Renewing a Vision of Hope

For the first time, the Central America Donors Forum (CADF) is headed to Costa Rica. CADF 2023 will bring together hundreds of cross-sector leaders in beautiful San José to chart a renewed vision of peace and justice in Central America.  

Through a dynamic, engaging and participatory agenda, CADF 2023 will seek shared solutions to priority issues facing Central America. Attendees will engage in dialogue centered on environmental protection and climate justice; discuss and address issues of prosperity and migration; seek pathways for equity by fostering expansive, inclusive and thriving communities; and explore philanthropic models that propel community-driven solutions.  

Join our unique community of experts and changemakers on September 25-27 and take part in constructing a collaborative vision of hope in Central America.

Environment & Sustainable Solutions

Climate change poses a harrowing threat to Central America, a region highly exposed and vulnerable to irreversible environmental degradation. Devastating droughts, hurricanes, rising sea levels, and ocean acidification have contributed dramatically to human and environmental insecurity, as well as to migration, food insecurity, and poor access to health and education. Despite contributing only a fraction of global carbon emissions, Central American countries shoulder a disproportionate environmental burden, ultimately exacerbating high levels of poverty, inequality and instability. Following Hurricanes Eta and Iota, the 2022 IPCC report claimed climate crisis is expected to deepen in the region.  

Amid environmental degradation and resource extraction, dialogues on climate justice have increased pressure to reconcile environmental sustainability and social equality with economic growth and public policy. In a country widely recognized as a global leader in environmental conservation and protection, hear directly from the experts documenting and the defenders protecting our environment and human rights.

More Equitable & Just Communities

Despite considerable economic investment and aid, inequity remains a pervasive and multidimensional issue in Central America. Unequal economic opportunity and access to justice, as well as racial and gender disparities are deeply entrenched and profoundly undermine the region’s future, and democratic backsliding and closing civic spaces are worsening the situation. Racial and indigenous minorities, youth, women and LGBTQ populations—to name a few—suffer as a consequence and social progress is stunted. These underlying challenges were exacerbated by the global pandemic.

In confronting these challenges, civil society throughout the region has risen up to demand greater equity and accountability in notable ways. Independent journalists risk their lives to hold governments accountable and provide the public with quality news and information. Social movements, often led by youth, fight for visibility and justice. Social-minded enterprises are contributing to a new social fabric that reduces inequalities and boosts economic growth. As a result of these promising cross-sector efforts, Central America is building towards more equitable, just and peaceful societies.

Migration & Pathways to Prosperity

Soaring numbers of migrants have fled northern Central America in recent years. Since 2018, over 600,000 Nicaraguans have left their homes, primarily emigrating to neighboring Costa Rica, where the influx has overwhelmed the asylum system and prompted new restrictions. Long-term structural challenges, natural disasters, ineffective or inadequate public and private investment, and systemic corruption have all contributed to under-performing economies, lack of opportunities, and a growing hopelessness that incentivizes irregular migration.  

In one of Latin America’s major migration hubs, the CADF audience will examine factors contributing to the region’s economic wellbeing and prospects for improving opportunities and prosperity for all. The private sector, civil society, governments and donors must unite to foster prosperity, greater equality and strategies to address the most pressing structural challenges in the region, including the expanding migration crisis.

Transformational Partnerships

The multifaceted and intersecting issues confronting Central America have demonstrated the necessity for agile, effective, and well-funded organizations capable of responding to shifting challenges. Driven to address the root causes of structural problems, a growing number of organizations are joining together to embrace the transformational power of partnerships. By embracing this sentiment, funders supporting Central America are revitalizing philanthropic models anchored in trust and community-driven solutions.  

Built upon a shared vision for Central America, a sustainable and equitable development agenda requires innovative partnerships between civil society, government, the private sector and donors. Achieving social progress is best accomplished through collaboration rather than competition, and alignment rather than alienation. Now is the moment to consider how partnerships and multi-stakeholder approaches can tackle complex issues. As a community, CADF will encourage authentic relationships based on mutual trust, transparency and dialogue and, ultimately, address a history rooted in racism, patriarchy and oppression with practical solutions.

CADF History

Seattle International Foundation’s (SIF) Central America Donors Forum (CADF) began in 2010 as a small meeting of donors in the Pacific Northwest of the United States supporting the region, and connected them with Central American members of business, government, academic and civil society. The event’s initial goal was to exchange information about the region and explore possibilities for collaboration and co-investment.

As CADF traveled to new cities throughout Central America, the event brought together a greater number of leaders across sectors and began receiving support from other organizations committed to the region, eventually expanding both its presence and impact to become one of the most prominent development conferences in Central America.

With 12 years of history and having united over 3,500 leaders, CADF has transformed into the premier space to discuss priority issues in Central America, create alliances and expand networks, and facilitate innovative solutions that promote development and create opportunities in the region.

