Things are blooming this fall
Despite the falling leaves, things are blooming here in Boston!
Although the Tawingo Fund typically funds grantee partners that have been around for some time, we have recently started to support early-stage projects that are in need of funding to get off the ground. Given that Tawingo Fund provides relatively small grants, we are one of the few funders positioned to support organizations with annual budgets under $100,000. And recently, two of these early-stage projects launched and the impact they are already having is extraordinary…
At a Network of Engaged International Donors (NEID) event, I met Anne Wadsworth, Executive Director of Girls Education Collaborative in Tanzania. Anne and I connected over our frustrations around the lack of funders and funding opportunities for small, local organizations. From Anne’s perspective, Girls Education Collaborative can only support so many girls in Tanzania and being on the ground there, they have identified multiple other organizations focused on girls agency who are doing incredible work, but lack access to western funders. At the same time, Tawingo Fund has ongoing challenges to identify and evaluate these types of organizations, given that so many of our grantee partners come to us as referrals from other like minded funders. Enter the newly launched Allied Funder Alliance with Tawingo Fund proudly being an inaugural member! The Allied Funder Alliance (AFA) will be implemented through Girls Education Collaborative who will identify local organizations doing impactful work in the girls and education space and bring them in as a partner of AFA. AFA will provide funding support and equally as important, connections and in kind support in a variety of areas. There are many collaborative funder groups, but what sets AFA apart (and what I think is special about the model) is that the work is led by an NGO in country who knows the landscape and needs so much better than we do oceans away. During a recent meeting with Anne, we talked about when to start to provide the funding to partners and Anne raised to me the desperate need right now for funding given the impact of inflation and Covid. Yes, I already knew there was a need for funding, but I didn’t fully understand just how extreme this need was without Anne telling me what she and her team are seeing, in person, in Tanzania. This just furthers affirms why we are funding AFA and I can’t wait to see the impact that the model will have.
Across the ocean lies Ventura, another new venture that I am excited about. I worked with Gaby Reyes at Year Up for many years. When I left Year Up to pursue Tawingo Fund full time, Gaby mentioned that she was in the process of getting a 501c3 secured to be able to fundraise in the US to support organizations in Venezuela, where Gaby grew up. I immediately jumped on the chance to give her the little guidance I had about the philanthropy world and joined the Advisory Board of Ventura soon after. We provided Ventura’s first grant to support their operating expenses to get up and running in 2022. A year later, Ventura is officially launched, has a fantastic website and social media presence, and most importantly has already had a HUGE impact on the lives of 5,000 girls in Venezuela through their first project, the Estela Project, which tackles menstrual poverty. Very excited to see what 2023 brings from Ventura.
We feel so fortunate to be able to support these programs and the amazing women behind them. Thank you for reading and please reach out with any thoughts or feedback at mollie@tawingo.org.
Enjoy the holiday season and stay safe and healthy,
Mollie
