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Dear Friends,
These two years have been truly momentous. We had the first ever transition in the Presidency of the University. We also undertook a thoughtful review and planning process for EARTH’s future and have recently started its implementation. It is a pleasure to share with you our strategy for 2018-2022, developed in consultation with the entire EARTH community – our faculty, students, staff, Boards, leadership team and close friends and allies in the US, Europe, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Over the course of this process, we reaffirmed that EARTH’s mission and vision continue to be as relevant today as they were when the University was founded. After 30 years, EARTH has become an increasingly global institution with a strong commitment to advancing solutions at the local community level. Building on this strong foundation, we are convinced that EARTH can do more to grow its contribution in a challenging and dynamic world.
Our 2022 Strategic Plan binds our strengths together with our aspirations and dreams to help ensuring the vibrancy and sustainability of rural areas is essential for the future of humankind. It charts the path for EARTH to grow its impact in several ways:
Academic Program: We are deepening and strengthening our academic model to ensure graduates have the knowledge, values, skills and attitudes required to be effective global leaders.
Alumni Relations: We are strengthening our relationships with alumni to expand the collective impact of the 2,329 graduates who are acting as change agents across 49 different countries.
EARTH Futures: We are launching a new impact platform that contributes to the transformation of rural areas across the developing world.
We are also taking steps to further enhance the financial model that underpins our work and our sustainability for the long term. Taken together and advanced with a vibrant network of likeminded partners, supporters and allies, we feel that these ambitious efforts set the course for the University to increase its impact exponentially into the future.
We thank all of you who participated in the process of crafting our future strategy and to all who have supported EARTH in the past. We look forward to our sustained collaboration with you and with many new partners as we seek to positively impact the lives of millions of rural people throughout the developing world.
Sincerely,
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| Tim Solso, | Arturo Condo, |
| Board Chair | EARTH University President |
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Prepare leaders with ethical values to contribute to sustainable development and to construct a prosperous and just society. |
Our actions are mission-driven to alleviate poverty, promote social justice and build a future where our communities achieve sustainable and shared prosperity. |
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| 80% of people living in extreme poverty live in rural areas of the developing world | 60% of the world’s rural people are employed in agriculture | 70% of our global food supply is currently produced by smallholder farmers in rural regions of the developing world |
| Cover: EARTH University alum Reginald Cean (‘11, Haiti) harnesses his EARTH education to generate sustainable change in Haiti – including establishing an agricultural school with Partners in Health. | “When I returned to Haiti, I took to heart that I can be the difference in my country. I aimed to do that by creating the school and other projects, and I have seen results. Wherever I travel for work, I seek out the things that are functioning well and challenge myself to bring those ideas back to Haiti.” – Reginald Cean (’11, Haiti) |
Each year, we actively recruit more than 100 young leaders to join our highly-experiential education program in agricultural sciences and natural resources management. During their four years at EARTH, students develop critical skills and attitudes to be effective leaders of positive change and prosperity through:
| Hands-on learning | Community engagement | Entrepreneurial innovation |
| 75% of all academic learning occurs through hands-on training and solving problems relevant to the sustainability challenges of today and tomorrow. | Students complete more than 350 hours of community work and training, and spend seven weeks living in rural communities near our campus in Guanacaste. | All students receive a loan to start and operate a real business during their first two years at EARTH. |
Thanks to our generous donor community, we admit students from rural areas based on their leadership potential and a commitment to community, regardless of their financial capacity.
85% of students graduate in 4 or 5 years, a significantly higher graduation rate than most universities around the world.
Despite inconsistent quality in secondary education in the regions where we recruit our students, our robust support services and student-centered educational model ensure all students can thrive.
Our educational model is at the core of what we do. As we look to the future, we plan to deepen and strengthen our model to ensure graduates have the knowledge, values, skills and attitudes required to be effective global leaders. To this end, over the next five years we will:
Enhance our curriculum: We are taking a comprehensive look at our program to introduce new content and innovations that ensure graduates are equipped to lead large scale, transformational change, based on their grassroots experience.
Enhance our English program: With graduates increasingly seeking global impact and influence, we will boost English in our curriculum to build proficiency.
