Swahili Coast Community Foundation Development
Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A.
- Program Civil Society
- Program Area Enhancing Community Philanthropy
- Grant Amount $300,000
- Grant Period January 1, 2025–December 31, 2026
- Location Washington, DC, United States
- Geographic Focus Eastern Africa
About this grant
The project goal is to support the development of community foundations in the Swahili coastal region of Kenya. In 2024, the Aga Khan Foundation piloted the community foundation model in Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale and Lamu. A total of 16 initiative groups were established after several consultation meetings, training on the community foundation concept and a learning visit to South Africa. Since the start of the pilot, the initiative groups have engaged with authorities on their intention to establish community foundations, consulted with communities on the main issues affecting their development, tested fundraising activities and raised in-kind support. Additionally, the initiative groups collectively raised over $13,000 in cash and in-kind contributions within the first six months of the project. During this grant period, the Aga Khan Foundation will support the initiative groups to become community foundations by assisting with their legal formation, establishing a governance structure, building capacity for resource mobilization and engaging communities effectively. The Aga Khan Foundation has worked to improve the lives of millions of people globally since 1974 by working with communities to build self-reliance. In Kenya, the Aga Khan Foundation has offices in Nairobi and Mombasa.