CADF 2010

The founding event of CADF was a modest conference called “Collaboration & Poverty Alleviation in Central America” and organized by Seattle International Foundation (SIF) at the PATH headquarters in Seattle, Washington. On April 8, 2010, the conference brought together 66 representatives from foundations and NGOs interested in Central America development. After a successful experience sharing information and building networks, a primary conclusion of the event was to hold an annual conference on Central America dedicated to priority issues in the region—the next CADF would subsequently be held in 2012.

CADF 2012

The 2012 Central America Donors Forum took place at the Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington on June 9. The event brought together 117 donors and development experts from both the United States and Central America. The event featured a series of panels on the prevention of gender-based violence, access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, and opportunities for collaboration and investment in Central America for youth development and public safety.

CADF 2013

The third iteration of CADF was held at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Washington, D.C. on October 25. Throughout the day, 124 participants joined discussions on economic empowerment of women, gender-based violence, investment in young women and opportunities for collaboration with the private sector, as well as a roundtable for donors. 

CADF 2014

CADF 2014 took place on December 2-3 in Mexico City, Mexico—the first Forum held outside of the United States. The 1.5-day agenda revolved around the Alliance for Prosperity Plan in the Northern Triangle of Central America, the role of philanthropy and civil society in the region, inclusive business models, public safety and sexual health and reproductive rights. In total, 101 participants joined the Forum, where SIF announced its newest program: the Central America and Mexico Youth (CAMY) Fund.

CADF 2015

CADF 2015 was held in San Salvador, El Salvador on November 18-19. As the first Forum held in a Central American city, and in addition to nearly tripling the previous year’s attendance (266 participants joined), the event offered an agenda spanning two full days with the support of a dozen sponsoring organizations. The Forum addressed topics such as U.S. and international co-investment, philanthropy and immigration policy, corruption and transparency, education and youth, human rights, public security, child marriage and adolescent pregnancy. One of the primary results following the Forum was the creation of SIF’s Independent Journalism Fund.

CADF 2016

Beginning in 2016, CADF added both a third day to the agenda and incorporated simultaneous sessions, which tripled discussion spaces. CADF 2016 was held in Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala on November 28-30, featuring nearly 30 panels, workshops, network spaces and site visits for its 272 attendees. Sessions focused on education, migration, climate change, journalism, the role of the private sector and philanthropy in regional development, security, women and adolescent girls.

CADF 2017

From October 25-27, Panama City, Panama served as the venue for the 7th annual CADF. The year’s theme, “Reimagining Alliances”, led to conversations about and proposals for gender equality, education, environment, philanthropy, youth and corporate social responsibility. The program featured 85 speakers and over 40 unique sessions and activities for 297 participants.

CADF 2018

By 2018, CADF had positioned itself as a unique regional convening to form partnerships and expand networks. CADF 2018 united nearly 400 leaders in the city of San Salvador, El Salvador from October 22-24. Under the theme, “Creating Space for Everyone”, sessions delved into a wide array of topics like corruption and impunity, migration, independent journalism, femicide, access to reproductive health, and impact investment.

CADF 2019

The first CADF in Honduras was held on October 23-25  in Tegucigalpa and included three full days of sessions, with additional days of site visits and social activities. The central theme, “Progress at a Crossroads”, responded to a moment in Central America where three topics of development remained crucial: democracy, migration and social movements. These topics were featured in all sessions, and were complemented by presentations with artists and leaders from the region. Over 400 attendees participated in CADF 2019.

CADF 2020

For the first time in 10 years, CADF took entirely to the virtual stage. While the Covid-19 pandemic caused the event to transition online, it allowed the CADF platform to connect with a broader audience that ultimately enriched conversations about an evolving new reality. The event included 700 attendees from across 20 countries. The CADF 2020 theme, “Reinvention & Resistance in Times of Crisis”, set the tone for over 30 interactive sessions on September 1-3. This event included the launch of the CADF Awards, a recognition of six civil society organizations for their reinvention and resistance efforts in the midst of crisis.

CADF 2021

The 11th annual CADF remained as a virtual event for the second year in a row. Following a year of the Covid-19 pandemic, the destruction of two hurricanes and increased authoritarianism in the region, the fight against corruption by civil society, youth movements and independent media faced unprecedented challenges. CADF 2021, under the theme, “Alliances to Heal and Rebuild”, gave voice to 152 speakers on October 26-28. For the second time, the CADF Awards recognized and funded six civil society organizations that contributed to social healing and reconstruction in the region.

CADF 2022

CADF 2022 was held in Tegucigalpa, Honduras on October 26-28, 2022. The first in-person CADF since the pandemic began brought together 490 attendees and featured 52 unique sessions, the most in the event ‘s history.

CADF 2022 gathered hundreds of leaders to engage in dialogue centered on emerging trends in philanthropy, discuss and address closing civic space across Central America, seek out collaborative efforts to foster economic empowerment, explore innovative approaches to reduce structural inequalities in society, and hear the stories of defenders protecting the sustainability of our environment and human rights.

The CADF 2022 audience arrived from 18 countries and included over 150 speakers, panelists, moderators and facilitators, as well as featured 25 sponsors. One third of sessions were streamed for free via social media.