TechnoServe has been awarded a $25,000.00 grant. TechnoServe’s mission is to work with enterprising people
in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries.
Their success is measured by increased financial benefits for the people whom
they engage. These benefits enable them to improve their resilience and reduce their poverty. TechnoServe
was founded in 1968.
In Kenya, “mom and pop” shops, also known as Dukas supply 80% of consumer goods, mostly to low-income
communities. Dukas provide vital services that larger retailers and wholesalers cannot, as the market is
fragmented with high transaction costs. Additionally, restocking generally requires the owner to travel to a
supplier, often a large retailer, with cash in hand in order to make purchases. This is expensive and time
consuming, and results in periods of closure, limited inventory, and ultimately relatively high prices for
purchasers and low incomes for store keepers.
In partnership with the Elea Foundation for Ethics in Globalization and Citi Foundation, the Smart Duka
Initiative is working to increase the profitability of 840 high-potential small retail shops in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Smart Duka Initiative achieves these results through in depth training and mentorship. Results include;
better financial and operations management, strengthened marketing, the adoption of digital solutions for
payments and inventory, as well as improving relationships with lenders, suppliers, and customers. The
majority of stores selected to participate are women-operated or women-owned.
Since launching the Smart Duka Initiatives in 2016, the project has reached 570 beneficiaries. These
beneficiaries include shop owners, shops managers, and employees. Of which, 52% are women. Shops are
averaging a 19% increase in revenue and a 22% increase in profits.
TechnoServe recognizes the importance of raising incomes levels for women in these communities. Due to
cultural norms and social roles that often keep women from owning businesses like Dukas, women often do
not have a chance to support their family. TechnoServe specifically targets the women population and
consciously works to provide trainings, meetings, and other opportunities compatible with the schedules of
these women.
To measure success, upon completion of a project, TechnoServe calculates a “return on TechnoServe
investment” (ROTI) score as a measure of the project’s success. ROTI is calculated by totaling the financial
benefits accrued during the life of the project, plus projected financial benefits over 3 years, and dividing it by
the cost of implementation.

RUP has been awarded a $20,000.00 grant. Founded in August of 2015, RUP’s overarching goal is to empower people from host
communities and refugees. RUP feels it is important that people who do not normally get to express their
views are given an arena to effect change. RUP focuses on working with low-income Jordanians, refugee
women, and children.
RUP seeks to address these issues through the creation of a Community Centre in the city of Zarqa.
Approximately 48,000 refugees are located in Zarqa, which is one of the most densely populated refugee
areas in Jordan.
The centre will look to give educational support, while teaching employable skills to the individuals who visit.
A particular emphasis will be around educational opportunities for women and children. The centre will be
open to all individuals and will look to create a space for these underserved communities to come together,
understand each other, and learn new skills. Additionally, the centre aims to facilitate a dialogue between the
groups to prevent radicalization and the use of negative coping mechanisms. For women in particular, the
centre will provide literacy classes and child-rearing classes, which will focus on nutrition and new-born
children.
The centre will be run by local staff and volunteers, primarily drawn from Zarqa. RUP is determined to help
Syrian and Jordanian refugees gain experience and learn new skills. The goal is to take these skills and use
them to help their families and other community members, which is turn will make a sustainable difference
for these community.

Through CAF America, a International and Domestic Donor Advised Funds Organization, the Foundation will contribute to the following groups:

$25,000 to Human Concern. Human Concern was established with the aim of supplying humanitarian aid to men, women & children affected by the current crisis in Syria. The charity is run by a team of professional individuals that dedicate their time voluntarily and who run development projects inside Syria focusing mainly on the supporting hospitals & medical activities, and sponsoring schools & educational efforts.

$25,000 to Mosaic Initiative. Since late 2011, the Mosaic Initiative has funded and facilitated various aid delivery projects that provide basic relief such as shelter, medicine, food, access to water, sanitation, clothing, education, and other humanitarian assistance, to people living in Syria and in refugee camps in neighboring countries.

