Broetje Family Trust

What Broetje Family Trust does

Broetje Family Trust is a Pasco, Washington-based nonprofit organization founded in 2019 to steward the legacy of Broetje Orchards, a vertically integrated fruit farming operation founded by Ralph and Cheryl Broetje in 1968 and sold in 2018. The Trust operates as an association of three foundations: Center For Sharing (servant leadership formation courses through the Institute for Servant Leaders, covering frameworks by Robert Greenleaf, The Enneagram, and Jean Vanier), Jubilee Foundation (Tierra Vida affordable housing community in East Pasco with a Rec Center, community garden, and Vida Café workforce readiness program), and Vista Hermosa Foundation (global grants to community-based organizations in Mexico, Haiti, India, and East Africa, plus the Nueva Esperanza Leadership Academy, a private K-8 Christian school). The organization is governed by a family-majority board with co-founders Ralph and Cheryl Broetje in leadership roles, and in September 2025 appointed Omar Escalera as its inaugural Executive Director.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of grant funding (including a $2 million Washington State CHIP grant in 2024), private K-8 tuition at NELA, rental income from Tierra Vida affordable housing, Vida Café food service sales, and donations. The Trust operates with 11-50 employees across the Leo Center headquarters (completed 2021), Tierra Vida, and NELA, distributing funds to 21+ named global grant partners across four continents. Strategic direction is set by a Board chaired by Roger Bairstow, with day-to-day operations led by Executive Director Omar Escalera and a team of program directors spanning philanthropy, community building, education, and outreach.

The Trust's core 'technology' is its proprietary faith-based, trauma-informed servant leadership methodology refined over 50+ years of community-building practice. The organization does not produce software or technology products; its intellectual capital resides in the structured curriculum (Orientation to Servant Leadership, SL 101, SL 201, Gifts and Call, Mission Group Development), the place-based community development model at Tierra Vida, and the invitation-only global grantmaking framework. Distribution occurs through direct service delivery in Pasco, WA (school enrollment, housing leasing, café patronage) and direct field relationships with international NGO partners.

Name

Broetje Family Trust

Legal name

Broetje Family Trust

Website

https://broetjefamilytrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Broetje Family Trust is a Pasco, WA-based nonprofit stewarding the Broetje Orchards legacy through three foundations serving affordable housing residents, K-8 students, faith-based leadership learners, and international NGO grant partners across four continents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Community Development

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking Advisory (FSAAADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Servant leadership training
• Affordable housing community
• Christian K-8 education
• Global philanthropy grants
• Community development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Pasco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Agricultural Operations Legacy: Originally established with proceeds from Broetje Orchards, which operated from 1968-2018 as a vertically integrated fruit farming operation. The FirstFruits label generated profits directed toward community and philanthropic initiatives.
2. Global Grants and Philanthropy: Vista Hermosa Foundation distributes grants to international community-led development partners in Mexico, Haiti, India, and East Africa. Funding is invitation-only, with support going beyond funding to include networking and collaboration opportunities.
3. Education Services: Nueva Esperanza Leadership Academy (NELA) operates as a private K-8 Christian school where students receive holistic education incorporating servant leadership principles, mindfulness practices, and trauma-informed care.
4. Community Programs and Vida Café: The organization operates Vida Café within the Collegium building at Tierra Vida, providing a workforce readiness program for those seeking a second chance, alongside hosting programs and services to foster inclusion.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Broetje Family Trust is a faith-based nonprofit that operates three interconnected foundations: the Center For Sharing, which delivers servant leadership formation courses; the Jubilee Foundation, which develops affordable housing and community-building initiatives such as Tierra Vida; and the Vista Hermosa Foundation, which provides global philanthropy and grants to community partners worldwide.

Product overview

Broetje Family Trust is a faith-based nonprofit organization comprising three interconnected foundations dedicated to servant leadership, community building, and global philanthropy. The organization operates through the Center For Sharing (servant leadership development via the Institute for Servant Leaders with structured courses), the Jubilee Foundation (managing Tierra Vida affordable housing community with amenities like Rec Center and Vida Cafe workforce program), and Vista Hermosa Foundation (global grantmaking across Mexico, Haiti, India, and East Africa). Additionally, Nueva Esperanza Leadership Academy (NELA) provides K-8 Christian education. All operations are housed at Leo Center, with the organization stewarding a legacy rooted in Broetje Orchards' founding vision to 'bear fruit that will last.'

