To many people, philanthropists are ageing wealthy people. But 30-year-old Mercy Hinneh has built a unique model of philanthropy. The Liberian-born American founder of the God Blueprint Foundation does not have vast personal wealth to give, but she knows how to move the hearts of those who do.
“I prayed about it, I talked to God about it. I worked for several years and saved up some money. That is how I started on my own ministry with my own money that I saved,” she says.
What sets her apart is while she started with her own modest savings, today, she has convinced complete strangers to entrust her with their hard-earned money to support orphans, patients, and vulnerable communities across the globe.
“People started seeing the work that I do in orphanages, schools, and hospitals. That is how they trusted me,” she says.
In the United States, her foundation is registered as a non-profit and non-government organisation. That official registration opens doors to funding from churches, organisations such as the Goodwill Foundation, and government websites that list funding opportunities for non-profits.
A ministry that crosses boundaries
Her work goes far beyond writing cheques. She visits prisons, hospitals, hospice centres, places many people avoid. In hospices, she comforts terminally ill patients, reading scripture, holding hands, listening to their regrets, and offering hope in their final days.
“Some want me to read for them. Others just want someone to talk to. I do not take them as strangers, otherwise I would not connect with them as much as I would like to. I just look at them as my brothers or sisters,” she says.
Her ability to connect with people from all walks of life is what makes her ministry effective. She does not judge. She listens. She offers comfort.
A small donation with a big impact
During her visit to Uganda, she visited the Uganda Cancer Institute and learnt that the care home housing needy patients required food items and adult pampers. She put together $500 (about Shs1.8m), money raised through her network, and purchased: 200kgs of posho, 150kgs of beans, 150kgs of rice and 50kgs of sugar.
“This is the beginning of our support to the care home,” she says.
Her plan is to continue fundraising from the United States, sending not just money but also beds, clothing, food, computers, and shoes. She understands that sustainable support requires more than one-off donations.
The secret to her success
Hinneh employs just a media team that handles connections. Her mother manages funds and documents, and herself as the driving force behind it all. She admits she has no formal training for this work; only visions she has had since childhood and a deep spiritual awareness. Her mission has its ups and downs. Some people she ministers to change their ways, but others fall back into old habits. It is constant demanding work. When asked if she considers herself a philanthropist, she shakes her head.
“I am not one. I am somebody who is collecting money on behalf of the public to do donations.”
Her goal is refreshingly simple; travel the world, connect with people, and give others opportunities; jobs, education, and second chances.
“One of my goals is to connect with people around the world and provide for those in need,” she says.
As she continues her Africa tour, having visited Tanzania, Zambia, Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda, with Ethiopia next, she leaves behind a powerful lesson; you do not need millions to make a difference. You just need a vision, a voice, and the trust of those who believe in what you do. Hinneh proves that true philanthropy is not about how much you have in your bank account. It is about how much you can move others to give.