Through the work of The Alder Foundation, the services that pax humana provides can be offered at a cost most charitable organizations can afford. We engage professionals who are willing to offer their services at no cost or at a reduced rate, and the work of pax humana is subsidized by funds raised by the Alder Foundation elsewhere. Our vision is to establish a means by which those working in the midst of the world’s greatest needs can access expertise and encouragement from experienced advocates who believe in the work that they do and are qualified to offer them a hand up in their efforts.
partners in making peace
the why
We ask the leaders of humanitarian organizations to take on the world’s biggest problems with limited resources and often with little help. We ask them to bring peace to our world on a shoestring.
pax humana was formed to try to address this incongruity. We find great people working to make peace in their communities and invest expertise and resources in them and their work. We do this so that their big ideas become the big solutions we all need to make peace in our world.
the way
At pax humana, we lead with relationships. Our approach centers on understanding people and their needs first, recognizing that meaningful organizational change flows from genuine human connection.
We work consultatively alongside leaders and board members, creating space to navigate obstacles, address stresses, and identify areas where impact falls short of aspiration.
We bridge that gap. Modelled on the principles of a venture incubator, pax humana identifies promising individuals and organizations already making measurable social impact. We then invest targeted expertise, mentorship, and resources to help them implement their big ideas more effectively and sustainably.
Identifying and retaining outside expertise usually comes at a cost too high for most charitable organizations.
Through the work of The Alder Foundation, the services that pax humana provides can be offered on a sliding scale to charities internationally, in most cases at a rate that they can afford. at a cost most charitable organizations can afford. We engage professionals who are willing to offer their services at no cost or at a reduced rate, and our work is subsidized by funds raised by the Alder Foundation elsewhere. Our vision is to establish a means by which those working in the midst of the world’s greatest needs can access expertise and encouragement from experienced advocates who believe in the work that they do and can offer a hand up in their efforts.
”The essential challenge is to transform the isolation and self-interest within our communities into connectedness and caring for the whole.
— Peter Block
the who
Our team has decades of experience working with charitable organizations from North America, Europe, Southeast Asia and beyond.
They directly engage in the work, and, in addition, each represents a network of connections to professionals willing to offer their expertise to leaders who help those most in need.
Co-Founder
David Ward
David is the founder and Chief Executive of Keatswiliam Management Ltd., a management and leadership consulting firm based in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Over the past 30 years in this role, David has helped a wide range of businesses and non-profits grow, adapt and reach their goals. He has worked with senior executives, leadership teams and directors in Canada and internationally as they seek to map out real positive change for their organizations and the people within them.
He is the past President of the Canadian Roundtable for Philanthropy and was an international representative for a Canadian church denomination with a focus on leadership training and development in Southeast Asia.
With experience internationally and in a wide variety of business and social justice sectors, David exemplifies the experience and scope we bring to our partners.
Co-Founder
Ronnie Zerr
Ronnie has spent nearly two decades working alongside charitable organizations across Europe, including England, Spain, Romania, and Serbia.
Since 2006, he has served as a consultant and project leader partnering with organizations addressing poverty, crisis response, educational access, and community development.
His work has encompassed connecting donors to charities, leading training for staff and volunteers, working with regional leaders to support growth and development, and consulting on organizational health and staff wellbeing.
Since arriving in Kelowna in 2010, Ronnie has continued this work locally as a board member and community leader with multiple local and global charities, maintaining his relational, people-centred approach to organizational development.
Ronnie’s passion is to help others find purpose and fulfillment, empowering and assisting individuals within their world and the world where they serve to live a life that is fully alive.
connect
Working with Ronnie and his team has been a truly transformative experience. Through regular conversations and ongoing support, I felt personally strengthened as a leader, and our team felt equipped and encouraged in a very practical way.
The impact of this partnership is visible not only within our team, but also in the quality and consistency of care we are now able to provide to those we serve.
Vesna
Executive Director
A Place For Me – Novi Sad, Serbia