Modernize technology: We will upgrade our learning spaces and field technology so that students are wellversed in cutting-edge solutions that can help rural areas prosper.
Maintain and increase the diversity of our student body: We plan to sustain gender parity and further cultivate the rich cultural and socio-economic diversity of our student body.
EARTH graduates and husband-and-wife team, Ana Hazel Pérez (’94, Costa Rica) and Pablo Céspedes (’94, Costa Rica) own the agro-tourism project La Anita, in Upala, Costa Rica. In addition to having 13 cabins as part of their tourism project, they now process and export premium chocolate from the cacao grown and harvested organically on their farm and from growers in the community. La Anita, which employs eleven permanent staff, operates under four pillars: sustainable agriculture, tourism, community and ecological sustainability. At EARTH, Ana and Pablo gained more than knowledge of agriculture or how to run a business. As Ana says, “I gained a way of life, a way of thinking.”
Our alumni are our strongest link to our next generation of students and to rural communities throughout developing regions. To strengthen our connection with our alumni and expand their individual and collective impact, over the next five years we will:
Boost communications: We are investing in our Alumni Affairs office and alumni organizations to improve communications with and between alumni.
Increase support: We will expand continued education efforts and foster connections with EARTH networks and opportunities.
Engage graduates: We aim to involve our alumni in rural impact projects, admissions, fundraising, continuing education and/or other university programs and projects.
(Photos: Lynn Hoffman-Brouse)
Lourdes Arellano (‘20, Guatemala)
In 2018, EARTH decided to create EARTH Futures as a global platform to grow the University’s impact through three core programs:
To scale the preparation of ethical leaders for rural areas, we are working with partners to advance transformational leadership education strategies inspired by the EARTH model at educational institutions across Latin America and Africa.
For more than a decade, we have partnered with the African-led network of universities, RUFORUM, to support innovation in higher agricultural education on the African continent. In 2017 and 2018, we held workshops and exchanged experiences with Gulu and Egerton Universities on entrepreneurship, experiential education and community engagement. In October 2018, EARTH Futures staff and the RUFORUM Secretariat met for two days in Kampala to brainstorm and plan avenues to scale the impact of the partnership.
“As long as we equate learning to sitting at a desk and listening… Africa will continue to produce degreeholders and not problem-solvers… but what if we develop Africa-wide degree programs that adapt the EARTH University approach by equipping our young people to learn how to solve African problems in an innovative manner?” – Catherine Mloza-Banda, RUFORUM journalist.
EARTH also has a strong history of supporting technical and vocational institutions. In 2018, EARTH partnered with the Escuela Nacional Central de Agricultura (ENCA) in Guatemala to strengthen its programs. ENCA has provided more students to EARTH than any other school and is currently led by an EARTH graduate. In 2018, EARTH supported ENCA in teacher training and curriculum revision to ensure that the school continues to provide Guatemalan society with firstclass leadership training and technical expertise.
2. Developing Solutions
Building upon our experience working with rural communities, we develop innovative solutions to pressing challenges facing rural areas. EARTH University’s Guacimo campus is located in Costa Rica’s Atlantic region, where cocoa production is important for rural livelihoods and where some of the country’s highest rates of poverty and also abundant natural resources are concentrated. Through EARTH Futures and our faculty, efforts in 2017 and 2018 focused on two core initiatives:
1. Improving Livelihoods for Rural Cocoa Producers & Entrepreneurs
In cooperation with close allies, in 2017 EARTH helped create a new platform, “Plataforma Cacao Caribe,” to support the exchange of best practices and the development of collective strategies for the greater sustainability of the cocoa sector and its members. The Platform brings together representatives from more than 60% of Costa Rica’s cocoa production, including producer organizations, six governmental entities and other actors in the sector. That currently represents more than 60% of Costa Rica’s cocoa production. In 2018, EARTH and the Platform were invited to contribute to the formulation of Costa Rica’s National Cocoa Plan.
2. Empowering Women in the Cocoa Value Chain
In partnership with the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) and with support from the Inter-American Development Bank, EARTH developed a model to strengthen women’ economic empowerment as a means of improving rural livelihoods and sustainable management practices. In 2017-2018, the model was applied with Amazilias, a women-led cocoa enterprise in Costa Rica. PROCOMER (Costa Rica’s export agency) provided complementary services and, in November 2018, Amazilias was awarded the “Esencial Costa Rica” certification as part of a national branding strategy for sustainably produced products.
