About Us
Learn how Hope Givers United grew to provide lasting change throughout India.
Our History
The passion for the work of Hope Givers United began in autumn of 1999, as our founder and Board President, Rebecca Pearce, read Good News About Injustice, by Gary Haugen. The book tapped into Rebecca’s yearning to help women around the world who were being abused, oppressed or trafficked. In January 2000, she attended an international women’s conference where she learned about the concept of micro-enterprise loans to support women entrepreneurs, among other topics. This micro-enterprise model birthed a vision in Rebecca for helping women create hopeful futures for themselves and their families.
sufficient. Wanting to do more than her personal resources would allow, she approached her friends with the idea of forming a giving group, and "Hope Givers" began in January 2010. Over $11,000 was given by this small group of women to fund micro-enterprise loans. One year later, Rebecca created a website. The group, renamed "Hope Givers United," began to expand the types of projects for which they raised funds, and this venture continued for several years.
In autumn of 2009, Rebecca began contributing to women entrepreneurs through the World Vision microfinance program to help fund their future livelihoods so they could become self-
2010
Hope Givers United giving group begins.
In May of 2021, Rebecca connected with a pastor in India who reached out for help to complete the construction of his church which had stalled during the Covid-19 pandemic. From 2014 to the present, Rebecca's brother-in-law and Board Vice-President, James "Vic" Pearce, has developed a partnership with this pastor. As Rebecca also grew to know this man she learned of his service to widows and orphans in his community, and the seed of the current vision of Hope Givers United was planted. Rebecca gathered another small group of women to form a dedicated giving group, and the ministry to India began.
". . . and the ministry to India began."
2021
A dedicated group of women join.
Having made four trips to India, Vic has seen the needs firsthand, which include extreme poverty, diseases due to poor diet, addictions, violence against women, family abandonment, substandard housing and lack of employment opportunities. He has met other pastors in India with whom Hope Givers United may partner in the future as they work to address these issues in their communities.
In the winter of 2024-2025, Rebecca, her husband Carson Pearce (Board Secretary), and Vic began to discuss forming a nonprofit so that this work in India could expand, and they began the process of putting the legal framework in place. In April of 2025, Hope Givers United was incorporated in the state of Texas, and in July of 2025 we received our United States 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the IRS. This began our exciting new chapter of extending our reach!
Our Present and Our Future
In 2025 Hope Givers United has already added another partner who had lost his funding support during the Covid-19 pandemic. He had developed a thriving outreach to many widows and orphans in multiple villages, providing for basic needs, adult literacy, education for children and decent housing. We are happy to reignite his work and begin to lift more individuals, families and villages out of poverty.
Our goal over the next few years is to introduce viable micro-enterprise opportunities into the villages we are working in so that men and women can regain the dignity of having steady employment and provide for their own needs and the needs of their families.
Become a partner in the Hope Givers United village.
It is said that “it takes a village” to raise a child. Through your partnership with Hope Givers United you can become a contributor to that village, not only for children but for men and women. One healthy meal after another healthy meal can improve a child’s health. One more year in school can open up a future job. One more woman rescued from poverty can keep her family together. One more family who stays together can strengthen the fabric of the whole “village.” It is not about the amount of the gift but the collective effort of a group of caring people that builds individual lives and a community. We hope you’ll join us!