias Apolo (emergency medical response)
- Recode the Future (technology education)
- Christmas Gift Program (seasonal toy distribution)

100% of designated donations go to the specified program. When a donation comes with specific conditions, grant terms are drafted together with the donor before funds are disbursed.

Question 11

Can I set up a recurring monthly donation?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and monthly donors are our most impactful supporters. Recurring donations provide predictable revenue that allows Kind Footprint and its partners to plan operations, retain paramedics, and maintain program continuity.

You can set up monthly giving through GiveButter or PayPal in under 2 minutes. You can modify or cancel your recurring donation at any time.

Question 12

What does my donation actually fund?

Accepted Answer

Kind Footprint's primary active program is emergency medical response through Emergencias Apolo. Here is what your donation funds directly:

$25 → Restocks an ambulance for 3 emergency cases
$100 → Funds a full-time paramedic for 2 days
$250 → Funds a paramedic for 1 full week
$500 → Funds a paramedic for 2 weeks
$1,000 → Covers 1 month of a full-time paramedic's salary
$12,000 → Deploys a fully equipped motorcycle ambulance
$40,000 → Deploys a fully equipped second-hand ambulance

Based on 2025 data, the program's cost per life saved is approximately $2,000 USD.

Question 13

How will I know my donation was used correctly?

Accepted Answer

Kind Footprint is committed to full transparency. After your donation, you can expect:

- Email confirmation with your tax receipt
- Access to program impact data and annual reports
- Real-time impact dashboards (currently in development will be linked directly to Emergencias Apolo's operational and financial indicators)

You can also contact us directly at any time mees@kindfootprint.org to request documentation, ask questions, or arrange a field visit to Medellín to see our work in person.

Question 14

Does Kind Footprint accept corporate donations?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Corporate donors are welcome and can receive:

- Public recognition on Kind Footprint's website and social media
- Branded humanitarian content for internal communications
- Logo placement on Emergencias Apolo ambulances and vehicles
- Custom impact reports for CSR documentation

Previous corporate partners have funded 3 full ambulances for the Emergencias Apolo program.
Contact mees@kindfootprint.org to discuss corporate giving options.

Note: Tax deductibility of corporate donations outside the U.S. must be verified locally before any claims are made.

Question 15

How can I volunteer with Kind Footprint?

Accepted Answer

Kind Footprint accepts volunteers of all backgrounds and determines on a case-by-case basis how to best utilize each person's skills. There are two main modalities:

On-site in Medellín: field operations, healthcare support, content creation, photography, education.

Remote (from anywhere): fundraising, social media, content writing, video editing, back-office support, grant writing, administration.

To apply, fill out the volunteer form at kindfootprint Volunteers or contact mees@kindfootprint.org directly.

Question 16

Is speaking Spanish required to volunteer?

Accepted Answer

Spanish is helpful but not required for all roles.

Remote positions fundraising, content, social media, administration can be performed entirely in English.

For in-person roles in Medellín, basic Spanish is recommended but not mandatory for all positions.
We evaluate each volunteer's situation individually.

Question 17

What is the minimum time commitment?

Accepted Answer

Kind Footprint asks for a minimum commitment of 1 month for remote volunteer roles. For in-person positions in Medellín, we recommend at least 4–8 weeks to allow for proper onboarding and meaningful contribution.

Internship arrangements through U.S. academic programs are also possible.

Contact us to discuss your specific availability.

Internship arrangements through U.S. academic programs are also possible.

Contact us to discuss your specific availability.

Question 18

Can I do a paid internship or academic  volunteering with Kind Footprint?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Kind Footprint can arrange volunteer placements through U.S. academic programs, including internship credit arrangements. Contact mees@kindfootprint.org with details about your program requirements and we will assess the best fit.

Question 19

How does Kind Footprint measure impact?

Accepted Answer

Kind Footprint evaluates all programs using two types of indicators:

Action Indicators measure operational activity in real time: number of emergency calls received, emergencies responded to, training sessions delivered, cases handled.