3. Accelerating and Expanding Collaboration for Impact
Collaboration among organizations working to promote leadership and innovation in rural areas is critical to achieving change at the scale needed. EARTH Futures is working with partners from across the globe to co-create, test and scale effective leadership education approaches and innovative solutions that can advance vibrant, sustainable rural areas.
In 2017, EARTH and the Costa Rica-United States Foundation for Cooperation (CRUSA) formed a strategic alliance to foster innovative sustainable development solutions that can improve rural livelihoods in Costa Rica and to scale and share these solutions globally through the launch of EARTH Futures. As part of this joint effort, CRUSA is investing $800,000 over four years in EARTH Futures. These funds will be invested to design new approaches and solutions that accelerate sustainable development in Costa Rica and also help to solve rural challenges that are global in scope.
Careful stewardship of resources along with growth in charitable giving and our commercial activities are contributing to a healthy financial picture that enables the fulfillment of our mission.
| FUND SOURCES | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition payments and donations | $10,931.6 | $11,033.1 | ||||||
| Other income (special projects, commercial activities) | $1,086.6 | $1,246.8 | ||||||
| EARTH Endowment | $6,095.1 | $5,816.6 | ||||||
| TOTAL: | $18,113.3 | $18,096.5 |
| EXPENSES | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compensation and benefits for administrative and operational personnel | $6,276.1 | $6,326.8 | ||||||
| Compensation and benefits for faculty and senior administrative staff | $4,536.6 | $4,314.4 | ||||||
| Operational expenses | $4,869.7 | $5,097.2 | ||||||
| Equipment investment and replacement | $515 | $600 | ||||||
| Contigencies | $54.8 | $32 | ||||||
| Fundraising | $1,861.1 | $1,726.1 | ||||||
| TOTAL: | $18,113.3 | $18,096.5 |
From its headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, the EARTH University Foundation – a registered 501 (c)(3) public charity – provides vital funding for EARTH’s educational mission, programs and projects thanks to generous gifts from a global community of supporters.
| ASSETS | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash and Cash Equivalents | $2,332,991 | $2,709,145 | ||||||
| Pledge Receivable, net | $4,643,054 | $6,011,173 | ||||||
| Endowment and Other Investments | $65,796,979 | $69,039,835 | ||||||
| Other Assets | $605,997 | $567,085 | ||||||
| TOTAL ASSETS | $73,379,021 | $78,327,238 |
| LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liabilities | $314,820 | $307,519 | ||||||
| Net Assets | $73,064,201 | $78,019,719 | ||||||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS | $73,379,021 | $78,327,238 |
| 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fundraising | Programs | Administrative | Total Expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Scholarships | – | $5,327,772 | – | $5,327,772 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Project and Program Expense | – | $2,156,060 | – | $2,156,060 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Foundation Operations | $538,998 | $460,836 | $539,351 | $1,539,185 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TOTAL EXPENSES | $538,998 | $7,944,668 | $539,351 | $9,023,017 |
| 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fundraising | Programs | Administrative | Total Expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Scholarships | – | $3,372,831 | – | $3,372,831 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Project and Program Expense | – | $2,342,012 | – | $2,342,012 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Foundation Operations | $581,642 | $581,621 | $512,864 | $1,676,127 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TOTAL EXPENSES | $581,642 | $6,296,464 | $512,864 | $7,390,970 |
We recognize and appreciate the generous support of the following donors whose gifts were received in 2017 and 2018, and those whose lifetime giving exceeds US$1 million. These individuals, businesses, foundations, governments and international organizations make the continued fulfillment of our mission possible.
We thank the following corporations and institutions around the world who hosted our third-year students as interns in 2017 and 2018. The internship helps our students build critical leadership skills and networks while deepening their knowledge and giving them the opportunity to apply their EARTH education in a professional setting.
*At the end of 2018
OUR INTERNSHIP HOSTS
Abonos Vivos
AEME Representaciones Cía. Ltd
Agrícola Capriella
AGRITEK ACORI Costa Rica S.A.
