About Us
More than programs — we’re building spaces for our people to breathe, heal, and rise.
Melanated Cares was born from lived experiences, compassion, and a deep belief that our community deserves more than survival — we deserve to thrive.
2021 fundraiser champions for social justice
Help raise $30,000 for the community of Stanwood Camano.
The Gainlove Global aid network is hosting an event to educate our community about the services we provide and our foundational Family Support Principles. We will highlight voices and stories from community members impacted by The Gainlove Global aid network. We will also have a keynote speaker discussing social and racial equity and its impact on individuals and community outcomes. Our keynote speaker will be providing a deeper dive on the discussion of racial equity with a series that will follow our event in the winter of 2025.
Our Why
We didn’t build Melanated Cares because it looked good on paper. We built it because we saw too many of us being left behind.
- Shunté spent a night outside in 32-degree weather, side by side with unhoused neighbors. She never forgot that cold, or the faces of the people fighting through it.
- Jocelyn watched men at our campout drop their guard for the first time and say, “I didn’t know how much I needed this space until now.”
- Cayela saw the way kids lit up at our Littles Camping Trip — catching fish for the first time, realizing, “I can do something I’ve never done before.”
These moments are why we show up.
Melanated Cares is about more than programs — it’s about building spaces where our people can breathe, heal, and rise. Every dollar you give helps us do exactly that.
Our Mission
We believe in receipts. Not just words, but proof that when we show up, lives change.
Mission Statement:
To create safe, healing, and empowering spaces where youth, veterans, and neighbors experiencing homelessness can find support, growth, and belonging.
Vision Statement:
A thriving Black community where every person has the resources, care, and opportunities to rise.
Our Values
- Compassion — Leading with care for every individual.
- Community — Collective strength, not solo effort.
- Transparency — Receipts, not just promises.
- Equity — Fighting barriers so no one is left behind.
- Joy — Healing isn’t just survival, it’s celebration.
Donate Now
We’ve seen what happens when our community comes together — scholarships are awarded, veterans feel celebrated, kids discover confidence, and unhoused neighbors are reminded they’re not forgotten.
Now it’s your turn to be part of that story.
What makes gainlove different?
We’re a top-rated humanitarian organization focused on ending generational poverty through a proven approach. Over the past 80 years, we’ve developed a high-impact methodology that empowers children and youth to break free from poverty. With your support, children receive access to health care, educational resources and life-changing programs in safe, clean spaces.
Safe havens for support
Children in poverty are more likely to be exposed to the stress of violence, gangs and drugs. This can negatively affect brain development and long-term well-being. Your support during this vulnerable time helps children and youth set their own goals to build a life free from poverty.
Good that grows
When you sponsor a child, you create a powerful multiplier effect. You help them see beyond the daily struggles of life in poverty. Your support releases them from a cycle of short-term decisions and helps them gain the ability to begin contributing to their own families and communities.
Customized programs
Sponsorship encompasses key programs specifically designed to address a child’s toughest issues in their fight against poverty. Getting and staying healthy, staying in school, finding a stable job. You can help a child overcome challenges they’d otherwise face for a lifetime.
“I realize that school can help me achieve my goals and improve my life.”
Samuel Phelp, Program Alumna, Tanzania
Volunteer Positions
Available
4.89M
Staff and volunteers across 16 countries
68K
Of our staff in these countries are local
82%
Invested in all our programs last year 2025
136M
Invested in all our programs last year 2025
Become a volunteer
Join your hand with us for a better life and beautiful future.
Committed to Transparency
84% of our total operating expenses fund programs for children in the countries we serve. So when you make a monthly gift or donation to our organization, the majority of your dollars go toward exactly what you intended – supporting children in poverty.