$25,000 to Syria Relief. Syria Relief has a solid network of committed management and logistics staff on the ground inside Syria, striving to deliver humanitarian aid in hard-to-reach rural areas, as well as heavily populated and even some besieged areas. With help from the UK public Syria Relief has touched the lives of 1.8 million people.

$25,000 to Tauheedul. Since the start of the Syrian conflict, Tauheedul has established 10 schools inside Syria supporting over 2,500 children. School helps children deal with psychological trauma due to the exposure to unprecedented levels of violence, horrors of war and loss of loved ones. The schools also play an important role in securing the future of the children whilst creating employment opportunities for local teachers.

The Foundation has awarded a grant of $25,000 to the International Rescue Committee to help the IRC save refugee families in crisis. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC delivers lifesaving care to people fleeing conflict and natural disaster. Year after year, the IRC is one of the highest-ranking nonprofits for accountability, transparency, and efficient use of contributions.
With the recent attrosities waged on the Syrian people, it highlights the tremendous suffering of these families. So far, only
17,000 of 4 million Syrian refugees have been re-settled in other countries. An average of 50 Syrian families are forced to flee their homes, every hour of every day.

The Foundation is happy to again partner with WGEF to help women and children in Haiti with a $35,000 grant.
Funding from the McQuade Foundation
in 2017 would specifically be used for two of WGEF’s programs. The Healthy Period Initiative and the
Women’s Bakery Initiative in Cap Haitian, Haiti.
To address the issue of menstrual health, and the challenges women face with regard to access, hygiene
and socio-cultural stigma, WGEF created the Healthy Period Initiative (HPI).
WGEF aims to drive economic and socio-cultural change through enterprise and education. With the
purchase of a manufacturing unit, WGEF will produce a low cost sanitary product for the women and girls.
WGEF will also provide education and resources to assist in development of successful social enterprises
that provide safe and sanitary resources for all women in these communities. Funds will be spent in 2017
and will help purchase a machine that will quadruple the number of pads produced at one time. Additionally
funds will help pay for supplies and admin costs.
New to WGEF this year is the Women’s Bakery Initiative in Cap Haitian, Haiti.
Funding for the bakery will be spent in two ways. First, to construct a water project to help bring safe and
sustainable water to improve the bakery’s productivity and provide irrigation to large urban gardens.
Secondly, funds will be used to help the construction of a large urban vegetable garden
WGEF uses quantitative and qualitative data to measure effectiveness and relevancy. They complete a
yearly survey on a chosen subject; in the past this has included food security, sustainability and
empowerment. This year (2017) they are collaborating with students at Oxford University, England to create
an assessment tool to evaluate our program, impact, and long term sustainability (Aug 2017) focused on
how literacy facilitates success and empowerment in our program. Their staff and leaders continually
gather information from all programs to assess effectiveness and outcomes.

Congratulations, Paso Pacifico has been awarded a grant of $18,500.00 to fund 6 women into the turtle ranger program.
Founded in 2005, Paso Pacifico’s mission is to restore and protect the endangered dry tropical forests and
coastal ecosystems of Mesoamerica. In working towards their mission, Paso Pacifico empowers local people
to develop more sustainable livelihoods in eco-tourism, fishing, agriculture, and forest management. They
also look to advance women and children as environmental leaders, while developing strong relationships
with private landowners.
In 2008, Paso Pacifico began a community ranger program whose goal was to protect threatened sea turtles.
The rangers work on 3 priority beaches in southwestern Nicaragua. The program has been a success because
the rangers are staffed by local people who over time, have received a wide range of training opportunities.
Despite the success, the ranger program has been primarily staffed by men due to cultural attitudes towards
women working on beaches.
In 2012, Paso Pacifico began involving local women in their sea turtle program by
constructing a sea turtle hatchery at Ostional Beach. Very quickly the value of bringing women into this
program was shown by the hundreds of nest that were able to be protected. Given this opportunity these
women would normally would not have otherwise, each of them gained a great deal of confidence.
Additionally, women have also stepped into the role of educators and now support the junior ranger program,
providing lessons and field trips to over 200 children since program inception.
To measure success, data is collected on the number of protected nests in these areas, examined to see if
rates are going up or down. Similar data is collected on poaching rates. Additionally, feedback is collected on
skills trainings and workshops attended by women to measure their effectiveness.
I am excited to watch this program as it combines my passion to help women and our environment.

