Annual Report 2025

2025 was a year of great uncertainty worldwide, in Colombia and in the social sector. The year began with the announcement that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) suspended most of its projects around the world and was followed by the announcement of its total closure just a few weeks later.

USAID was a strategic ally of the Alvaralice Foundation from the moment of its creation in 2002, supporting multiple projects until its definitive closure, which was a major blow to the social sector. According to some estimates, USAID resources in 2024 represented 70% of total international cooperation funds received by Colombia, which was one of the Agency’s major beneficiaries worldwide.

This resources reduction for social initiatives in some of the nation’s key projects was further exacerbated by an already ongoing downturn of international cooperation, globally and for Colombia. Colombia’s own private sector was already facing precarious times, with new tax burdens and volatility in some economic sectors.

Several aid agencies and philanthropic organizations paused new projects as they readjusted to protect their ongoing ones and found a way to readjust their activities to the new scenario. Support from some of Alvaralice Foundation’s strategic allies was fundamental during this very difficult period. International foundations such as the Tinker Foundation, EMpower y Pricesmart made the conditions for use of available funds more flexible and, in some cases, provided additional resources. Local organizations, such as Propacífico – the coordinating agency for Commitment to Valle (Compromiso Valle) – and Scarpetta-Gnecco Foundation were able to adjust the projects we had with them.

Thanks to our allies’ support and assistance, Alvaralice was able to meet its 2025 goals and present solid financial results, despite losing USAID resources for two significant projects. In 2025, we were also able to add important new partners, such as the German cooperation agency, GIZ, and Swisscontact. As can be seen in this report, the Foundation’s project portfolio was maintained and our geographic presence expanded.

In mid-2025, we joined a group of family and enterprise foundations on a visit to New York, learning about ongoing changes in the world of international philanthropy. We later participated in the Shared Prosperity Forum, which took place in the city of Cali, where we continued our conversations on the new panorama for financing social projects.

The innovation that characterizes us will help to keep us current in the future. There is interest in our proven methodologies, as became evident in an exchange we had in Rosario, Argentina, with reference to our community mediation model, and the visits to Youth on Course (Rumbo Joven) and Opening Pathways (Abriendo Caminos) during the Shared Prosperity Forum. We developed an adaptation of Opening Pathways (Abriendo Caminos) focused on the types of violence suffered by women and those affected by gender norms, and we continued adapting Youth on Course (Rumbo Joven) to other scenarios, such as schools. With other allies in who are also members of Commitment to Valle (Compromiso con Valle), a new strategy was developed for 2026-2030.

In our conversations with other entities, we understood that there are new models for financing and sustaining social projects, and that we will have to adapt.

Amid uncertainty, one thing remains unchanging: the challenges faced by the communities with which we work, and the great potential within them. That is why they will continue be our most important allies. The Alvaralice Foundation will continue to facilitate connections among donors, experts and organizations and with communities which have the potential to overcome gaps to social inclusion and peace, no matter what uncertainties we face.

Juan Camilo Cock Misas
Executive Director