Nonprofit Directory
Lago Alianza is working to build a complete directory of nonprofit organizations in the Lake Chapala region. Below you will find our evolving and growing list of amazing groups who are doing wonderful work in the community. If you represent a nonprofit and would like to be added to this directory, please use our contact form here.
Ajijic Cares
Ajijic Cares provides comprehensive sexual education and promotes HIV/AIDS prevention in the Lake Chapala area. We connect the community with professionals, institutions, and vital resources to ensure access to essential information and services, welcoming people of all lifestyles.
American Legion Post 7 Chapala
The American Legion is a nonprofit, nonpartisan veterans service organization dedicated to mutual helpfulness. American Legion Post 7 Chapala supports U.S. veterans and their families with benefits assistance and community programs, while strengthening the Lakeside community through charitable projects, medical equipment loans, and social events that foster connection, respect, and service.
- https://www.americanlegionchapalamx.org
- americanlegionchapala@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LegionLakeChapalaPost7
La Asociación Femenina Pro México, A.C.
The Asociación Femenina Pro México believes that education is an important driver of change for improving people's quality of life. We focus on providing training in productive projects that help people (especially women) improve their income, either through entrepreneurship or better employment.
Artists of Lake Chapala/Artistas del Lago de Chapala
The Artists of Lake Chapala (ALC) is a collective of artists supporting one another in the Lake Chapala region. We promote the practice and appreciation of the arts across various media while fostering a cultural exchange among our artist members. ALC artists showcase their work, connect socially, share experiences, and engage in mutual interests.
Clicker Pets Tail End Place
Tail End Place offers a dignified and caring home for orphaned dogs who have lost their owners through their death or inability to care for them. Since many pets at Lakeside are owned by aging “parents” this sanctuary provides for end-of-life planning for both owners and their dogs.
La Cochera Cultural
La Cochera Cultural is a special space where both residential and visiting artists can inspire the community through concerts, lectures, and exhibitions in all forms of art including painting, dance, storytelling, photography, sculpt, culinary and healing arts. The center offers music and art lessons and a summer arts camp for children, many of whom walk from Mexican homes in the neighborhood of San Sebastián that surrounds the center.
Corazones agradecidos san Juan Cosalá
Corazones agradecidos san Juan Cosalá is an organization dedicated to helping patients with kidney failure, cancer, and degenerative diseases in the Lake Chapala area by helping them pay for hemodialysis, expensive treatments, medications, and more, as well as obtaining food pantries and various forms of assistance and support from other non-governmental institutions. The organization is run through jobs, events, and other different activities to raise funds.
CreSer
Our flagship program feeds 500+ kids a day at five kitchens across San Pedro Itzican and Mezcala. We prepare despensas for families with a member on kidney dialysis or elderly. Our farm and classes for youth and adults are aimed at increasing resiliency and self-sufficiency.
Cruz Roja Delegacion Chapala
The Mexican Red Cross in Chapala is a private, non-governmental humanitarian institution that mobilizes networks of medical professionals, volunteers, communities, and donors to provide ambulance transport, emergency medical assistance and childbirth assistance, medical triage, and first aid training to firefighters. It serves an average of 1500 people per month, including approximately 12% expatriates. Most of the people served have very low incomes, and the services are subsidized.
Ecología de Ribera Chapala, A.C.
Ecología de Ribera Chapala operates a community-based recycling program where volunteers receive and sort plastic, glass, cans, and cardboard for reuse by manufacturers as raw materials, reducing energy usage, pollution, and burden on our landfills. The organization endeavors to help the community with related projects and continuing education, especially with youth, promoting sustainably and litter awareness. Bring your recycling donations and visit our facility, including the largest used bookstore in the area, at 917A Carr Joco-Chapala, West Ajijic.
Efrén González Children's Art Program
Several years ago, to give back to his community, Efrén created a program to teach art to local children, and implant in them a passion for art. He offers free art classes for local children aged 5 to 18 every Saturday in West Ajijic – all art supplies and materials are also provided to the students free of charge. Efrén strongly believes that the children in our community are the future of art in Ajijic! Selected work created by the children is scanned, and made into art cards, and these high-quality reproductions are sold at various events around town. Half of the proceeds from the sale of each card goes to the young artist who created it – the remainder goes towards art supplies for the classes.
- Email: dpage@jaliscocondos.org
- Website: https://AjijicChildrensArt.org
El Refugio de Onyx
El Refugio de Onyx is a shelter for abused and abandoned dogs located in Ixtlahuacan de Los Membrillos. We provide a loving, safe environment with food, shelter, medical care, and adoption services. We also assist the impoverished neighborhoods nearby with low cost or no cost spay and medical care for dogs and cats when our funds allow.
