Who we are
The Peaceful World Foundation was founded by the late Sami Sunchild and established in 2006. Sami’s mission was to foster a culture of global peace through the promotion of hosted conversations, the arts, and mindful education.
Today the Peaceful World Foundation strives to carry on her vision of mindful conversations while supporting, assisting, and encouraging organizations and communities in their peace building efforts.
Our charitable goal is to promote peace by supporting nonprofit organizations in their peace building efforts in the field of the arts and mindful education. We seek to fund peacebuilding programs which align to our mission and requesting an amount between $5,000-$20,000.
The Foundation however does not provide ongoing support. The Foundation only funds programs twice within a five-year period, upon submission and receipt of a financial summary.
Our founder
SAMI SUNCHILD
(1924 – 2013)
“Let peace begin with me and spread out from this place”
BAY AREA PROGRAMS
The Foundation is primarily interested in Bay Area programs within the following nine counties:
- San Francisco
- San Mateo
- Santa Clara
- Alameda
- Contra Costa
- Marin
- Sonoma
- Solano
- Napa
The Board wishes to remain flexible but does not encourage proposals outside these program areas.
Preference will be given to organizations founded and based in the Bay Area (as opposed to national organizations).
Note: All programs seeking funding are encouraged to meet our community peace building component in addition to an art or mindful education component.
HOW OUR GRANT WORKS
COMMUNITY PEACE BUILDING
The Foundation aspires to collaborate with organizations in their community-based peace building efforts and fund programs which embrace any of the following practices within an art or mindful education program:
- Encouraging ecologically sustainable practices
- Innovative healing tools for community peace-making
- Participatory approaches to mindful leadership and community building
ARTS
The Foundation is interested in art programs that build on global peace and social consciousness through visual and media art, music, and the performing arts. We are particularly invested in supporting art programs that contribute to:
- World Peace
- Diversity
- Integration
- Inner Peace
MINDFUL EDUCATION
The Foundation seeks to fund mindful educational and well-being programs that promote any of the following:
- Cultivating attention, compassion, and well-being across all peoples and ages
- Alternative methods to manage stress and increase inner awareness
How we Collaborate with our Grantees
The Peaceful World Foundation fosters an understanding of our grantees’ work by cultivating relationships and bridging the gaps of networking. We bring together our grantees and local community members at our hosted peaceful world conversations and events.
Cultivating Relationships
Bridging the gaps of networking
Peaceful world Conversations
Sharing life’s journeys with others
Events
Coming together in celebration
Our team
Executive Director
Biography:
Driven by a passion for promoting and implementing mindful practices of communication, Heidi has developed and deepened her skills in listening, encouraging, and mentoring. Her role as the Executive Director at the Peaceful World Foundation embraces her talents in strategic peace building through the channels of mindful networking, organizational development and relationship building.
Having worked closely with Sami Sunchild, the founder of the Peaceful World Foundation, Heidi has brought Sami’s legacy into manifestation with the close council of the Foundation’s Board and collaborators …
Read more:
Heidi Majano, MA Executive Director
Art Program Facilitator
Biography:
With open arms we welcome Julián Antonio Carrillo, our new Art Program Facilitator (Link to our About Us). Julian attended several of our conversations during our time at the Presidio. A skilled communicator and a recent alumnus of the Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute, his role as our Art Program Facilitator highlights his strong desire to connect with people of all walks of life in deep, rich, and purposeful conversation.
Digital Media Support
Biography:
Genesis Barraza is dedicated to cultivating and sustaining long lasting partnerships between NPOs and their communities while producing memorable and high ROI digital/print communications.
Genesis and Heidi manage all of the Peaceful World Foundations communication channels and produce our Peaceful World Conversations.
Finance
Biography:
coming soon…
Design and Marketing Support
Biography:
coming soon…
Our Board
Board Chair & Dignitary
Biography:
Tamara, the granddaughter of Sami Sunchild, currently resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her passion in life has always been to help others. Tamara has been a registered nurse since 2009 and serves as the Nurse Clinic manager for a nonprofit Community Health Center which serves underserved populations residing in Albuquerque and surrounding areas.
She is influenced by her grandmother’s work of creating a peaceful world by taking an active role in helping her community and making a difference for a better tomorrow.
Chief Financial Officer & Board Member
Biography:
Thomas Koster lives and works as an experienced lawyer in San Rafael, California. He met our founder, Sami Sunchild, when he was younger and frequented the Red Victorian. This gave Thomas a broad understanding of her vision and legacy.
As the new CFO, Thomas has a big heart for giving back to the community and is happy to be engaging in meaningful work.
Board Advisor
Biography:
Dave Whitridge has lived in the Bay area since 1960, attended college on the east coast and law school in San Francisco. After retiring from practicing law and banking in 2007, he began attending and helping Sami Sunchild organize Peaceful World Conversations at her Red Victorian Bed and Breakfast on Haight Street. He joined the Board of the Peaceful World Foundation prior to Sami’s death in 2013.
Dave is somewhat conversant in French and German but prefers conversations in his native English. He lives in Marin and is also involved in several other volunteer and non-profit activities.
Board Member
Biography:
Tim Dale is the founder of San Francisco’s Yoga Tree and OmRising Music and Yoga Festival. He brings to the Foundation decades of experience in relation to entrepreneurship, event planning, and well-being. Tim serves on several other boards in the Bay Area.
“I look forward to supporting local artists in their peacebuilding efforts.”
Board Member
Biography:
As Co-Founder of SEEDS, Bryan Wiley brings to the Board over 15 years of experience as a neurobehavioral social and emotional learning specialist.
With his background in documentary filmmaking and photojournalism, Bryan is looking forward to supporting our peacebuilding efforts through his skillsets.
OUR COLLABORATORS
Capacity Building Support
Visual Media Support
Self Care Reform
Event Consultant
Archival Consultant
Peace Festival
Cultivating Relationships
We foster an understanding of our grantees’ work by cultivating relationships and bridging the gaps of networking.
