ABOUT US
An Education Nonprofit Creating Opportunity in the Dominican Republic
WHAT WE DO
Education That Opens Doors
The Dominican Joe Kids Foundation provides K–12 education and university support in Las Terrenas, helping students access the learning, resources, guidance, and encouragement they need to keep moving forward. From classrooms and school essentials to higher education, our support is designed to stay with students through every stage of their journey.
Hope begins the moment a child is given a chance to learn.
Dominican Joe
Founder
HOW WE MAKE AN IMPACT
Supporting Students and Families in Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
Through K–12 education, university support, essential resources, and community investment, Dominican Joe Kids helps students access the opportunities they need to learn, grow, and build brighter futures.
We Educate
Quality K–12 education and continued support through university.
We Help
Resources, guidance, and encouragement for every stage of learning.
We Build
Stronger opportunities for students, families, and the Las Terrenas community.
We Donate
Turning generosity into education, opportunity, and lasting community impact.
The Dominican Joe Kids Foundation
We’re On A Mission
Of Big Changes.
Our Story
From Four Children in a Backyard to a K–12 School
Long before Dominican Joe Kids had a name, it had Lidia Dickinson. After settling in Las Terrenas, Lidia began inviting neighborhood children into her backyard to help them learn to read and write. Four children became a classroom, and a classroom became a school.
In 2013, a mutual friend introduced Lidia to Dominican Joe, and together they began sponsoring six students. That partnership has grown into a kindergarten through twelfth grade school serving 265 students, plus a university sponsorship program supporting 25 scholars.
Our graduates are proof that opportunity changes everything. Former students now work as teachers, professionals and community leaders in Las Terrenas. Deuris was once a child in one of our classrooms. Today he teaches mathematics at our school.
Dominican Joe Kids at a Glance
Our School Today
Students from Dominican, Haitian, Cuban, Venezuelan and Puerto Rican families learn side by side in Las Terrenas, and our classrooms are almost evenly split between girls and boys.
Vision, Mission & Values
What Guides Our Work
Every Child, Full Potential
A world where every child has the opportunity, resources and guidance to reach their full potential, and communities in the Dominican Republic where education ignites hope, builds confidence and creates generational change.
Transforming Lives Through Education
To provide high-quality learning environments, passionate teachers and holistic support that empower each child to thrive academically, socially and spiritually, building a model of education that breaks the cycle of poverty.
Equity
Every child deserves the chance to learn, grow and thrive. Sponsorship removes the barriers between a child and school, from uniforms and meals to books and a place to belong.
Community
Families, educators and donors stand together for every child, building trust and shared responsibility far beyond the school walls.
Integrity
We lead with transparency. Independent accountants in the United States and the Dominican Republic review our finances, and we share our results every year.
Resilience
Many students arrive carrying burdens no child should bear. At DJK they learn that their starting point does not define their destination.
Hope
We nurture belief in every child’s potential through passionate teachers, safe classrooms and the simple act of showing each child their future is worth fighting for.
People Behind the Mission
The Team Helping Dominican Joe Kids Grow
A volunteer board, trusted advisors and a dedicated team in Las Terrenas work together so every child has a real chance to learn.
Lidia Dickinson
Lidia’s backyard lessons for four neighborhood children became the school we are today. She also founded the Samaná Smiles Foundation, the Fuente de Vida Mothers’ Club and the first widows club of Las Terrenas.
Dominican Joe
Joe founded Dominican Joe Kids in 2013 after seeing the barriers many children in the Dominican Republic face in reaching quality education. His leadership has built more than a decade of impact grounded in compassion and accountability.
Chiara Carfi
One of DJK’s earliest supporters, Chiara serves on the executive board, leading business development and strategic partnerships.
Caroline Dillon
A supporter for over a decade, Caroline has sponsored the first-grade class, helped students reach university and returns to Las Terrenas every Christmas.
Christina Miller
Christina joined the Board soon after discovering Las Terrenas. Her focus is governance and strategic development, so the Foundation flourishes for generations.
Jonathan Wunderlich
Jonathan brings over 25 years in nonprofit leadership, executive training and consulting, bridging the corporate and nonprofit worlds.
Nicole Bauer
Nicole links the board and the school, overseeing school finances, university sponsorships, staff, maintenance, donor relations and projects.
Stefanie Bauer
A finance and operations professional with a dual master’s degree in finance management, Stefanie manages DJK’s finances with our independent accountants.
Melanie Guminski
Melanie has been part of DJK since its very first fundraiser and has helped build, renovate and support the school on the ground, all year round.
Cristina Toscan
A social entrepreneur based in Las Terrenas, Cristina coordinates local events and social media, bringing donors and students closer together.
Governance & Accountability
Transparency Is Not a Checkbox. It’s a Culture.
At Dominican Joe Kids, every dollar entrusted to us is treated as a promise. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of financial and ethical stewardship because the children we serve deserve nothing less.
Questions about our financials, governance or operations? Email us at info@dominicanjoekids.com.
- Registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the United States (EIN 99-3015786) and registered foundation in the Dominican Republic (RNC 4-30-29907-3)
- Annual IRS Form 990 prepared and filed by a dedicated U.S. tax firm
- Finances reviewed independently by accountants in the U.S. and the Dominican Republic
- Volunteer board serving without compensation, guided by a formal conflict-of-interest policy
- Registered with PayPal Charities and Benevity for verified giving
- A full public breakdown of how every dollar was raised and spent, presented each spring at Getaway & Give
At a Glance
The Dominican Joe Kids Foundation Today
The Dominican Joe Kids Foundation runs a K–12 school in Las Terrenas, on the Samaná Peninsula of the Dominican Republic, and supports graduates who go on to university. Today 265 students learn in our classrooms with 15 teachers, and 25 young men and women are pursuing university degrees with our support.
What began in 2013, when Lidia Dickinson and Dominican Joe started sponsoring six students, is now a school community backed by more than 1,500 international supporters. Our programs are funded by donations, student sponsorships, corporate partners and our two signature events.
The Dominican Joe Kids Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the United States (EIN 99-3015786). You can confirm our status with the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. In the Dominican Republic we are a registered foundation (RNC 4-30-29907-3).
Good to Know
Dominican Joe Kids Foundation FAQ
OUR PARTNERS & SPONSORS
Stronger Together for Education
The work of Dominican Joe Kids is made possible through the generosity of businesses, organizations, and individuals who believe in expanding access to education. Our partners and sponsors help strengthen our school, support students at every stage of their journey, and make long-term growth possible.
