OAK FOUNDATION OAK | ANNU A L REPO L R T 2012 | Annual Report 2o12 Oak Philanthropy Limited Case Postale 115 58, Avenue Louis Casaï 1216 Cointrin Geneva Switzerland www.oakfnd.org Published by Oak Foundation Disclaimer The editors have tried to ensure the accuracy of this report but cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions. Geneva, Switzerland The names of all children mentioned in this publication have been changed. March 2013 Printed on Satimat green demi-mat, superblanc. FSC Mix. Certified: Ecolabel Européen. Letter from trustees Once again, the Annual Report aims to capture the richness and diversity of the work of Oak Foundation. During 2012 we granted USD 152.82 million to organisations around the world. Our partners have been on the frontline of many struggles, from advocating for global agreements on climate change to promoting women’s rights, child protection and an end to arbitrary detention. We continue to be proud of what they are achieving and feel privileged to support their work. Within Oak Foundation, we have taken steps to streamline our grant-making procedures and to reflect on how we can make our partners even stronger. In doing so, we have continued to draw on the results of the 2011 Grantee Perception Survey and on further consultations with grantees from every programme. Updates on these efforts have appeared regularly on our website and will continue to do so. This year we also reviewed our marine conservation work in the Arctic. We are pleased by the positive assessment provided in this review and welcome its constructive suggestions, which the Environment Programme will integrate into its future work. 2012 has not been without its challenges. Funding in our priority areas remains scarce, causing some partners to scale back their work at critical points in time. Some important environmental and social goals remain elusive, despite the best efforts of organisations on the ground. Nonetheless, positive trends are evident: More is being learned about the causes of child abuse and child sexual exploitation, including how to understand and change the behaviour of perpetrators of this abuse – and to end societal tolerance of these crimes against children. Efforts are underway in New York City and London to address the complex problems of veterans who end up homeless and/or in trouble with the law. Recent evidence confirms that strengthening autonomous, broad-based women’s movements at national levels is among the most effective ways of reducing violence against women, which has long been the basis of our work in this area. Significant victories have been won to protect our oceans, including the designation of Turneffe Atoll in Belize as a marine protected area and the creation of the Coral Sea Marine National Park in Australia, which is the second-largest marine reserve in the world. Breakthroughs in technology will soon offer free, widely accessible tools to teachers and students who struggle with learning differences. Online advocacy is reaching new constituencies for human rights, deepening commitment to a range of issues across the globe. Through the Special Interest Grants Programme, a range of innovative efforts have been supported, from cutting-edge medical research to the conservation of forests, and increasing the accessibility of arts and culture to the general public. To ensure continued progress, Oak is supporting organisations at every level, including well- established international groups, start-ups, networks of local advocates and community organisers. Our goal remains constant: to shine a bright light on the needs of the disadvantaged, amplify their voices in policy and decision-making and support them in shaping their own futures. The Trustees of Oak Foundation Kristian Parker – Caroline Turner – Natalie Shipton – Jette Parker – Alan Parker Oak Foundation 1 oak foundation The resources of Oak Foundation originated from an interest in the Duty Free Shoppers business which Alan Parker helped to build. Today, the Foundation comprises a group of philanthropic organisations based in various countries around the world. Oak Foundation was formally established in 1983. Early grants were made in Denmark to organisations supporting single mothers and torture victims (1983) and in Zimbabwe to a range of groups supporting vulnerable children and families, primarily at a community level (1984). Grants continued to be made annually in a range of countries until a new phase for Oak Foundation began in the early 1990s, when annual grant- making began to increase and staff were hired to run substantive programmes. The first two programmes to get underway were Environment and Child Abuse, followed by four other programmes – Housing and Homelessness, International Human Rights, Issues Affecting