Feria del Maestros del Arte
Since 2001, the annual 3-day Feria showcases Mexico’s finest folk art from over eighty artisans selected from throughout Mexico. We provide transportation to and housing at Lakeside, where they are hosted by local residents. We help to preserve these art forms and cultures by providing a venue to sell their art at fair market value.
Festival del Lago/Northern Lights Music Festival
Festival del Lago, held each summer in Ajijic, is an intense and immersive two weeks of music making, apprenticeships and concerts for students from precollege level to young professionals. The students receive private lessons, chamber music coaching, Masterclasses and participate in live performances for the Lake Chapala community. The music academy is supported in part by the Northern Lights Music Festival, held annually in February in Ajijic which features professional international musicians and offers performances nearly every day for the Lake Chapala community. Other support for the academy is from benefactors and patrons.
FoodBank Lakeside
FoodBank Lakeside works to relieve the chronic food poverty of our most disadvantaged neighbors, collaborating with donors, volunteers, businesses, and community organizations to ease suffering and offer hope of a brighter future throughout the Lakeside community. Every month we distribute over 650 bags of healthy food (despensas) to disadvantaged families and elderly, disabled, or unemployed individuals. Additionally, we fund over 5,000 weekday hot meals per month to children and elderly or disabled adults through our Kid's Kitchen program with CreSer, and our partnership with El Proyecto de San Antonio.
The Foundation for Lake Chapala Charities
For over 16 years we have enabled US citizens to receive a deduction on their US taxes by accepting donations and distributing those funds to qualified charities throughout the Lake Chapala area. Since our founding we have distributed over $3.5 million dollars and helped grow the nonprofit sector in our community.
Friends of Ajijic Rotary (FOAR)
Friends of Ajijic Rotary (FOAR) is a community-support group that works in partnership with the Rotary Club of Ajijic. Their mission is to raise funds and awareness for local service projects in the Lake Chapala / Ajijic area. FOAR is a local, inclusive Rotary-aligned group focused on fundraising, outreach, and making a tangible social impact in the Ajijic area.
People can become a “Friend” without any mandatory financial contribution or time commitment; it’s a way to stay informed, support, and get involved when they choose.
- https://www.friendsofajijicrotary.com/
- info@friendsofajijicrotary.com
Have Hammer…Will Travel
Have Hammer…Will Travel A.C. is a renowned Mexican trade school program that empowers local youth and families by providing comprehensive training in woodworking and carpentry. Our program goes beyond technical instruction to teach valuable life skills, such as work ethic, teamwork, responsibility, and self-confidence, which are essential for managing and living a successful life. Through our uniquely equipped workshop in the Lake Chapala communities, we offer three levels of learning, from foundational skills for career exploration to advanced techniques for professional employment. Students learn to safely use hand and power tools, read woodworking plans, and even design their own projects, acquiring skills that can lead to careers in furniture making, lumber sales, and more. By enhancing the economic potential of families, we're not just building furniture; we're shaping futures.
Jaltepec Educational Center
We are the only institution in Mexico that offers a dual educational model in hospitality, designed exclusively for young women. With a history of academic excellence, we train leaders through a program that combines theory with professional practice in companies in the sector, allowing for rapid entry into the hospitality industry. In addition to their comprehensive training, our students receive preparation to start their own businesses, achieving a high success rate when bringing them to life. At Jaltepec, they not only acquire technical skills and values, but also transform their reality and become agents of change capable of improving the quality of life of their families and communities.
La Ola Ministries
La Ola Ministries is a faith-based home for girls who have been abandoned, abused, and/or trafficked. These children receive all the necessities of food, clothing, and shelter, in a safe, loving atmosphere full of encouragement where they can heal from their traumatic past. These girls are supported in their educational endeavors beyond primary education.
Lake Chapala Fine Artists Guild
The Lake Chapala Fine Artists Guild was founded in 2011 by a group of accomplished local painters. Initially focused on juried exhibitions of paintings and pastels, the Guild became a hallmark for professional painting in the region. The Guild’s mission is simple, yet profound: to present collective exhibitions featuring high-quality art that enhances homes and inspires the community. By focusing solely on visual art — without crafts, clothing, or other distractions — the Guild provides a platform for both established and emerging talent to shine, and provides the community with an alternative to handicraft art markets and solo artist exhibitions.
Email: info@FineArtChapala.com
Website: https://FineArtChapala.com
Lake Chapala Society
Aiding multicultural and multigenerational learning, connections, and philanthropic contributions since 1955, the Lake Chapala Society is the gateway to Lake Chapala. Offering social, cultural, civic, and arts education, multiple libraries, and hundreds of classes, programs, trips, activities and entertainment annually, LCS is a plus! ~People helping people~.
The Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, A.C.
LCUUF established a U.S. 501(c)(3) charitable organization in the US, known as Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fund, Inc., to support LCUUF and to make donations to charities in the Lake Chapala, Jalisco, area. Only charities listed with the Foundation of Lake Chapala Charities are eligible for donations from LCUUF, Inc. Currently six Lakeside charities have been selected for donations, each of which receives a donation twice a year.
Lakeside DayBreak Dementia Support
Lakeside DayBreak is an umbrella organization offering opportunities and support for persons with Dementia, their family, friends and neighbors. Programs include: Day Activities, Respite Care, Support Groups, Rehabilitation Programs, Referrals, Resources and Support for individuals..
- LakesideDayBreak@gmail.com
- https://www.facebook.com/LakesideDayBreak/
Lila K Mexico Foundation AC
Since 2019 we have been addressing two of the most pressing medical problems in our area: chronic kidney disease and dental health. We provide education and funding to prepare recipients for kidney transplants and we have provided over 2,000 dental services to individuals in San Pedro Itzican and Mezcala. We also offer educational programs in nutrition, dental care and humane treatment of the environment, animals and communities.
Lissa’s Legacy
At El legado de Lissa, we strive to empower women who are educators, mothers, and caregivers of children, adolescents, and young people so that they can develop their autonomy and self-determination. We fund projects that provide the tools necessary to lead positive change in their families and communities, thereby generating lasting benefits.
Love In Action Children’s Home
Our mission at Love in Action is to provide holistic care to abandoned, abused, and orphaned girls. We physically care for our children by bathing, clothing and feeding them as well as providing medical and dental care; we provide vocational and educational programs; we provide on-site psychological support through group and individual therapy; and spiritually we encourage our children in the love of Christ; and we engage in numerous activities in the community. Each caregiver is trained in trauma-informed care and evidence-based parenting practices.
Lucky Dog Rescue and Adoption Center
Lucky Dog is a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to the rescue and adoption of abandoned and abused dogs in the Lake Chapala area of Jalisco Mexico. Lucky Dog is run solely by a group of dedicated volunteers. All dogs available for adoption have been treated for fleas, de-wormed, vaccinated, vet checked and healthy. All dogs over six months of age are also spayed or neutered.
Mama Cleo's Boys Home
Mama Cleo's is a children's home that offers a family environment to children between the ages of 2 and 17, providing them with comprehensive care. At Mama Cleo's, children receive education, medical and dental care, and lots of love. When the children turn 18, they are free to continue studying with us and take on more responsibilities within the home, or they can choose to start an independent life.
Needlepushers
Originated in 1962 by Neill James in honor of her mother, an avid knitter, Needlepushers have been making special clothing for needy children in the lakeside area for over half a century. The products of these hardworking volunteers are distributed throughout lakeside communities and in the surrounding mountain villages. Dozens of volunteers meet every Tuesday morning to knit, crochet and sew. The work and the results are amazing!
Niñas Sabias A.C.
Niñas Sabias A.C. places girls at the center as they enter puberty, offering educational initiations through a culturally rooted pedagogy that teaches menstruation, body literacy, and fertility awareness. We train and certify local women as educators to deliver our program in schools and advocate for girls’ rights; and support women-led enterprises to produce eco menstrual kits—so that every girl becomes Healthy, Safe, and Wise.
Pet Food Bank Lakeside
Pet Food Bank Lakeside partners with local food distribution programs including FoodBank Lakeside, CreSer and others to repackage and deliver pet food to families struggling to feed their beloved pets. We also provide educational classes for local youth, teaching them how to care for their dogs and cats with compassion and responsibility.
Rotary Club of Ajijic
Rotary is a membership organization of business, professional, and community leaders that provides funding and service to the community. Recent projects have included menstrual health, scholarships, diabetes and renal transplant support, computers for Saul Rodiles Elementary school, Heartmath techniques for suicide prevention among Indian Tribal population and free breast cancer screening.
Poco a Poco San Pedro Itzicán AC
Poco a Poco helps the people in San Pedro Itzicán and the surrounding towns to improve their lives and the lives of others for generations to come. We do this by collaborating with many people to provide healthy lunches for children, education for all ages including pre-school classes, dentistry and emergency medical assistance.
Programa Pro Niños Incapacitados Del Lago AC
Niños Incapacitados is a non-profit organization that assists Mexican families in need of financial aid to cover medical expenses for their children who are battling serious or life-threatening illnesses. Our goal is to ensure that these children receive the best care possible, regardless of their family’s financial situation. We rely solely on donations and the support of volunteers to make a difference in the lives of these children and families.
