& Egypt as well.
Let the foreign investment flow!
Acumen Fund, a non-profit organization linking philanthropists with initiatives that accelerate positive global change, today announced the establishment of its newest portfolio, Economic and Civic Enterprise, targeted at supporting entrepreneurs in Egypt and Pakistan who provide economic opportunity and voice to the poor.
Acumen Fund identifies innovations with high potential to solve the demanding issues of our time, whether they operate in the non-profit or for-profit sectors. They then support these innovations with financial and technical assistance through their network of connections. Acumen Fund portfolio managers monitor results and report regularly to their network of investors.
The Economic and Civic Enterprise Portfolio has currently raised $1.1 million from several individuals and foundations, with a goal of $2.0 million by the end of 2002. Leveraging the venture capital model of financing through seed funding, providing financial management and organizational support, some of the projects include:
-
Working with a women’s finance organization in Lahore,
Pakistan to enable woman to borrow easier; financial
organization to grow over three years, with the goal of
expanding the reach from 17,000 to 50,000 low-income
borrowers -
Supporting a farm initiative in Cairo, Egypt; working with
cooperatives of farmers, providing an economic model for
socially responsible business; -
Developing a housing program to provide access to land
ownership and public utilities for poor squatters in Karachi,
Pakistan.
“To influence positive global change, our Economic and Civic Enterprise Portfolio supports economic opportunity, civic participation and voice,” said Jacqueline Novogratz, president and CEO of the Acumen Fund. **“The portfolio bridges global gaps by strategically connecting resources – knowledge, capital and markets – with local entrepreneurship.” **
Acumen Fund was created in April of 2001 with financial investments from Cisco Systems and Cisco Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation and several key individual investors. The goal of Acumen Fund is to maximize social impact by identifying and building relationships with non-profit and for-profit entrepreneurs. Acumen Fund links these pioneering leaders to the organization’s network of investors and experts while measuring and reporting on progress, lessons and impact to partners. Acumen Fund’s initial portfolio, Health Technology Changing Lives, launched in December of 2001 and has had significant success, investing in organizations and innovators that radically lower the costs and barriers to healthcare for the underserved majority in Africa and South Asia.
“Cisco Systems focuses on lending assistance on targeted issues through financial grants, resources, time and technology in worldwide areas of need,” said Tae Yoo, Vice President of Corporate Philanthropy Cisco Systems, Inc. and the Cisco Systems Foundation. **“Cisco’s goal in co-founding Acumen Fund is to create a platform to address timely global issues. Acumen Fund links entrepreneurs, investors and progressive thinkers to enhance economic opportunity for the under served and to increase civic participation.” **
“We view Acumen Fund, and its latest portfolio direction, as a critical initiative focusing on strategic change,” said Gordon Conway, President, Rockefeller Foundation. **“Rockefeller Foundation sees the importance of connecting new innovations and vehicles for philanthropy to the intellectual capital, experience and networks of longstanding institutions. Given the increasing importance of networks, Acumen Fund is fostering the development of global philanthropy.” **