Women and Learning Differences. There is also a Special Interest Grants Programme, which funds medical research and a range of other efforts identified by the Trustees that do not fall into the other programme areas, and two national programmes in Denmark and Zimbabwe. Since its establishment, Oak Foundation has made over 2,700 grants to not-for-profit organisations across the globe. Oak Foundation has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland and a presence in eight other countries: Belize, Bulgaria, Denmark, Ethiopia, India, the UK, the US and Zimbabwe. Oak Foundation is governed by a five-member Board of Trustees that includes Kristian Parker, Chair; Caroline Turner, Vice Chair; Natalie Shipton, Vice Chair; Jette Parker and Alan Parker. An Advisory Panel also supports the Foundation's work on a range of grant-making issues. Current members are Kathleen Cravero-Kristoffersson (President of Oak Foundation), Gary Goodman (Secretary for Oak Foundation), William Norris and Julie Sandorf. Funding decisions are made by the Board of Trustees, either individually or as a group. While the Board of Trustees meets twice annually, grants are considered on a rolling basis throughout the calendar year. Oak Worldwide DENMARK UK MAINE, USA SWITZERLAND BULGARIA NORTH CAROLINA, USA INDIA BELIZE ETHIOPIA ZIMBABWE Oak Foundation has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland and a presence in eight other countries: Belize, Bulgaria, Denmark, Ethiopia, India, the UK, the US and Zimbabwe. 2 Oak Foundation mission Oak Foundation commits its resources to address issues of global social and environmental concern, particularly those that have a major impact on the lives of the disadvantaged. Child Abuse P. 6 Environment P.19 To protect children and adolescents from all forms To address global climate change mitigation and the of violence, with a special focus on sexual abuse conservation of marine resources. and exploitation. Housing and Homelessness P.35 International Human Rights P.46 To prevent homelessness and social and economic To document and investigate international human marginalisation. rights abuses, hold perpetrators to account and support those who defend them. Issues Affecting Women P.57 Learning Differences P.67 To ensure that women have the rights, capacity and To assist young people with learning differences. opportunity to assure their safety from violence and to enjoy their full and equal human rights. Special Interest Grants P.75 A grant-making initiative reflecting the special interests of the Foundation’s Trustees. Oak Foundation Denmark P.85 Oak Zimbabwe Foundation P.91 A national grant-making organisation to support To help maintain and develop Zimbabwean non-gov- Danish and Greenlandic society. ernmental social, health and educational organisations. Oak Foundation 3 Grant-makinG ANNUAL rePORT 2012 Grant-makinG Criteria Oak values partnerships, both as a funder and as a grant-maker. As a foundation, During the 2012 calendar year, Oak Oak Foundation considers requests for Oak participates in the US-based Foundation, including Oak Foundation funding of special projects, core costs, Council of Foundations, the European Denmark and Oak Zimbabwe Foundation, technical assistance and collaborative Foundations Centre and selected made a total of USD 152.82 million in activities. Multi-year projects are subject groups of donors in areas related to its grants. These included 329 programmatic to regular reviews. The Foundation six programmes. As a grant-maker, Oak grants for a total of USD 145.26 million to occasionally initiates its own programmes encourages its partners to work together 312 organisations based in 29 countries or stimulates initiatives in its areas of to leverage programme strengths and and seven regions, as well as USD 7.56 interest by issuing calls for proposals on resources. Oak also supports learning and million in discretionary grants. The size specific topics, or convening policy makers research to identify gaps in knowledge of grants varied from approximately USD and practitioners to explore solutions to and to develop ways to address them. It 25,000 to USD 7 million. The work of these critical issues. While each programme consistently seeks to identify innovative organisations is carried out throughout has its own areas of focus, Oak as a whole solutions, promote their replication and the world. A searchable grant database adheres to six funding principles. These disseminate lessons learned. containing grants approved in previous include funding initiatives that: years is available on Oak Foundation’s For more information please visit www. Target root causes of problems website (www.oakfnd.org). oakfnd.org. Are replicable either within a sector or across geographical locations aPPLiCATION