Querer y Hacer por Chapala AC
We are a non-profit organization that was founded during COVID as part of the “Jalisco sin Hambre” (Jalisco without Hunger) business initiative. Our purpose is to create a humanitarian route between Guadalajara and the Chapala Lakefront. Currently, every TUESDAY, through our “Aquí Estoy” Brigade, we deliver humanitarian aid to indigenous community centers, shelters, and vulnerable populations. In Guadalajara, we have cargo trucks and a warehouse for collecting large donations, mainly food and health supplies. Our organization is an Authorized Donor with the SAT, a member of the Guadalajara Chamber of Commerce, and a founding leader of the UN DÍA PARA DAR JALISCO initiative, inspired by the global Giving Tuesday movement, to promote generosity and volunteerism. Every month, we distribute powdered milk from Fundación Vamos México and are a distribution center for Kellogg's donations.
See our annual report.
Rotary Club Chapala Sunrise
Our club members are dedicated professional people who make positive change and share a passion for community service and friendship here at Lakeside. This is a very active Rotary chapter with a half dozen current projects including a kidney transplant program, support for The Blue School and volunteer assistance at Tepehua Centro Comunatario with the children’s meal program. We recently finished building a waste water treatment facility in Ojo de Agua (on the outskirts of Mezcala) which included providing the villagers education on the maintenance of the plant as well as preparing them to take on other leadership roles in their community.
Salto
Salto is a Life Skills and mentoring program for and by youth at Lakeside. The program offers workshops, vocational guidance and mentoring so that local teens can thrive and achieve their goals and contribute to the community.
St. Andrew’s Anglican Church Outreach Program
St. Andrew's distributes grants to many Lake Chapala Charities annually in the areas of health education and human welfare. The main fundraising arm is from the sales of household items and clothing at Todo Bueno Re-sale shop in Riberas which is staffed by volunteers.
SAFE Scholarship Program
Save a Future with Education (SAFE) Scholarship Program awards scholarships to as many eligible grades 1-12 students as possible. SAFE’s core vision is that meritorious students with minimal resources deserve support to attend/benefit from a quality education. Though public education is ostensibly free, the ancillary required costs to attend school are not. Through donations, SAFE can sponsor deserving children by paying for the costs of uniforms, registration, exams, school supplies, books, shoes, and digital access at upper grades. Since its inception. SAFE has issued 1400+ scholarships.
School for Special Children
Our organization raises money to support the School for Special Children, the only school at Lakeside that specializes in education for a range of students with special needs. Monies raised go toward two main needs; the upkeep, maintenance and improvement of the school and grounds, and serving the children a hot meal each day. Thanks for our generous donors, the school has been able to take on an increased range of students with special needs and we have focused on improving the accessibility of the School and ensuring that not only is it a safe place for learning, but that the dedicated teachers have the necessary tools and infrastructure to ensure that the students reach their full potential. We are so thankful for the wonderful teachers who dedicate their lives to these children.
Tails of Mexico
Tails of Mexico offers free spay and neuter services in the Lake Chapala area aiding low-income families to minimize suffering and support the community.
Our mission is to reduce the overpopulation of unwanted cat and dogs in the area thereby dramatically reducing suffering and the need to rescue these animals. In addition to organizing spay and neuter clinics through the community, we provide a year-round voucher program providing sterilization services to the communities with little or no animal health services. We also do vaccination days, cat trapping (TNR) equipment loans for adoption events and provide education in the community about the humane treatment of animals.
Teaching English in the Public School System
We are a group of volunteers who are teaching English as a second language to elementary students in the public school setting. In addition, we have raised money for drinking water, maintenance repairs, curtains etc. Another goal is to make the public aware of issues facing the public schools such as lack of drinking water, money for school repairs, non-functioning bathrooms and similar issues.
Tepehua Centro Comunitario
Since 2010 volunteers have been providing services to the Tepehua neighborhood in Chapala which is considered one of the poorest neighborhoods in the state of Jalisco. Some of our current programs, that also involve Village women in leadership positions, include food despensa distributions and meals programs for kids and the elderly, sewing classes, sale of clothing and household good to villagers, assistance with school expenses, and free medical and dental appointments. Our work is partially supported through sales at Tepehua Treasures Thrift Shop in Riberas.
University Scholarship Fund A.C. (UVA)
UVA (university vocational assistance) has been helping Lakeside students with scholarships for over 50 years. UVA students attend university or vocational schools, studying a variety of disciplines including, among others, education, medicine, dentistry, law, accounting, engineering, tourism, physical therapy, culinary arts, psychology, veterinary science and computer technology. For admission or to remain in the program, students need a GPA of at least 85%.