UI Charitable is proud to support The We Are One Foundation through a Fiscal Sponsorship, backing a mission to bring sustainable, remote employment opportunities to the people of Tonga.
About The We Are One Foundation
Founded in 2025 and based in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, The We Are One Foundation exists to keep Tongan families together by bringing work to the islands rather than sending people abroad to find it. The organization connects BYU Pathway Worldwide students in Tonga directly with U.S. employers, building local employment centers that provide real, remote job opportunities in fields like data entry and technology work. Led by President Isaiah Kaufusi, a former NFL linebacker, the Foundation's goal is ambitious: raise Tonga's GDP by 20% and change the generations-long pattern of Tongans having to leave home to earn a living.
That mission recently reached a major milestone with the opening of the We Are One Tonga Center, an employment hub aimed at positioning Tongan residents for remote, technology-based work.
A Homecoming Worth Noting
The Center's grand opening got a boost of national attention this month when BYU football head coach Kalani Sitake, the only Tongan-American head coach in NCAA football history, traveled to Tonga for the first time since he was an infant, as covered by USA TODAY. Sitake's family left the islands for Hawaii just months after he was born, and the trip marked his first time back in 50 years.
Sitake brought a group of roughly 50 BYU representatives with him, including assistant coaches and players, making the nearly 20-hour journey from Provo to Tonga by way of Dallas and Fiji. While there, the group helped celebrate the opening of the We Are One Tonga Center and ran youth sports camps with the local community. Sitake described the trip as a chance to reconnect with his roots while helping bring remote job opportunities to grow the local economy, and said he intends to return every year.
Fiscal Sponsorship by UI Charitable
A Fiscal Sponsorship is a formal arrangement in which a 501(c)(3) public charity, such as UI Charitable, sponsors a project that may lack its own exempt status. This partnership allows the project to receive tax-deductible donations, providing critical support for fundraising and operations. For an organization like The We Are One Foundation, Fiscal Sponsorship offers several advantages:
Access to Tax-Deductible Donations: With UI Charitable's support, the Foundation can receive contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations to broaden its base of philanthropic support.
Eligibility for Grants: Many funders require 501(c)(3) status. Fiscal Sponsorship unlocks grant opportunities immediately rather than waiting for IRS tax exempt status.
Credibility and Trust: Partnering with a reputable Fiscal Sponsor provides added legitimacy and assurance for donors and stakeholders.
Administrative Support and Compliance: UI Charitable provides compliance management, expense oversight, and donor reporting, helping ensure donations are used responsibly and effectively.
Looking Ahead
The We Are One Foundation is currently raising funds to build out the Nuku'alofa Employment Center further, expanding the reach of remote work opportunities across the islands.
To support the cause donate here: https://givebutter.com/WeAreOneFoundation. Through this Fiscal Sponsorship, UI Charitable is proud to help power a mission that keeps Tongan families together and builds a sustainable, homegrown economy rooted in the Pacific.