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Servant Leadership Formation Courses
• Tierra Vida Affordable Housing
• K-8 Christian Education (NELA / Life-gate School)
• Global Philanthropy Grants
• Vida Café

Quantifiable outcome

• 40+ alumni attended June 2026 Community of Servant-Leaders Gathering
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Washington State Department of CommercecoreOthers · 1 January 2024Awarded $2 million Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP) Grant to support Tierra Vida Phase III utility improvements for affordable housing.
• Joe D. Shelton Memorial Award RecipientscoreOthers · 12 May 2021Annual award established to honor Joe Shelton, lead manager at Broetje Orchards for 30+ years. Awarded to organizations exemplifying servant leadership with focus on health and wellbeing of agricultural and Native communities. 2025 recipients include Frontier Behavioral Health, Communities in Schools of Benton Franklin County, and Service Peace Warriors.
• GRAVIS (India)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Partner since 2016, implementing Gender Equality by Mitigating Droughts project in Thar Desert. Supports women building water structures (Tankas, Khadins) for rainwater harvesting. Now in third phase of project.
• Beyond Borders (Haiti)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLagonav, Haiti - Combatting child slavery and violence against women and girls through child protection brigades, SASA! violence prevention curriculum, and moving families out of extreme poverty.
• El Pozo de Vida (Mexico)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLa Merced Market, Mexico City - Combating human trafficking through prevention, intervention and restoration of children, families and communities.
• Kupenda for the Children (Kenya)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKilifi, Kenya - Protecting rights of disabled children through educational assistance, medical interventions, and abuse prevention training.
• World VisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWest Pokot, Kenya - Combatting early marriage and FGM by increasing girls' access to education. Also partnering on Ukraine Crisis Fund for displaced families.
• World ReliefcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHaiti and Kenya - Church Empowerment Zones equip local churches to lead life-giving programs including Savings for Life and Outreach Group Initiatives.
• Catholic Relief ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHaiti and India - Strengthening community and family bonds to support child protection measures.
• Plant with PurposecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHaiti and Mexico - Bringing economic and environmental benefits through spiritual framework increasing unity, self-confidence and hope for rural communities.
• ALARM (Africa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUganda, Africa - African Leadership and Reconciliation Ministries develops servant leaders who reconcile relationships and transform communities in high conflict countries.
• Oasis IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPunganur, India - Using Potter's Wheel Hub as community center for 11 surrounding villages, ensuring children education and farmers diversify income.
• Viva (Mexico)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMexico City, Mexico - Decreasing violence against children and youth through faith community participation and Good Treatment Campaign.
• Amextra (Mexico)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGuerrero and Chiapas, Mexico - Promoting integral transformation of marginalized communities through health, nutrition, education, environmental conservation, and economic development.
• Mennonite Central CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKenya and Uganda - Helping indigenous communities become resilient to climate change and preventing migration from homelands.
• Creation Steward InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKijabe and Munegi, Kenya - Mentoring farmers as stewards of creation through Farming God's Way.
• Educampo (Mexico)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChiapas, Mexico - Supporting small farmers to conserve culture and territory, advocating sustainable natural resources use and rights.
• Capable (Uganda)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGulu, Uganda - 2-year Capable Graduation Program supports ultra-poor farmers to earn living wage, invest savings, maintain health, and establish social safety nets.
• XILOTL (Mexico)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOcosingo, Chiapas, Mexico - Promoting sustainable agriculture and human rights through re-valuation of indigenous identity, reducing gender-based violence, and conflict resolution.
• Qachuu Aloom (Guatemala)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRabinal, Baja Verapaz, Guatemala - Regenerating communities and land based on traditional Mayan culture, strengthening cultural identity and rescuing native plants with high nutritional value.
• Raising Voices (Uganda)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMexico and Latin America - Using SASA! Community mobilization approach to prevent violence against women.
• Lakeside SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent coeducational school in Seattle partnered with NELA for community outreach, collaborating at 2nd Harvest Food Bank with 13 NELA students and 15 Lakeside students.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust: A Pacific Northwest family-rooted private foundation supporting faith-based education, community building, and capacity-building nonprofits - comparable structure and regional mission to Broetje Family Trust.
• Compassion International: Faith-based international child-development organization partnering with local NGOs across Latin America, East Africa, and South Asia - broadly comparable to Vista Hermosa's place-based international grant network.
• Habitat for Humanity International: National nonprofit building affordable housing and community through volunteer-driven, faith-rooted development - comparable on the affordable-housing/community-building axis of BFT's Tierra Vida.
• Enterprise Community Partners: Large national nonprofit developing and preserving affordable housing with wraparound community services - a broader-incumbent peer on Tierra Vida's affordable-housing-plus-programming model.
• Kern Family Foundation: Family foundation funding character education, faith-based K-12 schools, and entrepreneurship - comparable on faith-rooted private-school funding and family-foundation grantmaking structure.
• World Vision US: Large Christian humanitarian organization funding community development in the same regions as Vista Hermosa Foundation (Haiti, Kenya, India, Mexico) - comparable on faith-rooted international grantmaking.

Direct peers

• Catholic Extension: Faith-based foundation building capacity in underserved Catholic communities across the US through grants and leadership formation - similar model of combining community development, education, and faith-rooted grants.
• Christian Community Development Association (CCDA): Network of faith-based practitioners pursuing holistic community development through housing, education, and leadership formation - closely aligned with BFT's Jubilee Foundation and Tierra Vida model.
• Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership: The primary US organization advancing Robert Greenleaf's servant-leadership philosophy through training, publications, and certifications - directly comparable to BFT's Institute for Servant Leaders curriculum and Community of Servant-Leaders gatherings.

Regional players

• United Way of Benton & Franklin Counties: Local community foundation serving the same Tri-Cities region as BFT, funding human-services and education - a regional comparable on community-development footprint and grantmaking.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vista-hermosa-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Broetje Family Trust