Outcome Indicators measure final results for beneficiaries: lives saved, employment outcomes after education programs, long-term patient health status.

For the medical program, Kind Footprint follows up with patients approximately one month after treatment to verify the long-term impact of each intervention.

In 2025: 205 emergencies attended, 54 classified as life-saving, 39 mental health crises attended (23 life-saving), 17 flood and wildfire emergencies.

Question 20

Does Kind Footprint have audited financial statements?

Accepted Answer

Kind Footprint does not currently have externally audited financial statements. Transparency reports are being introduced and real time impact dashboards linked to financial and operational data are currently in development.

In the meantime, all program-level invoices, purchase records, and delivery confirmations are available upon request. We welcome any donor or journalist to request our financial documentation directly at mees@kindfootprint.org.

Question 21

How is Kind Footprint different from  other nonprofits working in Colombia?

Accepted Answer

Several key differences set Kind Footprint apart:

1. Rigorous vetting: Every partner is evaluated through the SITES framework, Scalability, Impact, Transparency, Efficiency, Sustainability before receiving any funds.

2. Grassroots focus: We work with small, embedded local organizations not large institutions. Your donation can transform a smaller organization significantly rather than representing a fraction of a large budget.

3. Cost efficiency: Colombia's lower cost of living means that funds producing limited impact elsewhere generate substantially greater outcomes here. Cost per life saved in our medical program: approximately $2,000 USD.

4. Local presence: Mees Liedekerken has been based in Medellín since 2019 with direct, daily oversight of operations.

5. Separation of overhead: 100% of project donations go to the project. Administrative costs are funded through a separate pool.

Question 22

Why does Kind Footprint focus on Medellín specifically?

Accepted Answer

Medellín offers a unique combination of urgent humanitarian need and urban infrastructure that makes high-impact, low-cost intervention possible. Colombia hosts one of the world's largest internally displaced populations due to decades of armed conflict and migration from Venezuela. Many displaced families settle in informal communities "invasion zones" on Medellín's mountainsides, with no paved roads, no formal healthcare, and no public security. At the same time, Medellín's proximity to urban infrastructure means programs operate without the high logistics costs of remote regions making every dollar go significantly further than in higher-cost contexts.

Question 23

What is the SITES framework?

Accepted Answer

SITES is Kind Footprint's proprietary vetting framework for evaluating grassroots partner organizations before funding them. It assesses five core criteria:

S: Scalability: Can the program expand its impact?
I: Impact: Is the effect on beneficiaries measurable?
T: Transparency: Are financial and operational records open and verifiable?
E: Efficiency: Can it deliver strong results with limited resources?
S: Sustainability: Can it continue operating and growing over time?

Organizations that pass SITES proceed to a deeper due diligence phase evaluating leadership, governance, financial documentation, and reporting capabilities.

Question 24

What programs does Kind Footprint currently support?

Accepted Answer

Kind Footprint currently supports two active programs and maintains one completed program:

ACTIVE:
- Emergencias Apolo: Emergency medical and mental health response in Medellín. 3 ambulances, 205 emergencies in 2025, 50 lives saved per year.

- Christmas Gift Program: Annual toy distribution campaign. 13,879+ toys delivered since 2022 through 46+ local foundations.

COMPLETED:
- Recode the Future: Web development education for youth aged 15–20. 30 students, 10+ placed in tech sector jobs. Currently paused.

- Feed the Barrios: Emergency food aid during COVID-19. 350,000+ meals delivered. Not being reactivated.

Question 25

Is Feed the Barrios still active?

Accepted Answer

No. Feed the Barrios was Kind Footprint's emergency food response program during COVID-19. The program successfully delivered over 350,000 meals to vulnerable families in Medellín between 2020 and 2022.

The program has been completed and is not being reactivated. Kind Footprint has strategically shifted focus toward longer term impact: emergency healthcare and education.

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