About NotFatherless
We’re fighting to end poverty, one child at a time
Our Cause. Our Story
NotFatherless Is a faith-based charity that raises money for Children’s Homes in Mexico.
We’re currently partnered with 3 children’s homes that all have a heart for the Lord and children in need.
Our Purpose
Our purpose is driven by Matthew 25:40:
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’”
What we’ve learned over the years is that our Partnered Children’s Homes are more than a place where kids can hear the Gospel. They also have an effective model for ending the vicious generational cycle of poverty.
The Alternative
Many kids living with our Partnered Homes come from horrible home lives. Their parents have either abandoned them, can’t care for them, or have passed away. Without intervention, many of these kids would end up in horrendous government run homes, homeless, or working with the cartel.
Ending Poverty One Child at a Time
But by providing reliable food, water, and shelter, an education, and a loving, disciplined home environment that fosters high levels of self-esteem and promotes a positive outlook on life, our Partnered Children’s Homes give these kids the tools they need to become successful, productive adults, capable of lifting themselves out of poverty.
NotFatherless was founded by me, Clay Huston (the guy in the middle).
I met two of our three Partnered Children’s Homes (Casa Melody’s and Casa Corazon Grande) while on a mission trip to Reynosa, Mexico, in 2017.
While there, we took a break from the planned mission and visited their homes.
After seeing their deep faith, incredible perseverance, and love for the kids in their care, the idea for NotFatherless came to me in an instant; like a light was switched on. My only explanation is that God gave me the idea. I rushed home to farm-town Illinois and began forming NotFatherless.
I met our third Partnered Home (Casa Vidas Rendidas) through a family friend in the same year. I was told they had just started their ministry and were trying to raise support.
I met with the directors (Renay and Guillermo) over lunch in Fort Madison, Iowa, where I realized they’re a perfect fit for NotFatherless.
I’ve worked with these 3 children’s homes ever since and have raised over $50,000 in support of their ministries.
The Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal
Our God-given goal is to raise enough money on a monthly basis to cover our Partnered Children’s Homes’ every expense.
We also want to partner with them on large scale projects such as building schools, college funds, or expanding their properties to accommodate more kids.
To meet this goal, NotFatherless has to grow A LOT. This takes time, money, and man power (3 things we don’t have.)
Currently, I (Clay) run NotFatherless all on my lonesome as a part-time passion project. But to get where I know God wants us to go, I need to do it full time.
I’ve prayed for nearly 3 years that NotFatherless would come into a windfall donation of $3 million. This would allow me to run it full time and to meet our other goals.
Become a Supporter Today
Monthly donations are the best way to support our Partnered Children’s Homes.
Regular support allows them to plan and budget, which creates a sense of stability in the home.
We’ve Raised over $50,000 to Help Children Escape Poverty
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Partnered Children's Homes use donations?
For the most part, our Partnered Children’s Homes can use money from donations as they see fit.
In our opinion, nobody knows how to run their ministries better than them. Their ministries are complex, unpredictable, and inherently chaotic. Because of this, it’s too heavy of a burden to ask that they track how every penny they receive from NotFatherless is spent.
However, from time to time we run specific fundraisers, such as our recent Back2School Fundraiser. In these cases, it is communicated clearly that the money is to be used for a predetermined purpose, and we typically request photo proof of purchases.
How did you meet our Partnered Children's Homes?
I met 2 of our 3 Partnered Children’s Homes (Big Heart and Melody’s) on a mission trip to Reynosa, Mexico, in 2017. I used to go on mission trips to Mexico almost every Christmas break with my hometown church in Illinois.
While there, we would sometimes take a break from the planned mission and visit local missionaries. That’s how I crossed paths with Big Heart and Melody’s Children’s Homes.
I met Our Surrendered Lives Children’s Home through a family friend in 2017. I was told they had just started their ministry and were trying to raise support. I met with the directors (Renay and Guillermo) over lunch in Fort Madison, Iowa, where I realized they’re a perfect fit for NotFatherless.
HoW DO YOU DECIDE WHICH CHILDRENS HOMES TO PARTNER WITH?
Every children’s home NotFatherless partners with is run by people we know on a personal level. We have met the directors of all 3 of our Partnered Children’s Homes face to face and we communicate with them on a regular basis.
The basic criteria are:
- Are they trustworthy?
- Are they faith-based?
- Are they in need?
Faith is a very important factor. We believe sharing a common faith magnifies the trust factor and helps make sure our goals are aligned.
Once NotFatherless is ready to partner with more children’s homes, we’ll have to be more proactive in connecting with and evaluating potential partners.
But for now, our 3 Partnered Homes are the homes God has connected us with.
