Today we’d like to introduce you to Tobie Spears.
Hi Tobie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My story began long before Be Humanitarian ever had a name.
I was raised by a single mom who taught me from a young age that even when you have very little, you can still give. Serving others was never framed as charity in our home. It was simply how you show up in the world. That mindset stayed with me as I grew up, traveled, and started my own family.
In 2013, when our girls were six and ten years old, my family and I drove from our home in Utah to Guatemala. That experience changed the trajectory of my life. Seeing families who were working incredibly hard yet still struggling to feed their children was both heartbreaking and clarifying. It was there that I learned many children living in Guatemalan orphanages actually have living parents who simply cannot afford to feed them or send them to school.
Because of that, I made a decision to support families by helping parents before they are ever forced to place their children in an orphanage. I realized that awareness alone was not enough. I could not unsee what I had seen, and I could not walk away from it. That experience planted the seed not only for Be Humanitarian, but for my desire to help others see firsthand what life looks like for billions of people living outside of the United States.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has been anything but smooth.
I started Be Humanitarian without money, connections, or a safety net. I was raising my daughters, working multiple jobs, and starting a nonprofit that did not come with a clear roadmap. I was told by multiple people that once we became an official nonprofit they would happily donate, which did not happen. My husband and I self funded every project for the first six years. There were seasons of deep financial strain and moments when I questioned whether choosing purpose over security and a paying career was irresponsible for my family. Many times it felt like everything rested on our shoulders. Be Humanitarian would not be here without my amazing husband. He has been my right hand, my sounding board, and my constant cheerleader.
Building trust in a remote Guatemalan community also required time, humility, and patience. I had to learn how to slow down. I learned to watch, listen, and develop ideas, then bring them to the women in our community. Sometimes my idea is the right one, and sometimes we go back and forth until we find a better solution together. Being a grassroots nonprofit has meant operating with limited resources, which has slowed progress. We have countless children waiting for a sponsor, and knowing they are waiting for food and security is incredibly difficult. We have amazing sponsors, strong momentum, and deep community support, but we also know how much more we could do with a permanent community center. We have the plans and the vision for a space that would serve as an income producing hub with a community kitchen, reception hall, sleeping space, gardens, and a greenhouse. We only need $250,000 to bring it to life.
There have also been emotional challenges. Witnessing hunger, malnutrition, and systemic inequality takes a toll. We have buried two little boys in our community from illnesses that do not take the lives of children in developed countries. Carrying the stories of children and families who are waiting for sponsors while knowing resources are limited is heavy. Burnout is real, and hearing no after no after no can be exhausting.
Every obstacle has reinforced why this work matters. The struggles have shaped Be Humanitarian into what it is today. Community led, relationship driven, and rooted in dignity. Challenges do not stop the mission. I am too stubborn for that.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Be Humanitarian?
Be Humanitarian is a grassroots nonprofit working alongside families in a remote Guatemalan community to address hunger, education gaps, and generational poverty in a way that is sustainable, dignified, and community led.
For those who want to experience the work firsthand, we host volunteer vacations to Guatemala where individuals get to serve alongside our community, build meaningful relationships, and see the impact of this work up close. I have the privilege of leading these trips three to four times a year and am always grateful for people who feel called to join us. These experiences are not about saving anyone. They are about connection, learning, and shared humanity.
We are deeply rooted in the community and intentional about honoring Guatemalan culture. Our work goes beyond programs and projects and includes meaningful cultural connection. During our Volunteer Vacations we celebrate traditions such as Day of the Dead and Easter alongside our families, creating shared experiences and mutual respect. We also prioritize environmental concerns and animal care by participating in conservation efforts like releasing baby turtles and supporting spay and neuter programs to reduce the number of animals living in unsafe conditions. These experiences help our volunteers and supporters understand the community more fully and reinforce that our work is about relationship, respect, and shared humanity.
Our work focuses on food security, nutrition, education, women’s empowerment, self sufficiency, sustainability, and community development. This includes buying groceries for families, covering school fees, uniforms, shoes, and supplies, providing English classes, building gardens, creating paid work for local moms through our sewing center, and supporting families through projects such as building bathrooms, building houses, and offering regular education and life skills classes. We do not believe in one time aid. We believe in walking alongside families year after year.
What sets Be Humanitarian apart is how we do the work. We listen first. Our programs are created with the leadership of local women and families rather than imposed from the outside. The moms in our community sew and install garden towers, teach families how to maintain them, and earn an income in the process. Parents actively participate in education and life skills classes. Solutions are built together, which creates ownership, pride, and lasting impact.
We are also deeply hands on. Donations are never abstract. Volunteers hand deliver food, supplies, and resources directly to families. Sponsors know the children they support. Donors can see exactly where their investment goes.
Brand wise, what I am most proud of is that Be Humanitarian has remained human. We know names and stories. We celebrate birthdays, Christmas, graduations, and milestones, and we grieve losses together. I have eaten in the homes of our families and know how they live. Over the years, we have provided millions of meals, enrolled children in school, supported women as they learn new skills and become income earners, and helped families move from survival to stability.
What I want readers to know is that Be Humanitarian is not about charity. It is about partnership. It is about dignity, resilience, and the belief that when people are given the tools, trust, and opportunity they deserve, they will build a better future for themselves and their children. We are living proof that consistent, community led work creates real and measurable change.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I believe the humanitarian sector will be shaped by a generational shift in how people engage with giving and service. I also hope to see more small businesses integrate charity into their culture as a meaningful team building practice, especially as shared service continues to show positive effects on employee satisfaction and retention.
Having a 16 year old and an 18 year old become sponsors in our program gives me tremendous hope. Seeing teenagers donate to support a child in Guatemala shows that generosity is less about capacity and more about priority. My vision is that giving becomes a way of life rather than something people wait to do later in life. Younger generations are values driven, globally aware, and eager to make a difference in the world.
The need is significant. Hundreds of millions of people around the globe live in extreme poverty, and over one billion people lack access to basic needs such as clean water, food, and shelter. I believe worldwide change is possible when generosity becomes a habit rather than an exception. When more people choose to care about others with consistently, the future of humanitarian work will be far more hopeful.
Pricing:
- $20 a month Sponsor English Classes
- $37 a month – Provide 30 meals a month + All Educational Costs
- $74 a month – Provide 60 meals a month + All Educational Costs
- $111 a month – provide 90 meals a month + All Educational Costs
- $2195 – Join us in Guatemala in 2026
Contact Info:
- Website: https://behumanitarian.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/be.humanitarian
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/behumanitarian.org
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobie-spears-behumanitarian
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeHumanitarian
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/be-humanitarian-pleasant-grove