AGRORUM S.A.
Alborada Do Ouro
Alexandre Ecodairy Farm
Ameerlaan Growers
Associação dos Bananicultores de
Corupá (ASBANCO)
BioResources
Laos Buffalo Dairy
CACEP Chocolates
Campo Agropecuario Experimental
del Tecnológico de Monterrey,
Campus Querétaro (CAE-TEC)
Caramba Farms
Centro Agronómico Tropical de
Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE)
International Center for Tropical
Agriculture (CIAT Bolivia)
Clemson University
Cooperativa Departamental de
Caficultores de Risaralda
Corporación San Diego
Corporación La Favorita
Corporación PRO
Costa Farms
Cummins
Delaware State University
DOLE
ECF Farmsystems
Fazenda Bodoquena
Finca Exótica
Finca La Carrodilla
Empresa FITOGAL SL
Future Farmers
Ganadería La Tabla
GAOS Biodynamic Farm
Grupedsac
Grupo Altamore
Guangala
Hacienda Sur
Heifer International
Holland Orchids
Hotel Blue Osa
Instituto Hondureño de Café (IHCAFE)
Inter-American Institute
for Cooperationon Agriculture (IICA)
International Institute of Tropical
Agriculture (IITA)
Instituto Yucateco de Emprendedores
(IYEM)
JPG Resources
Kalsec Inc.
La Matilde Comarca Biodinámica
Laboratorio de Agricultura de
Precisión, Universidad EARTH
Lakyum Hotel
Martha’s Best
North Dakota State University
One Acre Fund
Orchard Africa
Project Mercy
Proyecto DIFA Alternativas y
Actualización A.C.
Red Biocol (Red Colombiana de
Energía de la Biomasa)
Red BioLac (Red de Biodigestores para
Latinoamérica y el Caribe)
Reef Doctor Organization
RUFORUM
Sustainable Harvest International
Stellenbosch University
Tabafresh
Tauroa Farm
Tlajij
Tuskegee University
University of Florida
University of Georgia
Universidad de Cartagena
Universidad Federal de Viçoca
Universidad Tecnológica del Mayap
UTA (Fundación para la Producción
Agropecuaria Tropical Sostenible)
Vibrant Village
Whitesand Ecovillage
Zanmi Agricol
Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZAR)
ADRA Zimbabwe
Advanced Farm Technologies JA LTD
(Martha’s Best)
AgriBridge
Agrícola El Cántaro S.A.
Agro Norte Pesquisa e Sementes, Ltda.
Alexis Mejía Representaciones Cía, Ltda.
ALIA2 S.A.
Allegro Coffee Company / COOPRONARANJO R.L.
ARQUEOL S.A.
Asociación Cámara de
Ganaderos de Nicoya
Asociación de Apicultores de
San Pedro de Vilcabamba
Balaomar S.A.
Black Star Farms
Cafetal El Equimite
Centre of Excellence in Mycotoxicology
and Public Health, Gent University
Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación
de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE)
Centro de Investigación Científica de
Yucatán A.C.
Centro del Agua para América Latina y e l
Caribe / Instituto Tecnológico y de
Estudios Superiores de Monterrey
Cicalares S.A.
Citrofrut (Grupo Citrofrut S.A. de C.V)
Compañía Palma Tica S.A. División Atlántico
COOPEAGRI R.L.
Cooperativa Agraria Cafetalera
“La Prosperidad”
Corporación Arrocera Nacional CONARROZ
Corporación PRO S.A.
Costa Nursery Farms, Inc.
Del Mar Academy
Delaware State University
Earth Island – Follow your Heart
Ecole Normale Supérieure, Laboratoire de
Géologie de l’Ens
El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR)
El Hombre Sobre la Tierra A.C.
EMRO
Escola Comunitária Casa Familiar Rural de Senador José Porfírio
Agency (ATA)
Ethiopian Institute of Agriculture Research (EIAR)
Fundación Salva Terra
Ganadera La Delia S.A. GANADELIA
Ganadera Moreno
GAOS Biodynamic Farm
Genética Boa Fe / GBF Global Ltda.