Congratulations to the YWCA Central Carolinas, they have been awarded a $25,000 grant for their Women in Transition Program (WIT).
WIT is the primary comprehensive transitional housing program in the greater Charlotte area serving
single women who have suffered homelessness. They can house up to 66 women at a time on their Park
Road campus, where participants receive case management services, have access to their fitness center,
educational workshops and social activities. Women can participate for up to 18 months while they gain the
skills and resources necessary to attain and maintain permanent long-term housing. Last year, 83% of
women who participated for four months or longer exited the program into permanent housing,
successfully moving from a situation of instability to one of security.
Funds from a grant from the McQuade Foundation will be used to fund the various operations of the WIT
program. Funds will be spent during their 2017 fiscal year.
To measure success, the YWCA measures the number of participants who remain in permanent housing
for 4, 6, and 12 months after completion of the program. In cases where women do not remain in permanent
housing, data is pulled to understand which barriers they faced. Also, data is pulled on the number of
women who open and maintain a checking/savings account upon exit and the number of women who
maintain or increase income upon completion of the program. This data helps the Y understand what is
and isn’t working.

The Foundation has awarded a $10,000 grant to the United Nations Foundation.
The UN Foundation was created in 1998 as a U.S. public
charity by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner.
Since then, the role of the UN Foundation has evolved
from a traditional grantmaker to an actively involved
problem solver.
Within the framework of more than 10
specific issue campaigns, they work closely with the UN
Secretary-General to solve the great challenges of the
21st century – poverty, climate change, energy access,
population pressure, gender equity, and disease.

To date, the UN Foundation and our partners have helped
the UN keep girls in school; prevent child marriage;
increase access to reproductive health education,
services, and supplies; provide families with sustainable
energy; cut measles deaths by 85 percent in Africa;
distribute more than 6 million anti-malaria bed nets to 25
African countries; reduce polio incidence by 99 percent
worldwide; and champion the payment of close to $2
billion in U.S. dues to the UN.

Funding will support 3 main activities of the BrightLife Program, which will receive a $25,000 grant.
The Foundation is happy to be partnering with FINCA for the third year.

Worldwide data states that over 1 billion people lack access to electricity, and 3 billion lack access to clean
cooking and heating solutions. In Uganda, close to 90% of Ugandans are not connected to the electric grid
and 75% of Ugandans rely of unclean energy sources for cooking and heating. Additionally 35% of Ugandans
lack access to clean water.
Innovative and affordable products have been developed in areas of energy,
access to clean water, and sanitation. Products include low-cost solar lanterns, clean cook stoves, and water
filters. Over the past 2 years, FINCA’s BrightLife program has tested a unique approach to bringing these life
savings products to the “Bottom of the Pyramid” populations in Uganda.
FINCA has however encountered problems due to many of the products failing to reach their desired target
market In response to customer feedback, FINCA re-evaluated its business model for BrightLife, and has modified
their approach.
Today they are growing their presence deeper into the un-electrified Ugandan countryside by
focusing on:
1. Growing our Community Mobilizer program – this program will help reach deeper into rural markets
by building trust networks. In 2017 FINCA intends to grow the program by focusing on training and
employing women and youth. The goal is for community mobilizers to help products reach their
desired destination, while remaining intact.
2. Launching a customer awareness and education campaign – the products the BrightLife program
intends to distribute require customer education on product usage. This program will train the
community mobilizers of how to use products, so they can share with our community members.
3. Revising our financial model to better match customer cash flows – products that BrightLife
distributes are more effective and more energy efficient energy substitutes for families and should be
priced to mimic the way customers purchase energy products. The pay as you go product will allow
families to pay for energy and products on a daily, weekly or monthly schedule, whichever works
better for each client.
Funds for the BrightLife program will be spent from January to December 2017 and will be used across 25
locations in Uganda.
Success is measured by FINCA looking at product uptake as well as the social impact that the model has on
end users of the products. Outreach indicators such as the number of households reached and the number of
indirect beneficiaries will also be measured.