The Global Fund for Children annual report 2012–2013 table of contents Letter 07 Our thanks From You to the Grassroots 08 How we make your impact meaningful and sustainable Year in Review 1 0 Highlights from 2012–2013 Stories 1 4 Meet some of the children whose lives you transformed Donors 28 Our generous community of supporters (that’s you) Financials 40 Read the numbers behind the stories Leadership & Staff 44 The people who connect you to the world Special Message 46 A personal note of thanks the global fund for children 4 Because of you, she can go to school. Odona is a student at the Special Education School run by Pazapa, a GFC grantee partner in Haiti. Disabilities carry a strong stigma in Haiti, but with your support, Pazapa is helping families and communities to understand that all children are worthy of dignity and respect—and an education. That alone is enough to make anyone proud. But you did so much more this year. You helped to protect children from becoming slaves. You freed others. You sent girls to school for the first time, and you provided healing care to children who have been to war and back. Simply put—you transformed lives. Thank you. 5 2012–2013 annual report our vision At The Global Fund for Children, we envision a world where all children grow up to be productive, caring citizens of a global society. the global fund for children 6 our mission We work to advance the dignity of children worldwide. We pursue this mission by making small grants to innovative community-based organizations working with many of the world’s most vulnerable children and youth. 7 2012–2013 annual report the global fund for children 8 You are somebodY who is passionate. You are somebodY These are the words of Kakenya Ntaiya, founder of the Kakenya Center who wants to see a for Excellence, a Global Fund for Children grantee partner. better world. Kakenya presented this challenge to the audience at TEDxMid- Atlantic, where she spoke about growing up in a traditional Maasai community in Kenya. Kakenya was the first young woman from You are somebodY her village to leave and get an education—with a promise to use that who wants to make education to give back to her community. (You can read about a difference. Kakenya’s journey, and about the generation of girls who are following in her footsteps, on page 16 of this report.) You are somebodY But Kakenya’s words are not only for the people who heard her who wants to make speech that day—they are for all of us. They are for you. At The Global Fund for Children, we understand that your our tomorrow commitment to children runs deep. You are determined to make this better. world a place where all children can be healthy, safe, and strong. Because of you, that world is becoming a reality for more children i want to challenge every day. You todaY to be the Our role is to transform your passion into real change in children’s first, because people lives. We find and fund the most promising grassroots organizations working with the most vulnerable children and youth, so your will follow You. investments can make a big impact. We also take on Kakenya’s challenge to “be the first.” This year, with your support, we became the first US-based institutional funder of 30 grassroots organizations—that’s 83 percent of our new grantees. Because of you, we said yes to thousands of children who need your support. If not us, then who? We know this is a question you ask yourself when you stand up for the vulnerable children of the world. Kakenya asked herself this question, then blazed a trail of change for girls’ rights. Her work continues today because of supporters like you. We hope this report reveals to you all the transformations that are taking place because of you. We cannot thank you enough. We also thank Maya Ajmera and Hafsat Abiola-Costello, two outgoing board members, for their commitment to GFC. It is especially poignant to mark Maya’s service as founder, president, and board member. Her vision, guidance, and passion have been fundamental to GFC’s launch, development, and success. As you know, as each year folds into the next, our responsibility remains. There are still countless children who need you to be the first—who need you to show the world what is possible. We are proud that you have chosen us to walk with you on that journey. With our deepest thanks, Mark Mcgoldrick Chair, Board of Directors 9 2012–2013 annual report from you to the grassroots Because of you, children can groW, learn, and Working long hours on a fishing boat against your thrive—no Matter What will—or playing checkers with a friend. this is the their circuMstances. difference you make in children’s lives. With your help, challenging Millions of children around the world are born into a stark reality: heights rescues children will they work in markets and mines, or go to school? Will they in ghana who have been be trafficked into slavery, or be free? Will they be child soldiers, exploited for labor on fishing or students? boats and farms, while also protecting children who Your support makes all the difference. With your help, we reach are at risk. here, children children on the margins of society—trafficked children, refugees, relax at the organization’s child laborers, street children—and ensure that they are safe, rehabilitation center for former slaves who have educated, healthy, and cared for. recently been freed. It’s what every child deserves—you make it possible. the global fund for children 10 and Because of you, coMMunities get during its partnership stronger—every day, with GFC, dream a dream increased the number of all over the World. children it serves from 500 to 4,500. thousands more children You want to help when and where it is needed most. It’s our job to make from vulnerable backgrounds sure that happens. That’s why we work at the grassroots level, finding are learning important life homegrown organizations that are already making a difference on the skills—because of you. ground. They understand their communities’ unique needs and have a 2013 Maya ajmera the entrepreneurial vision to meet them. sustainability award winner, dream a dream is a leader But your support enables these organizations to make a lasting impact in its field and is collaborating on children’s lives. We strategically utilize your funds to help our grantees with several other GFC grantees to maximize its grow bigger, better, and stronger. We provide our grantees with capital, impact on vulnerable management support, training, and leverage to help them grow and succeed. children in india. Then they can reach even more children in need for years to come— and the value of your investment continues for generations. 11 2012–2013 annual report year in review thanks to you, there is a lot to Be proud of. together, in 2012–2013 We ... Multiplied Magnified your investments to make the visibility of children’s every dollar go further, and issues through the to grow the ranks behind 2012 Financial Times our cause. This year, by Seasonal Appeal. With leveraging your support, we this special honor and the helped our grantees secure accompanying 10-week nearly $2.2 million from international campaign, other funders. GFC raised nearly $5 million from you chaMpioned and other donors for children worldwide. everyday heroes who are on the ground, changing the world. Our grantee WelcoMed leaders received numerous 36 new grantee partners— honors for their innovative and the 22,005 vulnerable work, including CNN Hero, children they serve—to the Echoing Green Fellow, GFC family. For 83 percent White House Champion of of these organizations, Change, and Ford Fellow we are the first US-based of 92nd Street Y. funder to offer support— and we couldn’t have done convened it without you. our grantee partners around the world, bringing aWarded them together to strategize, $268,000 in Maya Ajmera build networks, and share Sustainability Awards to challenges and triumphs. 9 outstanding organizations. A total of 111 grassroots This special grant is designed organizations participated to ensure our partners’ long- in our Knowledge Exchanges term stability—and to keep in Colombia, Haiti, your investment impacting India, Kenya, Lebanon, generations of children the Philippines, Serbia, to come. the United Kingdom, and the United States. aced our exams. According celeBrated to Charity Navigator, with you at the Global Fund GFC has exceeded industry for Children UK Trust Gala standards for financial in London, where you raised management, accountability, more than $525,000 in one and transparency for the night. Bravo! last 9 years. 13 2012–2013 annual report where we are With your support, the gloBal fund for children invested $4.1 Million in 282 grassroots organizations in 59 countries this year. since 1997, We’ve reached More than 9 Million vulneraBle children WorldWide. global distribution of inVestments united latin america & states the caribbean latin america & 3% 22% east & united states the caribbean southeast asia number of grantee number of grantee 23% partners: 8 partners: 57 europe & eurasia number of grants: 12 number of grants: 70 13% Value of grants: Value of grants: $131,914 $849,407 south asia United States 8 Argentina 2, Bolivia 3, Brazil 6, Colombia 6, 14% Dominican Republic 5, Ecuador 4, africa & Guatemala 7, Haiti 9, Jamaica 1, Mexico 4, the middle east Nicaragua 3, Panama 4, Peru 3 25% the global fund for children 14 europe & africa & the east & eurasia Middle east south asia southeast asia number of grantee number of grantee number of grantee