Returning to my roots

I'm proud to share with my LinkedIn community that earlier this year, I became the Executive Director of a private family foundation named Ezrah Charitable Trust. Having spent the early years of my post-MBA career working for non-profit organisations such as Grameen Foundation , TechnoServe and KickStart International , I'm thrilled to be returning to my roots in social entrepreneurship. Ezrah is very passionate about supporting implementing organizations who either improve the income generated from existing jobs (i.e. smallholder agriculture), create new jobs (i.e. vocational or digital upskilling), or enable asset accumulation (i.e. affordable housing). Over the past couple of months, I've had the privilege of visiting six of our partners doing amazing work across sub-Saharan Africa.

One Acre Fund (Kenya)

One Acre Fund works with millions of smallholder farmers to equip them with the supplies and training they need to thrive. They put Farmers First in everything they do, helping farmers grow more food, plant more trees, and earn more money from their harvests.

Root Capital (Uganda)

Root Capital provides credit and capacity building to small and growing agricultural businesses, helps rural communities adapt to the existential threat of climate change, helps level the playing field for women farmers, employees, and entrepreneurs, and harnesses the untapped power of the rural youth to build long-term resilience.

Raspberry Pi Foundation (Kenya)

The goals of the Raspberry Pi Foundation are:

1. Education:?To enable any school to teach students about computing and how to create with digital technologies, through providing the best possible curriculum, resources, and training for teachers.
2. Non-formal learning:?To engage millions of young people in learning about computing and how to create with digital technologies outside of school, through online resources and apps, clubs, competitions, and partnerships with youth organisations.
3. Research:?To deepen our understanding of how young people learn about computing and how to create with digital technologies, and to use that knowledge to increase the impact of our work and advance the field of computing education.

Buildher (Kenya)

Buildher works to see women across Kenya actively contribute towards urban development to create safe, inclusive, resilient and sustainable cities. They equip women in Kenya with accredited construction and manufacturing skills leading to greater financial prosperity, changing male attitudes and promoting gender equality within the construction industry.

BuildX Studio (Kenya)

BuildX is a Nairobi-based architecture, engineering and construction B Corp which identifies and creates real estate projects that?set radically better examples for social and environmental impact.?Radically better buildings for?BuildX?are net zero carbon, more equitably designed, and enhance the quality of life and wellbeing of building users.

Smart Havens Africa (Uganda)

Smart Havens Africa focuses on homes built by women, for women and low-income families. They offer a route out of rental poverty through jobs, financial inclusion, and affordable homes. From training in property management to financial literacy, they provide their clients with tools to a secure financial future.

I also want to recognise the many wonderful people who have been working in philanthropy/impact investment many more years than I have and have taken the time to meet with me and share their approach to funding impactful organisations:

• Alex Evangelides at A to Z Impact
• Atti Worku and Katie Bunten-Wamaru at African Visionary Fund
• Maelis Carraro at Catalyst Fund
• Anna-Marie Harling at Co-Impact
• Kanini Mutooni at Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation
• Marion Ntiru at The ELMA Philanthropies
• Larry Gilson and Teresa Cisneros Burton at Focusing Philanthropy
• Nina Gené and Owen Woodhouse at Jasmine Social Investments
• Jeremy Hockenstein and Aude Anquetil at Livelihood Impact Fund
• Hetal Patel and Daniel Block at Mercy Corps Ventures
• Kevin Starr at Mulago
• Diana Won at Pershing Square Philanthropies
• Sara Catherine Johnson and Rebekah Thayer Pyne at Rippleworks
• Andy Bryant , Ellie Neilson , and Liana Nzabampema at Segal Family Foundation
• Edwin Ou and Rachel Flynn at Skoll Foundation
• Conor Brosnan , Karina Wong , and Alex Simuyandi at Small Foundation
• Dan Berelowitz at This Day Foundation

My only hope is to be as good a steward as all of you and my amazing predecessor Kevin L Miller !