Glenspean Partners Pty Ltd. (Meredith Dairy)
Granja Alternativa
Grupo Agroindustrial Tres Jotas
Grupo Industrial CACEP
Grupo Investigación LPF – TAGRALIA
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Hacienda Las Lajas
IHSM La Mayora CSIC-UMA
Ingenio Taboga
Inmobiliaria Guangala S.A.
Instituto Yucateco de Emprendedores (IYEM)
Inter-American Institute for
Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA)
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
Iowa State University
Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología
Agroalimentarias (IRTA)
Island Organics
Justin Gold
Kalsec Inc.
Laos Buffalo Dairy
Las Nubes Natural Energy Resort
Leventis Foundation (Nigeria) LTD
LOGBAN SA, (DOLE)
Logística Bananera S.A., DOLE
Moloa’a Organica’a
Nasho Irrigation Project
Nintanga S.A.
North Dakota State University
Patronato Pro Zona Mazahua A.C.
Perma Matrix
Project Concern International
Promotora Orgánica de Colima,
S.A.P.I de C.V.
Proyecto DIFA, Alternativas y Actualización, A.C .
Reserva Conchal S.A.
Rincón de la Vieja SRL (Hacienda Guachipelín)
Secondary Education for Girls’ Advancement
Secretaría de Agricultura, Ganadería,
Desarrollo Rural, Pesca y Alimentación.
SAGARPA. Delegación Chiapas.
Semillas Harris Morán
Mexicana S.A. de C.V.
Servicios Forrajeros
Share The Harvest Farm Inc.
Sierra Biological Inc.
Sociedad Agrícola e Industrial
San Carlos S.A.
Sociedad Manríquez e Hijos y Cía. Ltda
Stellenbosch University
Sustainable Harvest International
The Leatherback Trust
The University of Georgia
Tradeline Corporation Group Limited
Trans American Aquaculture LCC
Tuskegee University
Unión de Productores Maya
Vinic SC de RL de C.V.
University of Cape Town
University of Florida
Visayas State University
Vitivinícola del Morro S.A.
Walmart Centroamerica
Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI)
OUR BOARDS AND SENIOR LEADERSHIP*
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tim Solso, President
Alan Kelso, Vice President
Pedro León, Secretary
Ana Regina Aguirre De Riojas
Anne Slaughter Andrew
Bobby Moser
Dele Olojede
Franklin Chang-Díaz
Francis Durman
Marisa Brenninkmeyer
Mark Brouse
Emeriti
† Eduardo King Carr
† Glen Taggart
† Hernán Fonseca
† Jorge Manuel Dengo O.
† José Elias Sánchez
† Luis Alberto Monge
† Norman A. Brown
† Rodolfo Cortés R.
Salvador Alemany
Isabel Abreu
EARTH UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Mark S. Brouse, President
Mark McGahan, Treasurer
Kent B. Alexander, Secretary
Adrienne Meisel
Claire “Yum” Arnold
Erika González-Akre
Gustavo Manrique
Ian Davidson
Jane C. Black
Joshua Arnow
Lynn Hoffman-Brouse
Mark Ohrstrom
Michael Besançon
Ross Arnold
Emeriti
Charlotte S. Metcalf
Samuel Kaymen
EARTH UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Alan Kelso
Anne Slaughter Andrew
Francis Durman
Mark Brouse
Tim Solso
EXECUTIVE TEAM
Arturo Condo, President
Yanine Chan, Dean and VP of Academic Affairs
Manuel Ramírez, Vice Presidentof Development
Meridith Rentz, Executive Director of the EARTH University Foundation
Emily Fintel Kaiser, Acting Executive Director of EARTH Futures and Strategic Advisor to the President
Patricia Loría, Vice President of Finance
Ramón González, Vice President of Operations
Alexa Glo, Director of the President’s Office and Board Relations
OUR FACULTY
Our faculty are recognized around the globe as experts in tropical agriculture, sustainable rural development and leadership education.
– 40 professors from 18 countries
– 59% hold a Ph.D.; 41% a Masters
– Nearly 40% have been teaching at EARTH for 10 years or more
TOGETHER,
WE ARE GROWING EARTH’S IMPACT
TO BUILD VIBRANT, SUSTAINABLE
RURAL AREAS FOR A THRIVING WORLD.
THANK YOU.
