CODEP

About HFI
The History of Haiti Fund, Inc.
Associations
Funding

About Haiti Fund Inc.

Haiti Fund, Inc., is the parent organization for the COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (CODEP).  Haiti Fund Inc. was formed as a non-profit corporation under the laws of the State of North Carolina on November 29th, 1990.

The original Articles of Incorporation, while not limiting, included the following activities:

• To seek support for and administer ecumenical projects in the country of Haiti. The initial such project to be entitled the Cormier Development Project.
• To conduct and administer religious, charitable and educational projects for assistance of every nature whatsoever to the people of Haiti.
• Haiti Fund, Inc., exists to enable the work of CODEP and any future extensions of the work in Haiti.

While there are many blessings and benefits to those who go to Haiti to work in the CODEP ministry, the purpose of this organization is to serve the Haitian people. All other benefits and blessings are truly a work of God's Grace.

The office and home base of HFI is New Bern, North Carolina.  While the “mother church” for this ministry has been First Presbyterian Church, New Bern, there are now many churches involved in a significant way. There are many individuals who support the CODEP work by donating money and materials and their skills and time to travel to Haiti, as well as others who work diligently for the goals of this ministry.

Haiti Fund Inc. is a non profit corporation and has been recognized as exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code as an organization described in section 501(c)(3) and is treated as a publicly supported organization.

The Officers of Haiti Fund, Inc. elected in December 2007 for the year 2008:

• John Winings, Executive Director
• Rev. Dan Wilkers, Board Chairman
• Winston Dixon , Corporate Secretary
• Chris Weinheimer, Treasurer

The Board of Directors meets twice a year, usually in February and July, and the Executive Committee has regular meetings four times per year, and on an ad hoc basis.

Under the direction of the Board, the Executive Director is responsible for managing the business and affairs of the corporation.

CODEP Leaders/Directors in Haiti

In Haiti, leading CODEP, are skilled planning and teaching misionaries.They play a pivotal role in the success of the CODEP ministry. In September of 2006 Rick and Kathy Land were appointed to lead CODEP in Haiti. To learn more about Rick and Kathy and their appointment please use the "staff & leadership" link at the top left of this page.

The History of Haiti Fund, Inc.

The initial Board of Directors was comprised of individuals from First Presbyterian Church in New Bern, North Carolina; Crestwood Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Virginia; Howard Memorial Presbyterian Church in Tarboro, North Carolina; Triangle Presbyterian Church in Durham, North Carolina; Christ Episcopal Church in New Bern, North Carolina; Peace Presbyterian Church in Winterville, North Carolina and the Caribbean/Latin American Associate of the Global Mission Unit, Presbyterian Church USA.

Following the retirement of Jack Hanna, Tom Heller of Southport, NC was named Executive Director for a year and in 2001 Jim Pease was named Executive Director of HFI. Jim had extensive experience with Haiti and was a devoted supporter of the CODEP ministry. The position of executive director during this time of transition required someone committed to executive oversight of CODEP on behalf of the board and efforts in the states in fund raising, and management of church and ecumenical relationships.

In May of 2005, following the resignation of Jim Pease as ED, John Winings was named as the new executive director. Coming at a particularly difficult time in Haiti, with the political situation changing daily and security issues necessitating the removal of PCUSA missionaries from the country, John has provided the board with new insights in its organization and functioning. Plans are being implemented now by several board committees to improve relationships with our ecumenical partners, provide better communication and execution of support efforts to the CODEP project in Haiti, and to put in place a system where volunteers in mission can work in Haiti and have short and intermediate term assignments so that coordination of the work in the project and the visiting mission groups is more streamlined and effective.

At the beginning of CODEP the leaders in Haiti were appointed and funded by the Presbyterian Church (USA) and under the authority and approval of the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti (Église Épiscopale d'Haïti - EEH). This covenant relationship, with the common goal of bettering the lives of the Haitian populace, has been in place since 1992. During that time the appointed leaders were Rodney and Sharyn Babe. As noted above, the Babes were required, along with three volunteers in mission, to leave Haiti in June, 2005 for security reasons. In their absence, the project continued its progress through the efforts and talents of the gifted and trained people who live locally there. Rodney and Sharyn, in their September 15, 2006 PCUSA Mission Co-Worker letter, related that they are beginning a new assignment in Port-au-Prince to "teach sustainable agriculture and teacher training courses at the Episcopal University." If you would like to read their letter posted on the Presbyterian Church USA web site use this link.

Rick and Kathy Land were appointed leaders of CODEP in Haiti beginning September 2006. To learn more about Rick and Kathy please use the "staff & leadership" link at the top left of this page.

Associations

While Haiti Fund Inc. is an independent organization, it seeks to collaborate with other entities that share common goals. Once the village banking initiative was formed, Haiti Fund Inc. recognized some of the administrative challenges associated with maintaining and expanding the concept of multiple borrowers. Early in the project HFI worked with the Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) which had similar efforts underway in other parts of the world and Haiti, CODEP was able to transfer the on-going administration of the village banking program to MEDA staff.

In addition to the MEDA collaboration, Haiti Fund Inc. has cooperated with Hôpital Ste. Croix in Léogâne, an EEH institution, which has a PCUSA mission co-worker in residence. This effort reinforces the important roles which the rural health agents perform under the guidance of the Hopital Ste. Croix.

Other, less formal arrangements, occur as CODEP and Haiti Fund Inc. seek to encourage a wide variety of activities aimed at increasing the self-suffiency of the people of rural Haiti. Through an organization of christian friends in partnership with the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti” called "Haiti Connection" , many valuable contacts have been established already, and more are in the exploration stage.

Funding

As a 501(c)(3) organization, Haiti Fund Inc. is strictly non-profit. The majority of operating funds come from the generous contributions of churches and individuals. The directors of CODEP live in a residence built on land owned by EEH.  Also on this property is a guest house which can house visiting church mission trips. To learn more about opportunities of how to join in helping Haiti Fund, Inc. reach it's goals, please see the menu button at the top of this page.